Northern Line Extension TBMs ordered

Ferrovial Agroman Laing O'Rourke Joint Venture (FLO), who LU contracted to design and build the Northern line extension last year, plans to launch the TBMs in summer 2016, when the 6m-diameter machines will begin their seven month 2.5km journey from Battersea to Kennington.

Two new stations will be constructed - one at the heart of the Battersea Power Station redevelopment and another at Nine Elms to the east, serving new developments such as the US Embassy and the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market, as well as existing communities.

Mike Brown MVO, Managing Director of London Underground, said: `The award of this contract is a key milestone in the extension of the Northern line. We are well on track for the tunnelling work to commence next year and, once it's complete, this vital addition to the Underground network will help develop the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea areas, supporting 24,000 new jobs and over 18,000 new homes. Customers in Battersea and Nine Elms will also benefit from quicker journey times, with the West End and the City being just under 15 minutes away.

David Darcy, FLO Project Director for the NLE said: `At FLO, we are very pleased to have awarded this significant procurement package, crucial to the delivery of the NLE project. We are totally confident that NFM Technologies will fulfil all the requirements for the safe completion and delivery of the TBM tunnelling.

The cost of the Northern line extension is expected to be up to GBP 1bn (USD 1.5bn), which is being funded entirely through contributions from the developments in the area that will benefit from the extension. An innovative funding package has been agreed between the Mayor of London and Government, which includes the creation of an Enterprise Zone from 2016 for a period of 25 years.