Video: Chris Sexton on why Crossrail must stick to the plan to finish on time

Crossrail technical director Sexton outlines the challenge of embracing new “dynamic” of transition from civils work to electrical and mechanical fit out ahead of 2018 opening. 

With tunnelling now complete finished and work progressing on the mechanical and electrical fit out of stations and tunnels the Crossrail project has to remain totally focused on meeting deadlines to completion, according to technical director Chris Sexton.

Speaking to Infrastructure Intelligence at the recent Tomorrow’s Rail event Sexton highlighted the huge challenge that still lay ahead and the risks that had still to be managed.

“We are now in the transition phase of fitting out the tunnels and station with electrical and mechanical components and fitting the railway systems. So there is a huge amount to come and a lot of it is very complicated.” Chris Sexton

“We are very well aware that projects often get tripped up at the end,” said Sexton. “Particularly with software it is often very difficult to see progress. But we have learned a lot from previous projects such as for example not changing specification close to the end – stick with what you ask for and deliver it.”

There is a “slightly different dynamic”, he added highlighted that with more subcontractors working on the project there were new challenges particularly on safety to ensure that the Crossrail safety culture gets down to every supplier.

“We are now in the transition phase of fitting out the tunnels and station with electrical and mechanical components and fitting the railway systems. So there is a huge amount to come and a lot of it is very complicated.”

Crossrail, he said, had launched a new Learning Legacy database to help share the lessons learnt across the project to date and so help projects such as Crossrail 2, HS2 and Thames Tideway boost their delivery efficiency. 

Planning and designing early, “combined with an aggressive delivery programme is the key to delivering projects successfully”, he said.