Stepney Green Junction (Image: Crossrail Ltd)
The tier one contractors responsible for delivering the stations on the central section of the delayed Crossrail project are starting to demobilise, ahead of a complex testing and commissioning work.
That’s according to a progress update from Crossrail Ltd, which said that testing is now taking place at all central section stations apart from Bond Street, where fitout work and systems installation is still continuing.
Meanwhile, fitout of the tunnels is almost complete and Crossrail will soon start to hand over the shafts and portals, starting with the Victoria Dock portal.
The central section of the Elizabeth Line is still on course to open at some point within a six-month window between October 2020 and March 2021, originally announced at the end of April.
Close headway, multi-train testing started on 8 June as part of what Crossrail calls its ‘dynamic testing phase’, run by a team of senior technical experts from Bombardier, Siemens and Crossrail.
The dynamic testing phase, during which Bombardier and Siemens will work to increase the reliability of the train and signalling software, comes before trials to simulate the full railway service.
By the end of this year, final fitout and testing and commissioning are due to be completed at many stations and dynamic testing will be in its final stages.
‘Still a huge amount to do’
Mark Wild, chief executive, Crossrail Ltd said: “Work to complete the Elizabeth line continues to make good progress against our new plan. Fit-out is nearing completion at many stations and testing of the train and signalling system is underway but there is still a huge amount to do before the central section can open.
“Crossrail is now in its critical and most challenging final phase due to the significant integration and testing work that remains to be completed. We are fully focused on completing the Elizabeth line and ensuring a safe and reliable passenger service as quickly as possible.
“Crossrail remains a hugely complex project, but pressures remain which the team is working hard to mitigate. The main areas of programme risk and uncertainty are currently contractor productivity, software testing for the train and signalling systems and systems integration. Crossrail Ltd is working closely with its Tier One contractors to demobilise their station delivery teams so that it can move ahead with integrating the nine new stations with the rest of the railway.”
