Boring machine Mary joins Sophie at Woolwich station box

Crossrail has reached an important milestone after completing half of its tunnelling work south of the Thames.

The milestone (see video, below) was reached after tunnel boring machine Mary completed its first leg from Plumstead to the station box in Woolwich, joining fellow boring machine Sophie, which reached the box from Plumstead in May.

During her three month journey, Mary has excavated almost 110,000 tonnes of material and installed 811 concrete rings to line the inside of the tunnel.

Gus Scott, Project Manager for Crossrail’s Thames Tunnel, said: “It’s great to know that we’re half way through our tunnelling in southeast London. Mary and Sophia have done a fantastic job so far, between them constructing a mile and a half of brand new tunnels from Plumstead to Woolwich.”

Mary’s sister tunnel boring machine, Sophia, is being prepared to start the drive from Woolwich under the Thames.

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