Tunnels for Battersea Power Station built, says Sime Darby

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 9): The tunneling works to link Battersea Power Station and its surrounding areas have been completed, according to Sime Darby Property Bhd (SDP).

In a statement Nov 8, SDP said the huge tunnel boring machine, Amy, broke through at Kennington, which means the two 3.2km tunnels from Battersea Power Station, via Nine Elms, have now been built.

“Since their launch in the spring, Helen and sister tunnelling machine Amy have been working around the clock to create the north and southbound tunnels that will extend the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line,” SDP said, adding that the extension is targeted for completion in 2020.

It added that the extension will add vital new capacity to the Capital’s transport network, bringing Battersea and surrounding areas to within 15 minutes of the City and the West End.

SDP noted that the extension will also enable the regeneration of the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea areas, spurring economic growth by supporting around 25,000 new jobs and more than 20,000 new homes.

In addition, the construction of the extension is boosting the UK economy and supporting around 1,000 jobs, including around 50 apprenticeships, the statement said.

“Today’s breakthrough is momentous for a project that is going to bring huge benefits to south London,” said London’s mayor Sadiq Khan.

“The Northern Line Extension is not only going to make travelling to Battersea and Nine Elms easier, it’s also going to bring tens of thousands of new jobs and homes to the area.”

“It’s another great example of why new infrastructure is so vital to London’s success and the wider economy,” Sadiq Khan added.

Meanwhile, London’s Transport Commissioner Mike Brown MVO said this achievement brings them a step closer to the delivery of the first major Tube extension in nearly two decades.

“This is a really significant milestone in the regeneration of both Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms, and reconfirms certainty about the two new stations,” said Battersea Power Station chief executive officer Rob Tincknell.

“That such a vast extension to the London Underground network is being funded through the regeneration taking place throughout Nine Elms, is a credit to all those involved in nurturing this project throughout the years and a powerful example of how new transport infrastructure can be delivered by the public and private sector working successfully together,” Tincknell added.
 
The statement noted that a conveyor system was used to take more than 300,000 tonnes of excavated earth to barges on the River Thames, where it was transported to Goshems Farm in East Tilbury, Essex, saving thousands of lorry journeys from the Capital’s roads.

It said work on the new stations at Battersea and Nine Elms is progressing well and services on the Northern line have continued uninterrupted, while the work has taken place.

At noon break, shares in Sime Darby Bhd were up one sen or 0.11% to RM9.07, with 1.02 million shares traded, for a market capitalisation of RM61.68 billion. — theedgemarkets.com

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