Crossrail TBM Ellie finished journey at Victoria Dock Portal
Crossrail’s train tunnels in Docklands and southeast London are now structurally complete, following the breakthrough by tunnel machine Ellie at Victoria Dock Portal in east London at the end of October 2014. Started on 11th September, Ellie completed her 900 m journey in just six weeks, travelling as far as 46 m per day.
Tunnel machine Ellie had one of Crossrail’s shortest but most complex drives, from Limmo Peninsula, near Canning Town, to Victoria Dock Portal. Ellie successfully navigated the Docklands Light Railway, Jubilee line and utilities, all in close proximity to the River Thames and River Lea. She completes a set of Crossrail tunnels in east and southeast London that stretch from Plumstead to Whitechapel, with an additional spur between Stepney Green and Stratford.
It is Ellie’s second drive, having already completed a 2.7 km stretch from Pudding Mill Lane to Stepney Green. She will now be dismantled and returned to manufacturer Herrenknecht, with the parts recycled for future projects.
