The Influence of Geology on London’s Underground Railways: Western Regional Group Evening Lecture

The Western Regional Group is pleased to welcome Jonathan Gammon from Geotechnical Observations Limited, who will talk about how the nature of the varying ground conditions and groundwater regime beneath London presents a wide range of challenges to the formation of railway tunnels and the construction of underground stations.

This technical talk begins with an introduction to the geology of the London Basin and the key geological formations that are encountered beneath the ground surface. After addressing the reasons why it became necessary to take the railway system underground in London, the significance of the Brunels’ tunnel beneath The Thames at Rotherhithe is underlined. Initiated by Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the advances in the technology adopted to form tunnels and tackle the challenges presented by London’s geology are explained and illustrated.

The talk continues with a more-detailed description of different techniques to form underground space. Based on the speaker’s involvement with both projects, the talk concludes by giving attention to Crossrail (now operating as the Elizabeth Line) and to the Northern Line Extension, between Kennington and Battersea Power Station.

The talk will begin at 6.30pm, with doors (and the Zoom 'room') opening at 6pm.