Herrenknecht will manufacture the final two Crossrail TBMs. The slurry machines will bore the Thames Tunnel portion of the project. The slurry setup was chosen over the EPB, used on the remainder of Crossrail, due to the chalk conditions through the Thames Tunnel alignment.
Herrenknecht was earlier this year selected by contractors to supply the six EPBMs to excavate the rest of Crossrail, primarily through London Clay. The Thames Tunnel contracting JV comprises Hochtief and J Murphy & Sons.
The Thames Tunnel TBMs will be launched from the Plumstead portal in late 2012 and drive a 2.6km twin-bore westwards towards North Woolwich. Portal construction was underway as T&TI went to press.
