Crossrail tunnelling machine dismantled below central London

The last tunnel boring machine named Victoria is being dismantled 40 metres below Farringdon in central London, following completion of the Crossrail tunnelling.  

Roger Mears, Crossrail eastern tunnels project manager said: “Crossrail’s last tunnelling machine, Victoria, has finished her journey and is being dismantled and recycled. 

“Thanks to the quality of these marvellous machines and skill of the teams who operated them, Crossrail’s tunnels are now complete, ready for the complex task of fitting out the railway.”

The 130m trailer is being dismantled and returned to the manufacturer Herrenknect via a shaft at Stepney Green so that parts can be recycled for future projects.

Eight 1,000 tonne tunnelling machines have bored 42km or 26miles of new 6.2 diameter rail tunnels  over the last three years under London which weave between current underground lines, building foundations, sewers and utility tunnels at depths of up to 42m.

Named after Queen Victoria, TBM Victoria completed tunnelling when she successfully broke into Farringdon Crossrail station in May 2015 which was celebrated by the Prime Minister.