Crossrail railway systems: Powering Britain’s newest railway

A dedicated team of engineers is working around the clock to install the 2 x25kV overhead traction power system.

Each Elizabeth line train will draw power in the tunnels from the rigid overhead catenary system’s aluminium alloy conductor bar which houses copper contact wire. These bars are currently being installed in 10 metre sections.

The route will pass through 40 stations from Reading and Heathrow in the west, through new twin-bore 21 km tunnels to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. The Transport for London (TfL) run railway will be named the Elizabeth line when services through central London open in December 2018.