| | Alstom Transport / TSO / Costain joint venture |
| | ongoing |
| | London |
| | May 2015 |
| | Dec 2019 |
VGC supplies a range of skilled track operatives and supervisors to the Alstom Transport / TSO / Costain (ATC) joint venture.
ATC is managing the tunnel fit-out from Royal Oak to Canary Wharf and Plumstead.
- Our rail gangs have been installing switches and crossings, in the tunnels and also open sections such as at Westbourne Park.
- We have supplied track-laying gangs who have installed floating track slabs.
- Our section foremen have been involved in controlling works, including looking after tunnel ventilation installation works.
- We have provided multi-purpose gantry and vehicle operators.
- VGC slinger signallers, section foremen and lift supervisors have controlled lifting in yards and shafts systemwide.
- Our worksite train controllers control movements of trains and RRVs (road-rail vehicles) on site.
Our key influencers on this section of Crossrail are Ray Lodge and Moynul Islam.
The VGC teams began work in 2015, mainly in the east between Abbey Wood and Plumstead. They progressed to other parts of the route in 2016.
VGC has been involved with constructing and upgrading London’s railway infrastructure for over 50 years.
Supporting local employment
We have worked closely with ATC on a number of projects to help support local employment. In spring 2017 we worked with the Prince’s Trust and ATC on a ‘Get into Construction’ programme in conjunction with the Crossrail brokerage. Ten trainees learned skills including shuttering, steel-fixing and concrete pour, and then gained their CSCS cards. At their graduation, many of the students thanked Barry Tyrer, VGC chargehand on the site, for his support.
Nick Wells, labour manager, signed up a group of apprentices from the College of North East London – in March 2018 five of them gained their NVQ level 2 Diplomas in Railway Engineering.
The C610 project
ATC Systemwide is a joint venture of Alstom Transport, TSO and Costain.
The Crossrail tunnel fit-out involves the installation of track, high voltage power equipment, communication and signalling services. Over 40km of track will be installed, along with the overhead power supply, as well as ventilation and drainage systems.
The tunnels will require 48 ventilation fans, 40km of walkways, 66 drainage pumps and 40km of fire mains, as well as lighting throughout their entire length. The complex C610 project includes the installation of track slab, including drainage and cable works.
About Crossrail
Crossrail Limited is delivering a new railway for the London and the south east. The ATC Systemwide project is part of the £14.8 billion Crossrail project to create a 73 mile railway from Reading and Heathrow through central London to Shenfield and Abbey Wood. Europe’s largest infrastructure project, it includes building 42km of tunnel and 10 new stations, plus improving 30 more.
The finished railway will be an accessible route of 40 stations. Crossrail will add 10% to central London’s rail capacity.
