Discover the Crossrail route
Crossrail is among the most significant infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK. From improving journey times across London, to easing congestion and offering better connections, Crossrail will change the way people travel around the capital.
Crossrail will deliver a high frequency, high capacity service to 37 stations linking Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east via 21 km of new twin-bore tunnels under central London. It will bring an additional 1.5 million people within 45 minutes commuting distance of London's key business districts.
Around 200 million passengers will travel on Crossrail each year and the route will provide a 10% increase to rail capacity in the capital. Crossrail will make travelling in the region easier and quicker and will reduce crowding on London's transport network, operating with main line size trains carrying more than 1500 passengers in each train during peak periods.
Central section
New Crossrail stations will be constructed along the central route at Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel and Canary Wharf.
Worksites have been established for each of these stations throughout central London, with main construction of the stations commencing in late 2011.
In spring 2012, the first tunnel boring machines (TBMs) started on their journey from Royal Oak towards the west of Farringdon station. This will be followed shortly by the launch of further tunnel boring machines in Docklands that will head under central London towards the east of Farringdon.
The tunnels will weave their way between existing underground lines, sewers, utility tunnels and building foundations from station to station at depths of up to 36m.
Tunnel portals, providing access to the rail tunnels, will be constructed at Royal Oak, Pudding Mill Lane, Victoria Dock, North Woolwich and Plumstead.
Visit our station pages for detailed information about each of the new stations under construction.
Surface sections
The construction of 21km of new twin-bore tunnels under central London, Crossrail will connect services on the Great Eastern, Great Western and North Kent mainlines with central London, slashing journey times and alleviating congestion on London’s transport network.
Existing infrastructure and stations on the surface sections of the route will be upgraded, in works delivered by Network Rail. Click below for further information about works on the surface sections of the Crossrail route.
