List of tunnels in the United Kingdom

List of tunnels in the United Kingdom lists road, railway, waterway and some other forms of tunnel in the United Kingdom.

A tunnel is an underground passageway with no defined minimum length, though it may be considered to be at least twice as long as wide. Some civic planners define a tunnel as 0.1 miles (160 metres) in length or longer.

A tunnel may be for pedestrians or cyclists, for general road traffic, for motor vehicles only, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some are aqueducts, constructed purely for carrying water—for consumption, for hydroelectric purposes or as sewers—while others carry other services such as telecommunications cables. There are even tunnels designed as wildlife crossings for European badgers and other endangered species.

The Standedge Tunnel at 5,029 metres (3.25 miles) is the longest canal tunnel in the United Kingdom.

Contents

England

County Tunnel Type Length (Metres) Length (Imperial) Construction method / Notes Date of opening Coordinates
Bedfordshire Ampthill Tunnel Railway 654 715 yd 4 tracks in 2 bores 1859
Bedfordshire Old Warden Tunnel Railway 807 883 yd Brick construction using cut and cover.[1] Carried the Bedford to Hitchin line. 1853
Bedfordshire Wymington Tunnel Railway 1,690 1850 yd 1859
Cheshire Disley Tunnel Railway 3535 3,866 yd Bored tunnel[2] 1901
Cheshire Prestbury Tunnel Railway 250 273 yd [3] Brick[4] 1845
Cheshire Sutton Tunnel Railway 1724 1,885 yd[5] See also Sutton Tunnel railway accident
Cornwall Saltash Tunnel Road 410 450 yd Carries the A38 1988
Cornwall Brownqueen Tunnel Railway 80 88 yd
Cornwall Toldish Tunnel Railway (for horse drawn trams) 460 500 yd disused (closed 1874) 1849
Cornwall Trelill Tunnel Railway 304 333 yd disused (closed 1966) 1895
Cornwall Shillingham Tunnel Railway 412 451 yd aka Wiveliscombe 1908
Cornwall Treverrin Tunnel Railway 516 564 yd 1859
Cornwall Polperrow Tunnel Railway 348 381 yd[6] 1859
Cornwall Buckshead Tunnel Railway 290 320 yd[7] 1859
Cornwall Sparnick Tunnel Railway 449 491 yd 1863
Cornwall Pinnock Tunnel Railway, now converted to private road 1,073 1173 yd[8] 1874
Derbyshire Alfreton Tunnel Railway 770 840 yd 1862
Derbyshire Ashbourne Tunnel Railway
(now a cycleway)		 350 380 yd 1899
Derbyshire Ashwood Dale Tunnel Railway 91 100 yd 1863
Derbyshire Barmoor Clough Tunnel Railway 101 111 yd 1863
Derbyshire Bolsover Tunnel Railway 2,399 2624 yd Infilled with coal waste 1966-7 1897
Derbyshire Bradway Tunnel Railway 1,853 2026 yd 1870
Derbyshire Breadsall Tunnel (also Morley) Railway 218 238 yd 1878
Derbyshire Burbage Tunnel Railway 530 580 yd[9] 1830
Derbyshire Butterley Tunnel Canal (disused) 2,712 2966 yd 1794
Derbyshire Chee Tor Tunnel (1) Railway 390 430 yd[9] 1863
Derbyshire Chee Tor Tunnel (2) Railway 86 94 yd[9] 1863
Derbyshire Clay Cross Tunnel Railway 1,631 1784 yd Brick[10] 1839
Derbyshire Cowburn Tunnel Railway 1,776 1942 yd 1892
Derbyshire Cressbrook Tunnel Railway 431 471 yd[9] 1863
Derbyshire Dove Holes Tunnel Railway (freight) 2,729 2984 yd Closed to passenger traffic in 1967 1865
Derbyshire Duffield Tunnel Railway 48 52 yd 1867
Derbyshire Eaves Tunnel Railway 394 4431 yd 1863
Derbyshire Great Rocks Tunnel Railway 147 161 yd 1863
Derbyshire Gregory Tunnel Canal 69 76 yd 1794
Derbyshire Hollingwood Common Tunnel Canal (disused) 2,820 3080 yd Coalmine canal joining with Chesterfield Canal[11] 1777
Derbyshire Haddon Tunnel Railway 967 1058 yd Constructed with cut and cover methods. Closed in 1967 1863
Derbyshire Hag Tunnel Canal (disused) 85 93 yd[12] 1794
Derbyshire Headstone Tunnel Railway 487 533 yd[3] 1863
Derbyshire High Tor Tunnel 1 Railway 294 321 yd[3] 1849
Derbyshire High Tor Tunnel 1A Railway 53 58 yd[3] 1849
Derbyshire High Tor Tunnel
2		 Railway 346 378 yd[3] 1849
Derbyshire Holt Lane Tunnel Railway 115 126 yd 1849
Derbyshire Hopton Tunnel Railway 103 113 yd[3] 1830
Derbyshire Hindlow Tunnel Railway 470 514 yd[3] 1832
Derbyshire Lea Wood Tunnel Railway 288 315 yd 1849
Derbyshire Litton Tunnel Railway 472 516 yd[3] 1863
Derbyshire Mickleover Tunnel Railway 424 464 yd 1878
Derbyshire Milford Tunnel Railway 782 855 yd 1839
Derbyshire Morley Tunnel Railway 218 238 yd 1878
Derbyshire Newhaven Tunnel Railway 47 51 yd[3] 1830
Derbyshire New Mills Tunnel Railway 112 123 yd 1867
Derbyshire Newtown Tunnel Railway 82 90 yd 1902
Derbyshire Norwood Tunnel Canal 2,637 2884 yd Collapsed 1907 1775 W.

C. E.
Derbyshire Pic Tor Tunnel Railway 175 191 yd 1863
Derbyshire Redhill Tunnel 1 Railway 141 154 yd 1839
Derbyshire Redhill Tunnel 2 Railway 160 170 yd 1839
Derbyshire Rusher Cutting Tunnel Railway 111 121 yd[13] 1863
Derbyshire Shirland Tunnel Railway 173 189 yd[13]
Derbyshire Spinkhill Tunnel Railway 458 501 yd[13] 1897
Derbyshire Stodhart Tunnel Tramway 92 101 yd 1796
Derbyshire Toadmoor Tunnel Railway 118 129 yd 1839
Derbyshire Totley Tunnel Railway 5,700 6230 yd 1892
Derbyshire Whatstandwell Tunnel Railway 136 149 yd 1849
Derbyshire Whitwell Tunnel Railway 497 544 yd
Derbyshire Willersley Tunnel Railway 699 764 yd 1849
Derbyshire Wingfield Tunnel Railway 239 261 yd 1839
Derbyshire Woodhead Tunnel Railway 4,840 5293 yd
Devon Dainton Tunnel Railway 266 291 yd 1847
Devon Whiteball Tunnel Railway 999 1092 yd
Dorset Beaminster Tunnel Road (A3066) 105 345 ft Carries the A3066. Brick lined construction. 1832
Dorset Buckhorn Weston Tunnel Railway 678 742 yd[9]
Dorset Bincombe Tunnel (North) Railway 749 819 yd[9]
Dorset Bincombe Tunnel (South) Railway 44 48 yd[9]
Dorset Evershot Tunnel Railway 282 308 yd[9]
Dorset Frampton Tunnel Railway 595 651 yd[9]
Dorset Middlebere Plateway Tunnels Railway Built in two stages 1807/1825 [14]
Dorset Poundbury Tunnel Railway 244 267 yd[3]
East Sussex Cuilfail Tunnel Road 430 470 yd 1980
Essex Dartford Tunnel Road 1436 1,570 yd 1963
Essex Bell Common Tunnel Road 470 510 yd Cut and Cover on the M25 motorway 1984
Gloucestershire Chipping Sodbury Tunnel Railway 4064 2 miles, 924 yd
Gloucestershire Patchway old tunnel Railway 1139 1246 In use for Westbound trains
Gloucestershire Patchway new tunnel Railway 1609 1 mile In use for Eastbound trains 1886
Gloucestershire Sapperton Canal Tunnel Canal 1,873 2048 yd 1789
Gloucestershire Larger Sapperton railway tunnel Railway 1,704 1864 yd Consists two tunnels. Tunnels are on the Golden Valley Line from Stroud to Swindon
Gloucestershire Smaller Sapperton railway tunnel Railway 323 353 yd Consists two tunnels. Tunnels are on the Golden Valley Line from Stroud to Swindon
Gloucestershire Severn Tunnel Railway 7012 4 miles, 628 yards
Hampshire Fareham Tunnel No. 1 Railway 134 147 Also known as Funtley No.1; also include M27 bridge
Hampshire Fareham Tunnel No. 2 Railway 506 553 Also known as Funtley No.2
Hampshire Greywell Tunnel Canal 1125 1230 yd Brick construction
Hampshire Micheldever Tunnel Railway
Hampshire Midhurst Tunnel Railway 252 276
Hampshire Popham No 1 Tunnel Railway 242 265 yd
Hampshire Popham No 2 Tunnel Railway 182 199 yd
Hampshire Privett Tunnel Railway 967 1058 yd Closed 1955 1903
Hampshire Southampton Civic Centre Tunnel Railway Allows the South Western Main Line to pass under the Civic Centre in Southhampton 1847
Hampshire Wallers' Ash Tunnel Railway 458 501 yd
Hampshire Winchester Tunnel (also St Giles or Chesil) Railway 422 461 yd
Hertfordshire Hatfield Tunnel Road 1147 1531 yd Cut and Cover A1 motorway between J3 and J4 1984
Hertfordshire Holmesdale Tunnel Road 600 656 yd Cut and Cover M25 motorway between J25 and J26 1984
Hertfordshire Weston Hills Tunnel Road 230 250 yd Cut and Cover[15][16] 2006
Hertfordshire Welwyn South Tunnel Railway 408 446 yd One of the Welwyn tunnels was the scene of a major accident in 1866 - three freight trains collided and burned 1850
Hertfordshire Welwyn North Tunnel Railway 956 1046 yd 1850
Isle of Wight Ryde Tunnel Railway 358 391 yd
Isle of Wight Ventnor Tunnel Railway 1,201 1313 yd Closed 1966 1866
Kent Channel Tunnel Railway 50,470 31 miles 635 yd 1994
Kent Dartford Tunnel Road 1436 1,570 yd 1963, 1980
Kent Royal Harbour Tunnel Road 800 870 yd
Kent Roundhill Tunnel Road 380 416 yd For A20 road 2001
Kent Shakespeare Tunnel South Eastern Main Line Railway 1260 1387 yd Two individual single bore tunnels.[17][18] 1844
Kent Abbotscliffe Tunnel South Eastern Main Line Railway 1800 2,000 yd Twin track (i.e. single bore).[18] 1844
Kent Martello Tunnel South Eastern Main Line Railway 500 550 yd Twin track (i.e. single bore).[18] 1844
Kent Boxley Abbey to Detling Pedestrian An entrance was present where the A249 now passes at the foot of Detling Hil. The air shafts are visible to the side of the North Downs Way between Boxley and Detling.
Kent Ramsgate Harbour Tunnel Railway 1,028 1124 yd
Kent Charlton Tunnel Railway 138 154 yd
Kent Dover Harbour Tunnel Railway 625 684 yd 1861
Kent Fort Pitt Tunnel Railway 391 428 yd Twin track (i.e. single bore)
Kent Chatham Tunnel Railway 272 297 yd Twin track (i.e. single bore)
Kent Knockholt Tunnel Railway 732 800 yd
Kent Shepherd's Well Tunnel Railway 2138 2376 yd
Kent Bourne Park Tunnel Railway 370 400 yd Used to hide a giant railway borne artillery piece in World War Two.[19] Closed 1953. 1887
Kent Somerhill Tunnel Railway 370 410 yd Single track due to low roof, originally twin track with low height stock.
Kent Wells Tunnel Railway 753 823 yd Twin track unlike the other tunnels on the same line. 1846
Kent Grove Tunnel Cuckoo Line / Wealden Line Railway Closed on 6 July 1985 with the rest of the Tunbridge Wells West branch, but was not reopened when Spa Valley Railway reopened much of the line. Single track.
Kent North Downs Tunnel High Speed 1 Railway 3200 3,500 yd Under Blue Bell Hill, this line is to the UIC GB gauge (i.e. height) rather than the smaller gauges of other, older British railway lines. It is twin track (i.e. siongle bore), but due to air pressure of opposing trains at high speed, trains are scheduled not to pass at the high speed (the line is 186 mph).[20]
Kent Tyler Hill Tunnel Railway 757 828 yd Underneath the current mains site of the University of Kent.[21] The line was closed 1953, and part of the tunnel collapsed in July 1974 1830
Kent Greenhithe Tunnel Railway 228 253 yd
Kent Higham and Strood tunnel Railway 3595 3931 yd It was built between 1819 to 1824 for the Thames and Medway Canal. A single track railway was laid on the tow-path in 1845, and was soon doubled by infilling the canal. A 100 yard air vent was cut into the middle when the tunnel. 1824
Lancashire Sough Tunnel Railway 1,843 1 mile, 255 yards
Leicestershire Ashby de la Zouch Tunnel Railway 282 308 yd Also known as Old Parks or Ashby Tunnel
Leicestershire Clawson Tunnel Railway 763 834 yd Also known as Hose Tunnel
Leicestershire Husbands Bosworth Tunnel Canal 1066 1166 yd 1813
Leicestershire Saddington Tunnel Canal 805 880 yd 1797
Leicestershire Glenfield Tunnel Railway 1,633 1786 Closed 1966. 1832
Lincolnshire Kirton-in-Lindsey Railway 1200 1,300 yd
Lincolnshire Stamford Tunnel Railway 312 341 yd
London London Underground Tunnels Railway 17,100[22] 18,700 yd Sub-surface lines opened in 1863 using cut and cover method. Deep level 'tube' lines opened in 1890 using tunnelling shields. 1863 onwards
London Blackwall Tunnel (Eastern bore) Road 1174[23] 1,284 yd 1967
London Blackwall Tunnel (Western bore) Road 1350[23] 1,480 yd Built using tunnelling shields. 1897
London East India Dock Link Road 350 383 yd 1993
London Greenwich foot tunnel Pedestrian 371 406 yd Runs beneath River Thames; beining refurbished until 2011 1902
London Islington Tunnel, Regent's Canal Canal 878 976 yd 1818
London Maida Hill Tunnel, Regent's Canal Canal 251 272 yd 1816
London Eyre's tunnel, Regent's Canal Canal 48 52 yd 1816
London Kingsway Exchange Telephone (disused) Originally part of the Holborn deep shelter, it was used for telephone exchanges until closure in the 1990s due to asbestos 1954
London Kingsway tramway subway Tramway (disused) Constructed using 'cut and cover' method. Abandoned in 1952 with the rest of the tram network, and now partially used as the Strand Underpass 1906
London Limehouse Link tunnel Road 1800 2,000 yd Constructed with cut and cover methods. Used by the A1203 1993
London London Deep Level Shelters Air Raid Shelter 3,700 3,300 yd Eight built in total 1942
London Heathrow link road Road Part of the airport link road which tunnels from M4/A4 roads to terminals 1,2 and 3
London Heathrow ART Road 1420 1,550 yd Links the airside roads at terminals 1,2 & 3 with the new terminal 5. Only open to vehicles with security clearance 2005 W.

E.
London Heathrow Cargo Tunnel Road 885 968 yd Links terminals 1,2 & 3 with terminal 4
London London Post Office Railway Railway (decommissioned) 10,500 11,500 yd Narrow gauge railway built to transport mail between sorting offices. Now decommissioned but still kept in working order.[24] 1927
London Rotherhithe Tunnel Road 1481 1,620 yd 1908[25]
London Strand Underpass Road 365 399 yd Formed from the disused Kingsway Tramway Subway 1964
London Sydenham Hill (also Penge) Railway 1958 2141 yd The tunnel was disliked by Queen Victoria. The brick lining was made from the clay extracted from the tunnel itself. 1863
London Thames Tunnel Railway 396 433 yd Built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and originally opened as a pedestrian link between Rotherhithe and Wapping. Taken over by the East London Railway and now part of the London Overground 1843
London Tower Subway Pedestrian (disused) 411 450 yd Built using Tunnelling shields. Closed in 1898 due to the opening of the Tower Bridge. Now used for water mains only 1870
London Woolwich foot tunnel Pedestrian 498 545 yd Under River Thames. Being refurbished until 2011 1912
Manchester - Greater Disley Tunnel Railway 3535 2 miles, 346 yards 1902
Manchester - Greater Farnworth Tunnel Railway 270 295 yd Built around 1832 by the Manchester and Bolton Railway[26] 1832
Manchester - Greater Guardian Exchange Telephone 1300 1,400 yd Concrete and brick[27] 1954
Manchester - Greater Summit Tunnel Railway 2638 1 mile, 1125 yards 1841
Merseyside Kingsway Tunnel Road 2483 2,715 yd Also called Wallasey Tunnel 1971
Merseyside Mersey Railway Tunnel Railway 6860 4 miles, 462 yards;
Merseyside Queensway Tunnel Road 3237 3,540 yd 1934
Merseyside Victoria Tunnel Railway 2475 2,707 yd 1849
Merseyside Wapping Tunnel Railway 2030 2,220 yd Originally static steam engine haulage. Closed on 15 May 1972 1830
Merseyside Waterloo Tunnel Railway 862 943 yd 1849
Merseyside Williamson Tunnels Folly 3000 3,300 yd 1800-40
Norfolk Aylsham Bypass Tunnel Railway 166 182 yd On narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway 1990
Norfolk Cromer Tunnel Railway 1,121 1226
Northamptonshire Blisworth Tunnel Canal 2794 3,056 yd Grand Union Canal 1805
Northamptonshire Braunston Tunnel Canal 1887 2,064 yd Grand Union Canal 1796
Northamptonshire Corby Tunnel Railway 1,760 1 mile 160 yards 1878
Northamptonshire Crick Tunnel Canal 1397 1528 yd 1814
Northamptonshire Kelmarsh Tunnel Railway 294 322 yd Was single bore, but doubled. Now pedestrian 1859
Northamptonshire Kilsby Tunnel Railway 2218 1 mile, 666 yards
Northamptonshire Oxendon Tunnel Railway 422 462 yd Was single bore, but doubled. Now pedestrian 1859
Nottinghamshire Annesley Tunnel Railway 915 1001
Nottinghamshire Barnstone Tunnel Railway 90 98 yd 1899
Nottinghamshire Ashwell Tunnel Railway 64 70 yd
Nottinghamshire Drakeholes Tunnel Canal 141 154 yd [28] 1777
Nottinghamshire Mapperley Tunnel Railway 1,035 1132 yd 1875
Nottinghamshire Park Tunnel Horsedrawn carriages
Nottinghamshire Redhill Tunnel
Nottinghamshire Sherwood Tunnel Railway 404 442 yd
Nottinghamshire Sherwood Rise Tunnel Railway 605 662 1899
Nottinghamshire Sneinton Tunnel Railway 117 128 yd 1889
Nottinghamshire Stanton Tunnel, Railway Test Track, Stanton on the Wolds Railway 1,220 1330 1879
Nottinghamshire Thorneywood Tunnel Railway 373 408 yd 1889
Nottinghamshire Victoria Street Tunnel also known as Weekday Cross Tunnel Railway 266 291 yd
Nottinghamshire Watnall Tunnel Railway 245 268 yd
Nottinghamshire Mansfield Road Tunnel Railway 1,087 1189 yd 1698
Oxfordshire Bodleian Library Tunnel Library
Rutland Glaston Tunnel Railway 1,684 1 mile 82 yd 1878
Rutland Manton Tunnel Railway 685 749 yd 1846
Rutland Seaton Tunnel Railway 188 206 yd 1878
Rutland Wing Tunnel Railway 323 353 yd 1878
Shropshire Knowlesands Tunnel Railway 40 44 yd Severn Valley Railway
Shropshire Oakengates Tunnel Railway 430 471 yd 1849
Somerset Chilcompton Tunnel Railway 59 64 yd Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, north of Chilcompton 1874
Somerset Combe Down Tunnel Railway 1,672 1829 Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, between Devonshire Tunnel and Midford 1874
Somerset Devonshire Tunnel Railway 409 447 yd Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Bath Green Park and Combe Down Tunnel; Now a cycle path 1874
Somerset Somerton Tunnel Railway 963 1053 yd Berks and Hants Line between Taunton and Castle Cary
Somerset Whiteball Tunnel Railway 990 1092 yd Bristol to Exeter line between Taunton and Tiverton Junction on Somerset–Devon border 1844
Somerset Windsor Hill Down Tunnel Railway 218.5 239 yd Brick-lined
Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Masbury and Shepton Mallet[29] Rail service closed in 1964 and the tunnel was closed to walkers until late 1990s.[30]		 1874
Somerset Windsor Hill Up Tunnel Railway 115.2 126 yd Brick-lined
Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Masbury and Shepton Mallet[29] Rail service closed in 1964 and the tunnel opened to walkers.[30]		 1892
Staffordshire Birchall Tunnel Railway 63 69 disused since 1970, though plans are afoot to relay the line and reopen the tunnel 1849
Staffordshire Bradnop Tunnel Railway 33 36 Churnet Valley Railway 1905
Staffordshire Cheddleton Tunnel Railway 486 531 yd Churnet Valley Railway 1849
Staffordshire Harecastle Tunnel Canal 2675 2,925 yd 1827
Staffordshire Harecastle Tunnel Railway 280 310 yd
Staffordshire Leek Tunnel Railway 432 472 yd disused since 1964 1849
Staffordshire Meir Tunnel Railway 744 814 yd 1894
Staffordshire Meir Tunnel Road 260 284 yd On A50 road 1997
Staffordshire Oakamoor Tunnel Railway 454 497 yd disused since 1965, though plans are afoot to relay the line and reopen the tunnel 1849
Staffordshire Shugborough Tunnel Railway 710 777 yd 1847
Staffordshire Stockton Brook Tunnel Railway 66 72 yd disused since 1988, though plans are afoot re-open the line and tunnel 1867
Staffordshire Swainsley Tunnel Road 150 164 yd former railway tunnel on the Leek and Manifold Light Railway 1904
Suffolk Stoke Tunnel Railway 330 361 yd 1846
Surrey Betchworth Tunnel Railway 352 m 385 yd South of Dorking station.[31] 1867
Surrey Hindhead Tunnel Road 1830 2,000 yd Part of the A3 29 July 2011
Surrey Merstham Tunnel Railway 1,674 1831 yd 1831
Surrey Merstham Quarry Tunnel Railway 1,932 2113 yd
Surrey Mickleham Tunnel Railway 479 m 524 yd Built by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.
Runs under the eastern side of Norbury Park between Leatherhead and Dorking.[32]		 1867
Surrey St Catherine's Tunnel Railway 121 m 132 yd Built by the London and South Western Railway.
Runs under St Catherine's Hill south of Guildford. Also known as the Guildford Sand Tunnel.[33]		 1849
Tyne and Wear Tyne Tunnel Road 1,676 1833 Also pedestrian tunnel 1967
Tyne and Wear Victoria Tunnel Wagonway 1842
Warwickshire Shrewley Tunnel Canal 396 433 yd 1799
West Midlands Anchor Exchange Telephone
West Midlands Snow Hill Railway Tunnel Railway 581 635 yd 1852
West Midlands Dudley Tunnel Canal 2884 3,154 yd 1792
West Midlands Dudley Railway Tunnel Railway 867 948 yd 1850
West Midlands Lapal Tunnel Canal 3470 3,790 yd Disused since 1917 1798
West Midlands Netherton Canal Tunnel Canal 2768 3,027 yd 1858
West Midlands Queensway (Birmingham) Road 548 600 yd
West Sussex Balcombe tunnel Railway 1036 1133 yd 1841
West Sussex Clayton Tunnel Railway 2066 1 mile, 499 yards
West Sussex North Stoke Tunnel Railway 76 83 yd
West Sussex Southwick Hill Tunnel Road 490 540 yd Part of A27 Brighton bypass 1996
Wiltshire Box Tunnel Railway 2937 1 mile, 1452 yards 1841
Wiltshire Bruce Tunnel Canal 459 502 yd Kennet and Avon Canal 1809
Worcestershire Colwall Old Tunnel Railway 1,433 1567 yd Closed 1926 1860
Worcestershire Redditch Tunnel Railway 300 330 yd Closed 1980s[34] 1868
Yorkshire - North Burdale Tunnel Railway 1,597 1746 yd 1853
Yorkshire - North Blea Moor Tunnel Railway 2,404 2,629 yd Settle & Carlisle Main Line 1876
Yorkshire - North Prospect Tunnel, Crimple, Harrogate Railway 754 825 yd 1848
Yorkshire - North Falsgrave Tunnel Railway 240 260 yd 1885
Yorkshire - North Kettleness Tunnel Railway 282 308 yd 1883
Yorkshire - North Ravenscar Tunnel Railway 255 279 yd Also Peak Tunnel 1885
Yorkshire - North Sandsend Ness Tunnel Railway 1,511 1652 yd 1883
Yorkshire - South Bradway Tunnel Railway 1853 1 mile, 267 yards 1870
Yorkshire - South Norwood Tunnel Canal 2637 1 mile, 1124 yards Disused since 1907 1775
Yorkshire - South Thurgoland Tunnel Railway Second single-track bore opened 1952 due to clearance problems on curves. Closed 1983 1845
Yorkshire - South Totley Tunnel Railway 5697 3 miles, 950 yards 1893
Yorkshire - South Woodhead Tunnel 1 Railway 4840 3 miles, 13 yards First of 3 tunnels 1845
Yorkshire - South Woodhead Tunnel 2 Railway 4840 3 miles, 13 yards Second of 3 tunnels 1853
Yorkshire - South Woodhead Tunnel 3 Railway 4871 3 miles, 60 yards Third tunnel built to support electrification. Now used by National Grid 1953
Yorkshire - West Bramhope Tunnel Railway 3439 2 miles, 241 yards 1849
Yorkshire - West Morley Tunnel Railway 3081 1 mile, 1609 yards 1848
Yorkshire - West Standedge Tunnels Canal 5029 3 miles, 220 yards Disused 1945; reopened 2001. Longest and highest canal tunnel in UK. 1811
Yorkshire - West Standedge Tunnels - Central tunnel Railway 4803 3 miles, 57 yards First of the 3 rail tunnels to be opened. Used for emergency access. 1848
Yorkshire - West Standedge Tunnels - South tunnel Railway 4803 3 miles, 57 yards Second single track tunnel 1871
Yorkshire - West Standedge Tunnels - live tunnel Railway 4806 3 miles, 60 yards Third tunnel, double track, in use 1894
Yorkshire - West Summit Tunnel Railway 2638 1 mile, 1125 yards Manchester and Leeds Railway 1841
Yorkshire - West Thackley Tunnel Railway 1200 1300 yd Airedale Line 1845
Yorkshire - West Victoria Avenue Tunnel Road (A658) 237 258 yd Under the runway of Leeds Bradford International Airport 1982/3 [1]

Wales

County Tunnel Type Length (Metres) Length (Imperial) Construction method / Notes Date of opening
Bridgend Nottage, Porthcawl Railway 58 63 yd[3] Single track. Short, south portal relandscaped. 1829?
Caerphilly Pennar Tunnel Railway 219 239 yd On Halls Road Branch between Risca and Markham
Caerphilly Glyn Tunnel, Hafodyrynys Railway 260 280 yd Taff Vale Extension. Single track. Closed 1964. 1857
Caerphilly Caerphilly Tunnel Railway 1,768 1933 yd In use between Thornhill, Cardiff and Caerphilly. On the Rhymney Railway 1871
Cardiff Queensgate Tunnel Road 715 782 yd Part of the A4232 Butetown link road 1995
Carmarthenshire Pencader Tunnel Railway 818 895 yd Built for broad gauge 1861
Gwynedd Conwy Road Tunnel[35] Road 1080 1,180 Carries the A55 road around Conwy 1991
Gwynedd Penmaenbach Westbound Tunnel [35] Road 658 720 Carries the Westbound A55 road through the Penmaenbach headland 1989
Gwynedd Penmaenbach Eastbound Headland Tunnel [35] Road 172 188 Carries the Eastbound A55 road through the Penmaenbach headland 1932
Gwynedd Pen-y-Clip Westbound Tunnel[35] Road 930 1,020 Carries the Westbound A55 road through the Pen-y-Clip headland 1994
Gwynedd Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 1, Frongoch) Railway 180 200 yd One of four tunnels on the Cambrian Coast Railway. 1867
Gwynedd Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 2, Morga Bach) Railway 200 219 yd One of four tunnels on the Cambrian Coast Railway. 1867
Gwynedd Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 3) Railway 175 191 yd One of four tunnels on the Cambrian Coast Railway. 1867
Gwynedd Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 4, Craig-y-Don) Railway 487 533 yd One of four tunnels on the Cambrian Coast Railway. 1867
Gwynedd Ffestiniog Tunnel Railway 3,407 3726 yd UK's longest single-track tunnel, in use on the Conwy Valley Line
Monmouthshire Severn Tunnel Railway 7012 4 miles, 628 yards Longest mainline tunnel in UK until Channel Tunnel opened 1886
Monmouthshire Gibraltar Tunnel Road 185 202 yd Twin bore on A40 dual carriageway 1968
Monmouthshire Bryn Tunnel, Hengoed Railway 364 398 On Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway from Pontllanfraith to Hengoed
Monmouthshire Clydach Tunnels Railway 250 270 yd Between Nantyglo and Govilon. Closed 1958 1862, doubled 1877
Monmouthshire Gelli-felen Tunnels Railway 230 352 yd Co-located with Clydach
Monmouthshire Monmouth Troy Railway 130 140 yd Disused and blocked
Monmouthshire Usk Railway 234 256 yd Disused but walkable 1857
Neath Port Talbot Cymmer, Afan Valley Railway 1,455 1591 yd Built by the Great Western Railway. Single track. Straight. North end relandscaped
Neath Port Talbot Gelli, Afan Valley Railway 153 167 yd[3] Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway. Single track. Stone and brick. Closed 1964. 1882
Neath Port Talbot Gylfichi, Tonmawr Afan Valley Railway (disused) 932 1019 yd Single track. North end collapsed 1947. South Wales Mineral Railway[2]. 1863
Neath Port Talbot Cwmcerwyn, Maesteg Railway 925 1012 yd Built by the Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company. Single track, curved.[3] 1964
Newport Hillfield Tunnels, Newport Railway 700 770 yd Mainline tunnel west of Newport railway station.
Newport Gaer Tunnel, Newport Railway 369 403 yd Line to Bassaleg west of Hillfield Tunnels.
Newport Brynglas Tunnels Road 370 400 yd Twin-bore, two-lane tunnels on M4. 1967
Pembrokeshire Castle Tunnel, Maenclochog Railway 91 99 yd Used for target practice in WWII. Closed 1949. 1867
Pembrokeshire Saundersfoot Railway Railway 450 490 yd 3 short Coppet Hall Tunnels on the shoreline plus the longer Hill Tunnel inland
Powys Torpantau Tunnel Railway 610 667 yd Brecon and Merthyr Railway. Also called Summit or Beacons Tunnel. Highest rail tunnel in UK. 1863
Powys Tal-y-llyn Tunnel Railway 616 674 yd Brecon and Merthyr Railway 1864
Powys Ashford Tunnel Canal 343 375 yd Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal 1800
Powys Rhayader Tunnel Railway 270 290 yd Mid Wales Railway. Closed 1963. Now a nature reserve 1864
Merthyr Tydfil CBC Abernant / Merthyr Railway 2,283 2497 yd Mainly single track, curved at ends. 1853
Rhondda Cynon Taf Garth or Walnut Tree Tunnel Railway 410 450 yd[9] Barry Railway Company branch to Llanbradach. Double track. Closed 1963. Partly breached by Garth Quarry. 1905
Merthyr Tydfil CBC Morlais, Merthyr Tydfil Railway 950 1040 yd Double track, curved at west end. 3 airshafts. Closed 1964. Linked LNWR with BMR. 1874
Merthyr Tydfil CBC Quaker's Yard Tunnel, Cefn-Glas Tunnel, Abercynon Railway 643 703 yd[13] Vale of Neath / West Midland Railway GWR. Closed to traffic in 1964. 1851
Rhondda Cynon Taf Rhondda, Treherbert Railway 3,148 3443 yd Single track. Longest tunnel in Wales 1890
Rhondda Cynon Taf Tinworks, Treforest Water 140 150 yd Mill race "feeder" for Crawshays Tinworks. Tunnel made when embankment was constructed 1907
Rhondda Cynon Taf Treforest Railway 1,255 1373 yd Barry Railway Company 1889
Rhondda Cynon Taf Tongwynlais Railway 160 180 yd Cardiff Railway through the Taff's Well gap. Closed 1938. Removed in building A470 road. 1907
Swansea Llangyfelfach Tunnel Railway 1,785 1952 yd Active freight-only line on Swansea District Line 1912
Swansea Peniel Green Tunnel (Lonlas) Railway 845 924 yd Active freight-only line on Swansea District Line 1912
Vale of Glamorgan Wenvoe Tunnel Railway 1,707 1867 yd Barry Railway. Closed 1964 [4] 1898
Wrexham Chirk Tunnel Canal 420 459 yd First in UK to have a towpath 1902

Scotland

County Tunnel Type Length (Metres) Length (Imperial) Construction method / Notes Date of opening
Dundee Marketgait Tunnel Road 230 approx 250 yd[36] Cut and cover
Midlothian Broomieknowe Tunnel Railway 393 430yd Closed 1951 1877
Glasgow Clyde Tunnel Road 762 833 yd 1964
Glasgow M8 Motorway, Charing Cross. Road Cut and cover, short sections
Glasgow Glasgow Subway Railway
Scottish Borders Whitrope Tunnel Railway 1,105 1208 Closed 1969 1862
Scottish Borders Penmanshiel Tunnel Railway 244 267
Scottish Highlands Nevis Tunnel Water 24,000 15 miles hydroelectric scheme
Stirling A9, City Centre Tunnel Road Cut and cover
Edinburgh Scotland Street Tunnel Railway 910 1000 1847
Edinburgh Bowshank Tunnel Railway 226 247
Edinburgh Innocent Tunnel, also St Leonard's Tunnel Railway 518 566 Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway. Closed 1968. Now a footpath and cyclepath. 1831
Glasgow Kelvingrove Tunnel Railway 870 950 Glasgow Central Railway. Closed 1964 1896
Glasgow Glasgow Harbour Tunnel Vehicle and pedestrian 213 233 3 bores. Vehicles hoisted to tunnel level. Closed 1987 1895

Northern Ireland

County Tunnel Type Length
(Metres)		 Length
(Imperial)		 Construction method / Notes Date of opening
Antrim Castlerock Rail 611 668 yd Brick 1845 - 1853[37]
Antrim Downhill Rail 281 307 yd 1845 - 1846[38]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Old Warden Tunnel, Bedfordshire - Abandoned Train Tunnels on Waymarking.com
  2. ^ VII. Marple By-Passed 1898-191, www.marple-uk.com, http://www.marple-uk.com/railways/c07_01.htm, retrieved 2008-08-26 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l UK railway tunnel lengths G-P, http://deaves47.users.btopenworld.com/Tunnels/Tunnels2.htm 
  4. ^ Detailed Record, www.imagesofengland.org.uk, http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?pid=1&id=413849, retrieved 2008-08-27 
  5. ^ Cheshire Magazine, www.cc-publishing.co.uk, http://www.cc-publishing.co.uk/Archives/traincrash.html, retrieved 2008-08-27 
  6. ^ "Cornwall & Scilly HER". English Heritage. http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCO55006&resourceID=1020. Retrieved 2011-06-26. 
  7. ^ uid=MCO55003&resourceID=1020 "Cornwall & Scilly HER". English Heritage. http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx uid=MCO55003&resourceID=1020. Retrieved 2011-06-26. 
  8. ^ "SX0853 : Former Railway Trackbed used as Private Road". Geograph - photograph every grid square. GeoGraph. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1245968. Retrieved 2011-06-26. 
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j UK railway tunnel lengths A-F, http://deaves47.users.btopenworld.com/Tunnels/Tunnels1.htm 
  10. ^ Driving the Clay Cross Tunnel, Cliff Williams, Scarthin Books, Cromford
  11. ^ The History of Chesterfield: With ... - Google Book Search, books.google.co.uk, 1839, http://books.google.com/?id=gGE2AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA157&lpg=PA157&dq=Hollingwood+Common+Tunnel, retrieved 2008-08-28 
  12. ^ UK canal tunnel lengths, http://www.towpath.org.uk/tunnel.htm 
  13. ^ a b c d UK railway tunnels lengths Q-Z, http://deaves47.users.btopenworld.com/Tunnels/Tunnels3.htm 
  14. ^ Middlebere railway history, http://www.pmmmg.org/Middlebere.htm 
  15. ^ BBC.co.uk
  16. ^ LocalDetails.co.uk
  17. ^ Kent Rail's page on Shakespeare Cliff Halt, accessed 15 May 2008
  18. ^ a b c Railway People article on the repair work to the 3 tunnels, accessed 15 May 2008
  19. ^ Barham Kent, accessed 15 May 2008
  20. ^ Page on construction of tunnel, accessed 15 May 2008
  21. ^ Graham Martin, From Vision to Reality: the Making of the University of Kent at Canterbury (University of Kent at Canterbury, 1990) pages 225-231 ISBN 0-904938-03-4
  22. ^ Total Length
  23. ^ a b "The Road Tunnel Operator Association - Participants". The Road Tunnel Operator Association. http://www.rtoa.org.uk/Participants.html. Retrieved 2011-11-29. 
  24. ^ Mail Rail unofficial website, http://homepage.ntlworld.com/c.karslake/mailrail/html/the_future.htm, retrieved 2009-03-04 
  25. ^ "Rotherhithe Tunnel Traffic". LondonTrafic. http://www.londontraffic.org/rotherhithe/. Retrieved 2011-07-28. 
  26. ^ Bardsley 1960, p. 7.
  27. ^ Cold-War History in Manchester
  28. ^ Chesterfield Canal Trust - Official website, www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk, http://www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/index.shtml, retrieved 2008-08-28 
  29. ^ a b Calpcott, Kevin (10 AUgust 2007). "Windsor Hill". Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. http://www.sdjr.net/locations/masbury.html. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
  30. ^ a b "Bowlish, Spring Walk - 3.5 mls". Shepton Mallett Town Council. http://www.sheptonmallet.info/site/index.php?page_id=406. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
  31. ^ Capper I (2010). "Betchworth Tunnel". TQ1849. Geograph Britain and Ireland. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1817219. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
  32. ^ Beechcroft G (2009). "Mickleham Tunnel". Railway Structures. Southern E-Group. http://www.semgonline.com/structures/struct_70.html. Retrieved 16 August 2011. 
  33. ^ Williams G (2011). "Railway Stations and Church Names". Glyn's Trains. sinfin.net. http://sinfin.net/railways/stations/church.html#StC. Retrieved 4 November 2011. 
  34. ^ "Redditch Raily History". Redditch Model Railway Club. http://www.redditch-mrc.com/Redditch%20Railways%20-%20History.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-26. 
  35. ^ a b c d "Tunnels". North Wales Trunk Road Agency. 2011. http://www.northwales-tra.gov.uk/index.php?id=329&L=0. Retrieved 2011-09-04. 
  36. ^ Sabre Road Lists, http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/roadlists/r10/notes.php?number=A991 
  37. ^ "History of the Railway". Castlerock Community Association. http://www.coastlinecastlerock.org/history/therailway.php. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
  38. ^ "1845-1861 Londonderry and Coleraine Railway". http://www.bellarenarailwaystation.com/history.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 

Bibliography

  • Alan Blower, British Railway Tunnels, (Ian Allan Ltd, 1964).
  • J.C. Gagg, Book of Canal Tunnels, (J.Gagg, 1976), ISBN 0-9504226-2-2
  • David Jacobs, Bridges, canals & tunnels, (Princeton, N.J, 1968).
  • David J. Appleby, Allan C. Gilbert, and Stephen P. Samuel, Canal Tunnels of England and Wales, (Aylestone, 2001), ISBN 0-9540382-0-7
  • Bardsley, James Rodney (1960), The railways of Bolton, 1824-1959, J.R.Bardsley, ASIN B0000CKNFN, http://books.google.com/?id=2vBlGwAACAAJ