Union Railways, the company building the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), has raised expectations about the start of Stage 2 of CTRL (June ’99, p6) by offering to purchase the subsoil under the proposed alignment.
An estimated 2000 householders between Islington and Dagenham in London have been offered a minimum $880 per property so that the proposed 19km of tunnels can be constructed. This is intended to cover any consultation fees the householders may feel are necessary and also as a gesture of goodwill. Along with the purchase offer, information regarding the measures to be taken to control and monitor ground settlement above the tunnels is being sent, including a guarantee that Union Railways will cover costs in the event of settlement causing damage to buildings.
Although Union Railways has powers of compulsory purchase, hopes are that the subsoil will be bought under a voluntary arrange-ment. The purchase will not affect the householders’ traditional rights.
Construction of CTRL Stage 2, from north Kent to St Pancras Station in London, will involve a total of ten TBMs constructing 19km of tunnels. The scheme is planned to start in mid-2001, with tunnelling programmed from 2002-2004.
