London Power Tunnels: final Hurst to Crayford circuit goes live

National Grid’s £1 billion London Power Tunnels 2 (LPT2) project has hit a major milestone with the energisation of the second of two high voltage circuits between Hurst and Crayford. This new 2.5 km stretch of 275 kV cables is now fully commissioned, marking a significant step towards securing London’s energy future.

Launched in 2020, LPT2 is a critical infrastructure project designed to reinforce and futureproof the capital’s electricity network, while supporting the UK’s broader transition to net zero. The project involves 32.5 km of tunnels running beneath South London, with modern cable routes replacing older systems originally installed in the 1960s.

Unlike the pre-existing cables buried in shallow street trenches, this new network lies approximately 35 metres below ground. Built using advanced tunnelling machines, the tunnels can be accessed via vertical shafts, helping to reduce disruption to Londoners and offering better long-term access for maintenance and future upgrades.

This milestone is the result of over 5 million hours of work  from over 3,000 people across the project. Construction on LPT2 is expected to be complete in 2026, with tunnelling completed across the project in October 2023.

The project has been delivered by National Grid in partnership with HOCHTIEF-MURPHY Joint Venture (HMJV), Taihan, Balfour Beatty, and Linxon, and represents a long-term investment in the capital’s resilience and sustainability.

In 2024, Energy Minister Michael Shanks visited the LPT2 project at New Cross project to mark the commissioning of the first Hurst – Crayford circuit, praising the project as a feat of "incredible engineering" that demonstrates the strength of British infrastructure and contributes to the UK’s clean energy ambitions.

With the energisation of the full circuit in this section now complete, this state-of-the-art project is already quietly helping to power homes and businesses in the capital.