Crossrail searches disused east London tunnel for WWII bombs

The Connaught Tunnel was built in 1878 and runs under the Royal Docks

A disused tunnel under the Royal Docks in east London is being
searched by Crossrail for unexploded World War II bombs and devices.

The 550-metre Connaught Tunnel, which was built in 1878, is part of
the planned Crossrail route.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16849396

BUT I have also read (Railway Mag. Feb 2012?) that the Connaught
Tunnel is too run down to be reused for Crossrail and that a new
tunnel will have to be bored.

Does anyone know?

"SB" wrote:
Crossrail searches disused east London tunnel for WWII bombs

The Connaught Tunnel was built in 1878 and runs under the Royal Docks

A disused tunnel under the Royal Docks in east London is being
searched by Crossrail for unexploded World War II bombs and devices.

The 550-metre Connaught Tunnel, which was built in 1878, is part of
the planned Crossrail route.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16849396

BUT I have also read (Railway Mag. Feb 2012?) that the Connaught
Tunnel is too run down to be reused for Crossrail and that a new
tunnel will have to be bored.

Does anyone know?

Yes, the Connaught Tunnel will be reused for Crossrail, it just needs some
work done on it.

From the Crossrail website:
http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/tunnelling/tunnel-drives/connaught-tunnel

Excerpt:
---quote---
Reconstruction and refurbishment

Sections of the existing tunnel are in a poor structural condition. Around
100 metres of tunnel wall will be removed and replaced with a new tunnel
lining. The existing brick arches, part of the tunnel approaches, will be
retained and repaired.
---/quote---

Much more on that webpage.

Also, from September 2010, this London Reconnections piece:
http://www.londonreconnections.com/2010/down-in-the-dark-crossrail-the-connaught-tunnel-and-silvertown-station/

On Thu, 2 Feb 2012 06:04:41 -0800 (PST)
SB wrote:
Crossrail searches disused east London tunnel for WWII bombs

The Connaught Tunnel was built in 1878 and runs under the Royal Docks

A disused tunnel under the Royal Docks in east London is being
searched by Crossrail for unexploded World War II bombs and devices.

Given that it was used by the north london line up until a few years ago
I think they're 70 years too late doing that. Or maybe crossrail passengers
are considered more important than the scumbags who used to travel to
silvertown!

B2003

On Feb 2, 9:38*am, wrote:
On Thu, 2 Feb 2012 06:04:41 -0800 (PST)

Given that it was used by the north london line up until a few years ago
I think they're 70 years too late doing that. Or maybe crossrail passengers
are considered more important than the scumbags who used to travel to
silvertown!

More a case of that they can rule out UXB that might be set off by
train movements, but not UXB that might be set off by rehabilitation
work I'd wager.
--
Roy

On Thu, 2 Feb 2012 14:22:34 -0000, Mizter T wrote:

"SB" wrote:
Crossrail searches disused east London tunnel for WWII bombs

The Connaught Tunnel was built in 1878 and runs under the Royal Docks

A disused tunnel under the Royal Docks in east London is being
searched by Crossrail for unexploded World War II bombs and devices.

The 550-metre Connaught Tunnel, which was built in 1878, is part of
the planned Crossrail route.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16849396

BUT I have also read (Railway Mag. Feb 2012?) that the Connaught
Tunnel is too run down to be reused for Crossrail and that a new
tunnel will have to be bored.

Does anyone know?

Yes, the Connaught Tunnel will be reused for Crossrail, it just needs some
work done on it.

From the Crossrail website:
http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/tunnelling/tunnel-drives/connaught-tunnel

That's the old plan. A new one was announced today: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/pres...nnaught-tunnel

Crossrail originally planned to strengthen the central section
of the tunnel by removing the existing steel linings and back
filling the entire section with concrete foam. These tunnels
would then have been enlarged by boring through the concrete to
create tunnels that are large enough for Crossrail trains to pass.

Crossrail will now place cofferdams in the Connaught Passage
between the Victoria and Royal Albert Docks, pump out the water
and create a dry construction site allowing workers to dig down
to the tunnel to undertake the enlargement work through a .cut
and cover. approach.

Crossrail will now place cofferdams in the Connaught Passage
between the Victoria and Royal Albert Docks, pump out the water
and create a dry construction site allowing workers to dig down
to the tunnel to undertake the enlargement work through a .cut
and cover. approach.

Well that makes sense it was built by cut and cover in the first place.

Or maybe they could re-instate the bridge? Wouldn't really need to swing
much these days.

"Paul Rigg" wrote in message
...


Crossrail will now place cofferdams in the Connaught Passage
between the Victoria and Royal Albert Docks, pump out the water
and create a dry construction site allowing workers to dig down
to the tunnel to undertake the enlargement work through a .cut
and cover. approach.

Well that makes sense it was built by cut and cover in the first place.

Or maybe they could re-instate the bridge? Wouldn't really need to swing
much these days.




Looks like the end of City airport would be in the way,plus a new road
bridge.

neil.

David Walters wrote:
That's the old plan. A new one was announced today: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/pres...nnaught-tunnel
Crossrail originally planned to strengthen the central section
of the tunnel by removing the existing steel linings and back
filling the entire section with concrete foam. These tunnels
would then have been enlarged by boring through the concrete to
create tunnels that are large enough for Crossrail trains to pass.

Crossrail will now place cofferdams in the Connaught Passage
between the Victoria and Royal Albert Docks, pump out the water
and create a dry construction site allowing workers to dig down
to the tunnel to undertake the enlargement work through a .cut
and cover. approach.


Oh, well. That's blown the budget. ;-)

On Feb 2, 6:02*pm, Bruce wrote:
David Walters wrote:
That's the old plan. A new one was announced today:http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/pres...l-outlines-new...
* *Crossrail originally planned to strengthen the central section
* *of the tunnel by removing the existing steel linings and back
* *filling the entire section with concrete foam. These tunnels
* *would then have been enlarged by boring through the concrete to
* *create tunnels that are large enough for Crossrail trains to pass.

* *Crossrail will now place cofferdams in the Connaught Passage
* *between the Victoria and Royal Albert Docks, pump out the water
* *and create a dry construction site allowing workers to dig down
* *to the tunnel to undertake the enlargement work through a .cut
* *and cover. approach.

Oh, well. *That's blown the budget. *;-)

I was down there at the same time as the BBC guys (was slightly
annoyed they "broke" the story to be honest - i've wanted to write
about UXO for years but Crossrail have been really paranoid about the
subject). During the many ice cold moments tediously waiting for them
to get the perfect shot of a metal pole being pushed into the ground,
I had a good chat both with the UXO guys and the tunnel engineers.

Basically it'll be cut and covered now (for the reasons I've stuck up
on LR) and they don't currently anticipate that being a problem - if
anything I got the impression they were quite happy about it from both
a finance and ops perspective as it was easier and (potentially)
cheaper. The original boring method had been intended to avoid
disrupting the Docks, but they've said they're basically fine with it
as long as it doesn't impact their boat shows.

One consequence though is that the Old Pump house will have to go -
that's going to be dismantled and donated to the SS Robin, who are
probably going to use it for their new ticket office once its been
reassembled.

In UXO terms, they reckon there might be five or six bombs down there
based on the records - hence the scans just to be sure.

Oh and the truck ISN'T armored.

In uk.transport.london message 70cdc258-c3b6-4940-9a0d-8f3b730bf3ad@dn8
g2000vbb.googlegroups.com, Thu, 2 Feb 2012 06:04:41, SB
posted:


BUT I have also read (Railway Mag. Feb 2012?) that the Connaught
Tunnel is too run down to be reused for Crossrail and that a new
tunnel will have to be bored.

If a large number of apparently empty lorries are seen about the place,
they will be taking away the old hole and delivering the new one.

--
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Web http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/ - FAQ-type topics, acronyms, and links.
Command-prompt MiniTrue is useful for viewing/searching/altering files. Free,
DOS/Win/UNIX now 2.0.6; see URL:http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/pc-links.htm.