Crossrail project: logistics management strategy for the Elizabeth line, London

Summary

Logistics in construction often focuses on the challenges within the site boundary, leaving those outside the gate to be addressed when dictated by the programme. But early in the projects development Crossrail identified this as an area which it wanted to be proactively managed so that impacts outside the hoarding were treated with the same significance as those inside; requiring individual contractors to incorporate logistics practices into their normal working day, and form part of their daily planning. But with 800 hauliers delivering to 30 main contractors across 47 central London sites the largest construction project in Europe had to take the initiative and set a standard for all contracts to follow, thus bringing consistency and oversight to the programme.

This paper will provide an overview of the principles of Crossrails logistics strategy and how it was implemented, identifying the key challenges, lessons learnt and how it continues to influence other projects and stakeholders.