Crossrail TBM Sophia Launched

Sophia, Crossrail's fifth tunnelling machine, has begun her journey from Plumstead to North Woolwich as part of the construction of a tunnel under the River Thames for London's new rail link.

This time-lapse video shows Sophia's launch as she begins burrowing underground towards Woolwich.

The 110-metre-long machine is scheduled to drill at an average rate of around 100 metres a week, installing precast concrete segments as rings to form the tunnel lining as it advances forwards.

Across the whole Crossrail project, eight tunnelling machines will construct 21 kilometres (13 miles) of twin tunnels under London. The Crossrail route will pass through 37 stations and run 118 km (73 miles) from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west and to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

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Video released in 2013