Hailed as the largest construction project in Europe, the Crossrail network will add 26 miles of tunnel to TFL's London network (along with the Overground and Underground).  When launched, the name will change from Crossrail to the Elizabeth Line. Work officially started on the project in May 2009, here at Canary Wharf. 19m steel piles were inserted to form a cofferdam for the station, which is built in the middle of West India North Dock. The unbroken yellow wall near the base of the station right of centre, sits above the water, that acts like a moat.

After accessing the site rather easily, we opted to go to the top of the building first. I was surprised to find that the beams were all wood, not steel. Probably connected to the fact that when completed this area will be a park with trees and shrubberies.

Dropping down to the floor of the 'park', one could look up at man's temples to capitalism towering over the station.

Descending to below ground level, we struggled to find a way down to the platforms. This area will all be shops when finished.

Official posters show we were in the 2nd basement floor. We returned to the surface as the only way we could find down would have involved extra equipment we didn't have.

If only we'd studied the plans beforehand, we'd have realised that there were escalators at either end of the building. This is a shorter escalator going up one floor, and still boxed up. The area looked more station-like than we'd seen earlier. The noises of the construction trains below kept us on our toes.

Another hunt around, and we found a ventilation shaft, which when completed will carry air to the surface.

Finally down the shaft via various precarious ladders and wobbly scaffold platforms, we ended up on the platforms. The tunnels were all blocked off with plastic sheeting from the platforms, to keep the dust at bay. The platforms are very high ceilinged. There are pre-drilled holes all along the platform edge, presumably for barriers, similar to the Jubilee Line extension.

Piles of insulation sit in the middle area of the platforms. The grey plastic sheeting on either platform making the place look rather gloomy.

After a search around, we found away to see the tunnel work. This is looking from the far Western end down the platform area. The raised construction tracks will be replaced with proper bedding, ballast and rails for the crossrail trains. On the ceiling where high voltage cables will eventually run, is a large yellow ventilation tube. Next to that is the v e r y long conveyor belt carrying the spoil away to Canning Town.

Looking into the start of the tunnel towards Whitechapel, the TBM was only about 200m away, and the distance was obscured by a dust cloud one can make out. The working conditions for these guys must be pretty horrible. As we attempted to get into the actual tunnels, a construction trains lights lit up in the distance and started towards us. Kev climbed quickly back up and we opted to leave.

The multi floor main escalators to the ground floor. Not far from completion. Kev stands waiting on the right.

We left the same way we came in, and did so without incident. It was the first time I'd seen an under-construction station and tunnels in London, that I will actually use. With 60mph trains whizzing about, I wouldn't be keen to explore the tunnels when live in the future.