The final piece of rail track has just been installed in Crossrail, one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects, as the completion of the project draws closer.
The 118km (73 mile) Crossrail line, due to open December 2018, will provide commuters and visitors to the capital with a new east-west route, linking Reading and Heathrow in the west through new twin-bore 21km (13 mile) tunnels below central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
We have supplied the project with more than 57km of our SFL350 rail. In total, 7,000 tonnes of our heat-treated rail has been used.
Our premium Stress-Free low-alloy heat-treated rail SFL350 is produced using a unique patented process which ensures it has exceptional wear resistance. The uniquely low residual stresses provide further protection against risk of rail foot failure compared to other in-line heat treatment processes.
The tunnel fit-out, including track and train power supply, extending east under London, was provided by joint venture company ATCjv (Alstom Transport, French trackwork provider TSO and British engineering firm Costain Limited). British Steel rail has been installed across the entire route.
Deliveries of steel from our Scunthorpe and Hayange sites began in June 2015.
Peter Smith, British Steel Rail Managing Director, said: “The Crossrail project will have a huge impact on improving the commuting experience in London and British Steel is delighted to have been a part of that. Combining innovation and a close working relationship with the customer enables us to provide the best possible solution for this historic new line.”
The first of the new trains was introduced to passenger service for TfL Rail between Liverpool Street and Shenfield earlier this summer.
Read more about our Stress-Free product range.
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