Crossrail has marked a major milestone in the construction of London's new rail line with the lowering of a 550-tonne tunnelling machine into a 40-metre-deep shaft in east London last night (Thursday), ahead of the start of tunnelling for Crossrail's eastern section of the new rail line.

The delicate operation required one of the largest cranes in Europe to lift the equivalent of 280 London taxis.

Perfect weather conditions were needed and the light winds and no rain allowed for Elizabeth and Victoria to be moved underground.

Elizabeth will start tunnelling later this year, travelling under the River Lea towards Canary Wharf. Work has started to prepare Crossrail's Canary Wharf station to receive Elizabeth, with workers breaking out the hard concrete at the tunnel eyes to allow for the machines to easily enter the station next year.

Both tunnelling machines will receive maintenance while in the large station box, before continuing their journeys toward Whitechapel, Liverpool Street and Farringdon.

The 1,350-tonne crane took weeks to assemble and includes heavy-duty equipment to carry Elizabeth and Victoria on their descent into the enormous main shaft built at the site.

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