26 October 2012 Last updated at 12:37

In pictures: 'Elizabeth' to start Crossrail tunnelling in east London

A 550 tonne tunnelling machine called Elizabeth has been lowered into a 40m shaft in east London as part of the Crossrail project

A 550-tonne tunnelling machine called Elizabeth has been lowered into a 40m (131 ft) shaft in east London as part of the £16bn Crossrail project.

The operation required one of Europe's largest cranes to lift the equivalent of 280 London black cabs.

A 550 tonne tunnelling machine called Elizabeth has been lowered into a 40 metre shaft in east London as part of the Crossrail project

When complete by 2018, the Crossrail line will pass through 37 stations and run 73 miles (118km) from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west, to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

If weather conditions are good next week the operation will be repeated at the site adjacent to Canning Town station with Elizabeth's sister machine Victoria

Elizabeth will begin tunnelling later this year, travelling under the River Lea towards Canary Wharf. In 2013 the tunnelling will continue towards Whitechapel, Liverpool Street and Farringdon. In all, eight tunnelling machines will construct 10 separate tunnels across 21 km.

London

In pictures: 'Elizabeth' to start Crossrail tunnelling in east London

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