Crossrail C315 – Connaught Tunnel

Scope of works

The Victorian Connaught Tunnel is over 130 years old, 550m long and runs under the Royal Docks in East London. It was refurbished to form an essential component of the Crossrail Abbey Wood branch.

Kilnbridge were appointed to undertake structural alterations including re-profiling the existing tunnel to accommodate the new Crossrail trains. This comprised setting out to a very high tolerance, track sawing up to 1.5m deep and breaking out using a mixture of hand breaking and robotic demolition machines.

Kilnbridge were also responsible for the waste removal and recycling, ensuring segregation of all waste streams and removal from site to the Kilnbridge licensed waste management facility in Rainham.

Challenges / Achievements

• Use of multiple specialist cutting techniques to ensure precise profiling
• 100% diversion from landfill of all controlled demolition arisings