Dateline Underground Construction 2003It's high time to make travel plans for the UC 2003 conference and exhibition, which takes place at ExCeL, London on 24-25th September. ExCeL is at the old Royal Docks, which is served by the Docklands Light Railway Custom House station. Inexpensive hotels are located in an area of east London bounded by the A12, A13, and A406 North Circular roads that takes in Stratford, Barking, Beckton, Docklands, and the City. These can be booked through www.hoteldirect.co.uk or www.expotel.com. The tunnelbuilder crew has reserved space at the brand-new Holiday Inn Excel, which is on the exhibition site.London City airport is virtually next door to ExCeL, while the low-cost airports at Luton and Stansted involve a journey time of up to two hours, and those at Heathrow and Gatwick, one hour.The conference deals with US projects and trenchless technology in two streams on the morning of the 24th September, and Asian projects and environmental considerations in the afternoon. The highlight, at midday, is Dr Martin Herrenknecht's Sir Julius Wernher lecture on TBM technical advances. The UK's Channel Tunnel Rail Link will be discussed in the evening session, following which the BTS will host a hydraulic reception in the exhibition hall. Day 2 morning sessions deal with European projects, and pipejacking and drilling, and the afternoon takes in design and construction, while the geologists monopolize the parallel stream. Technical visits around London sites are scheduled for Friday 26th September. Delegates may register online at www.tunnelling-show.com 34/03.