Taking the strain, coping with pressure or shooting targets? An objective comparison between monitoring solutions within sprayed concrete lined tunnels at Crossrail Farringdon Station, London

Crossrail will provide London and the South East with a world class, high-capacity railway to ease congestion on London's public transport system and enable better access between business, residential and entertainment districts. At the heart of this £14.8 bn scheme lies Farringdon Station, which will form a major interchange between Crossrail, Thameslink and London Underground. When Crossrail opens, it is expected to carry 200 million passengers per year.

The £400 m Farringdon Crossrail station was awarded to a joint venture of BAM Ferrovial Kier (BFK) in 2011, and comprises two ticket halls, two platform tunnels, connecting cross passages, concourse tunnels, two escalator inclines, escape and ventilation adits, all constructed using open face sprayed concrete linings (SCL). BFK appointed Dr. Sauer & Partners (DSP) as their specialist SCL designer.