Soil conditions may be difficult in Tooting than in Balham, but a number of people have suggested using different technologies that have been used successfully in other challenging locations. The most recent suggestion was a comment on a profile piece on Michele Dix in The Engineer 15th April -

"Geoff NH wrote on 6th May 2016
The boring through different sub soils can easily be countered by using the Dutch method of “Freezing the surrounding ground”, no matter whether it has water in or not. The biggest under ground use was on the “Boston Big Dig” and went very easily. Also with directional drilling as used in the Oil Industry. Any freezing support equipment can be place away from areas where it could interfere.
Just think outside the box about using this technique for under ground boring through different soil structures, will save having to divert routes around a problematic soil. So by freezing the soils allows the tunnel boring; till the surrounding soils can be supported by the tunnel support structures and sealants, then allow the soils to thaw out as the systems goes forward."

I have no idea whether this would work, but given the economic and social benefits of choosing Tooting, I hope Crossrail are looking at a variety of techniques - and will be prepared to be a little more open about what they are considering and the assumptions behind their models - than they have been so far.

From the Wandsworth Guardian...

The managing director of Crossrail 2 Michéle Dix has said she supports building a station at Tooting Broadway, but warned that ground conditions may make Balham the most feasible option.

http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/new ... _Broadway/

This is great news for Tooting and for Wandsworth Common Dan. Well done on your efforts. You have ensured our voice is heard by Tfl.

Thank you.

Dianne

This is great news Dan and really impressive that you have mounted such a successful campaign - I understand over 3000 people in Balham and Tooting responded to your survey about CrossRail 2 station.

Its a real victory that TfL are now prepared to look at sites in Tooting once more.

Do you have any idea where the new station might be located? I has heard it might be near Amen Corner. Is that likely?

Phew. Good to know that TfL can actually listen.
Thanks for this Dan

Liz

In the Tooting-alligned route, the shafts are planned for the Springfield development site and near the Prison. For the Balham-alligned route, the shafts are planned for Springfield and Wandsworth Common (Bollingbroke Grove). This is all subject to a further consultation later this year (see the weblink I posted above), but clearly the choice of Crossrail 2 station is going to have a huge impact on those vent shaft locations.
Rgds,
Dan

Where will the vents be then?

I should just add as a reminder, that should our local Crossrail2 station revert to being in Tooting Broadway, the corresponding route allignment means there wouldn't be a vent shaft built on Wandsworth Common. This is clearly something we all wish to avoid.

Regards,
Dan

Dear Resident,

You'll recall that Transport for London's proposed new route for Crossrail 2 via a station at Balham, with a vent shaft at Bollingbroke Grove, was consulted on recently. For many reasons it was very controversial and the survey I ran at www.BalhamOrTooting.org.uk showed clearly that local residents wished to keep the station at Tooting Broadway.

The good news is that following subsequent meetings and correspondence I've had with Transport for London, it has committed to do more research into the Tooting Broadway option and will consider reinstating it as the preferred option for our area.

You can read more about this here:

http://www.danwatkins.org.uk/news/peopl ... -2-success

So this is a quick note to share the good news and thank you for engaging with such passion on this topic. More than 80% of residents wanted to keep the station at Tooting and I'm delighted that TfL have listened to us.

I will circulate further information when I have it.

Yours,

Dan Watkins
Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Tooting
www.danwatkins.org.uk