List of tunnels in the United Kingdom
This is a list of road, railway, waterway, and other tunnels 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 m) 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 longest tunnel in the United Kingdom is the Northern line at 27,800 metres (91,200 ft). Standedge Tunnel at 5,029 metres (3.125 mi) is the longest canal tunnel in the United Kingdom.
England
County | Tunnel | Type | Length (Metric) | Length (Imperial) | Construction method / Notes | Date of opening | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bedfordshire | Ampthill Tunnel | Railway | 654 | 715 yd | 4 tracks in 2 bores | 1859 | 52°02′01″N 0°30′48″W / 52.03361°N 0.51333°W |
Bedfordshire | Linslade Tunnel | Railway | 249 | 272 yd | 4 tracks in 3 bores | 1837, 1859, 1876 | 51°55′32″N 0°40′34″W / 51.92544°N 0.67611°W |
Bedfordshire | Old Warden Tunnel | Railway | 807 | 883 yd | Brick construction, Carried the Bedford to Hitchin line. | 1853 | 52°05′18″N 0°22′33″W / 52.08835°N 0.37581°W |
Bedfordshire | Wymington Tunnel | Railway | 1,690 | 1850 yd | 1859 | 52°15′06″N 0°34′58″W / 52.25166°N 0.58266°W | |
Bristol | Clifton Down Tunnel | Railway | 1,601 | 1751 yd | Part of the Clifton Extension Railway built jointly by the MR and GWR | 1874 | 51°28′02″N 2°37′31″W / 51.46720°N 2.62531°W |
Cambridgeshire | Wansford Tunnel | Railway | 563 | 616 yd | Now on preserved Nene Valley Railway | 1847 | 52°33′55″N 0°23′58″W / 52.56518°N 0.39956°W |
Cheshire | Disley Tunnel | Railway | 3535 | 3,866 yd | Bored tunnel[1] | 1901 | 53°22′18″N 2°05′09″W / 53.37172°N 2.08576°W |
Cheshire | Prestbury Tunnel | Railway | 250 | 273 yd[2] | Brick[3] | 1845 | 53°17′44″N 2°08′40″W / 53.29551°N 2.14447°W |
Cheshire | Sutton Tunnel | Railway | 1724 | 1,885 yd[4] | See also Sutton Tunnel railway accident | 53°19′13″N 2°40′40″W / 53.32020°N 2.67790°W | |
Cornwall | Saltash Tunnel | Road | 410 | 450 yd | Carries the A38 | 1988 | 50°24′42″N 4°12′54″W / 50.41161°N 4.21496°W |
Cornwall | Brownqueen Tunnel | Railway | 80 | 88 yd | 50°26′05″N 4°40′51″W / 50.43466°N 4.68092°W | ||
Cornwall | Toldish Tunnel | Railway (for horse-drawn trams) | 460 | 500 yd | disused (closed 1874) | 1849 | 50°24′11″N 4°55′31″W / 50.40311°N 4.92533°W |
Cornwall | Trelill Tunnel | Railway | 304 | 333 yd | disused (closed 1966) | 1895 | 50°34′08″N 4°45′46″W / 50.56886°N 4.76268°W |
Cornwall | Shillingham Tunnel | Railway | 412 | 451 yd | aka Wivelscombe | 1908 | 50°23′43″N 4°15′51″W / 50.39539°N 4.26427°W |
Cornwall | Treverrin Tunnel | Railway | 516 | 564 yd | 1859 | 50°22′58″N 4°40′34″W / 50.38281°N 4.67616°W | |
Cornwall | Polperrow Tunnel | Railway | 348 | 381 yd[5] | 1859 | 50°17′10″N 5°00′41″W / 50.28615°N 5.01136°W | |
Cornwall | Buckshead Tunnel | Railway | 290 | 320 yd[6] | 1859 | 50°16′46″N 5°02′27″W / 50.27936°N 5.04071°W | |
Cornwall | Sparnick Tunnel | Railway | 449 | 491 yd | 1863 | 50°14′25″N 5°05′41″W / 50.24026°N 5.09462°W | |
Cornwall | Pinnock Tunnel | Railway, now converted to private road | 1,073 | 1173 yd[7] | 1874 | 50°21′05″N 4°39′44″W / 50.35125°N 4.66219°W | |
Derbyshire | Alfreton Tunnel | Railway | 770 | 840 yd | 1862 | 53°05′31″N 1°21′41″W / 53.09200°N 1.36136°W | |
Derbyshire | Ashbourne Tunnel | Railway (now a cycleway) | 350 | 380 yd | 1899 | 53°00′57″N 1°44′05″W / 53.01571°N 1.73483°W | |
Derbyshire | Ashwood Dale Tunnel | Railway | 91 | 100 yd | 1863 | 53°15′09″N 1°49′13″W / 53.25252°N 1.82034°W | |
Derbyshire | Barmoor Clough Tunnel | Railway | 101 | 111 yd | 1863 | 53°18′57″N 1°53′49″W / 53.31590°N 1.89683°W | |
Derbyshire | Bolsover Tunnel | Railway | 2,399 | 2624 yd | Infilled with coal waste 1966-7 | 1897 | 53°13′00″N 1°16′36″W / 53.21662°N 1.27669°W |
Derbyshire | Bradway Tunnel | Railway | 1,853 | 2026 yd | 1870 | 53°19′02″N 1°29′53″W / 53.31721°N 1.49813°W | |
Derbyshire | Breadsall Tunnel (also Morley) | Railway | 218 | 238 yd | 1878 | 52°57′21″N 1°24′32″W / 52.95597°N 1.40889°W | |
Derbyshire | Burbage Tunnel | Railway | 530 | 580 yd[8] | 1830 | 53°15′42″N 1°57′11″W / 53.26168°N 1.95300°W | |
Derbyshire | Butterley Tunnel | Canal (disused) | 2,712 | 2966 yd | 1794 | 53°03′34″N 1°23′42″W / 53.05936°N 1.39487°W | |
Derbyshire | Chee Tor Tunnel (1) | Railway | 390 | 430 yd[8] | 1863 | 53°15′21″N 1°48′38″W / 53.25584°N 1.81063°W | |
Derbyshire | Chee Tor Tunnel (2) | Railway | 86 | 94 yd[8] | 1863 | 53°15′17″N 1°48′52″W / 53.25468°N 1.81452°W | |
Derbyshire | Clay Cross Tunnel | Railway | 1,631 | 1784 yd | Brick[9] | 1839 | 53°10′04″N 1°24′49″W / 53.16790°N 1.41363°W |
Derbyshire | Cowburn Tunnel | Railway | 3,385 | 3702 yd | 1892 | 53°21′07″N 1°52′00″W / 53.35200°N 1.86680°W | |
Derbyshire | Cressbrook Tunnel | Railway | 431 | 471 yd[8] | 1863 | 53°14′58″N 1°44′49″W / 53.24949°N 1.74688°W | |
Derbyshire | Dove Holes Tunnel | Railway (freight) | 2,729 | 2984 yd | Closed to passenger traffic in 1967 | 1865 | 53°18′11″N 1°53′19″W / 53.30293°N 1.88853°W |
Derbyshire | Duckmanton Tunnel | Railway | 458 | 501 yd | Closed to passenger traffic in 1951, closed completely 1957, infilled 1970s | 1897 | 53°13′44.2″N 1°22′1.3″W / 53.228944°N 1.367028°W |
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 | Haddon Tunnel | Railway | 967 | 1058 yd | Constructed with cut and cover methods. Closed in 1967 | 1863 | 53°11′47″N 1°39′07″W / 53.19644°N 1.65207°W |
Derbyshire | Hag Tunnel | Canal (disused) | 85 | 93 yd[10] | 1794 | ||
Derbyshire | Headstone Tunnel | Railway | 487 | 533 yd[2] | 1863 | ||
Derbyshire | High Tor Tunnel 1 | Railway | 294 | 321 yd[2] | 1849 | ||
Derbyshire | High Tor Tunnel 1A | Railway | 53 | 58 yd[2] | 1849 | ||
Derbyshire | High Tor Tunnel 2 | Railway | 346 | 378 yd[2] | 1849 | ||
Derbyshire | Hindlow Tunnel | Railway (now a cycleway) | 562 yd | 514 yd | 1899 | ||
Derbyshire | Holt Lane Tunnel | Railway | 115 | 126 yd | 1849 | ||
Derbyshire | Hopton Tunnel | Railway | 103 | 113 yd[2] | 1830 | ||
Derbyshire | Hindlow Tunnel | Railway | 470 | 514 yd[2] | 1832 | ||
Derbyshire | Hollingwood Common Tunnel | Canal (disused) | 2,820 | 3080 yd | Coalmine canal joining with Chesterfield Canal[11] | 1777 | |
Derbyshire | Lea Wood Tunnel | Railway | 288 | 315 yd | 1849 | ||
Derbyshire | Litton Tunnel | Railway | 472 | 516 yd[2] | 1863 | 53°15′07″N 1°45′19″W / 53.25204°N 1.75534°W | |
Derbyshire | Mickleover Tunnel | Railway | 424 | 464 yd | 1878 | ||
Derbyshire | Milford Tunnel | Railway | 782 | 855 yd | 1839 | 53°00′06″N 1°29′12″W / 53.00177°N 1.48672°W | |
Derbyshire | Morley Tunnel | Railway | 218 | 238 yd | 1878 | ||
Derbyshire | Newhaven Tunnel | Railway | 47 | 51 yd[2] | 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. 53°19′57″N 1°17′21″W / 53.33253°N 1.28921°W
C. 53°20′06″N 1°16′11″W / 53.33501°N 1.26971°W E. 53°20′15″N 1°15′01″W / 53.33744°N 1.25022°W |
Derbyshire | Norwood End Tunnel No. 10 | Railway | 270[12] | 300 yd | Parallel to Norwood Tunnel | 1878 | |
Derbyshire | Peak Forest Tunnel | Railway | 27 | 29 yd | 1863 | ||
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] | Closed 9 January 1967 and subsequently lifted | 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 | ||
Dorset | Beaminster Tunnel | Road (A3066) | 105 | 345 ft | Carries the A3066. Brick lined construction. | 1832 | |
Dorset | Buckhorn Weston Tunnel | Railway | 678 | 742 yd[8] | |||
Dorset | Bincombe Tunnel (North) | Railway | 749 | 819 yd[8] | |||
Dorset | Bincombe Tunnel (South) | Railway | 44 | 48 yd[8] | |||
Dorset | Evershot Tunnel | Railway | 282 | 308 yd[8] | |||
Dorset | Frampton Tunnel | Railway | 595 | 651 yd[8] | |||
Dorset | Middlebere Plateway Tunnels | Railway | Built in two stages | 1807/1825[14] | |||
Dorset | Poundbury Tunnel | Railway | 244 | 267 yd[2] | |||
East Sussex | Cuilfail Tunnel | Road | 430 | 470 yd | 1980 | ||
East Sussex | Patcham Tunnel | Railway | 446 | 488 | 1841 | ||
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 | 1140[15] | 1246 yd | 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 (1810) | tramroad | 138 yards | Abandoned uncompleted in 1812 after flooding | 51°47′16″N 2°26′46″W / 51.78770°N 2.44598°W | ||
Gloucestershire | Severn Tunnel | Railway | 7012 | 4 miles, 628 yards | 1886 | ||
Gloucestershire | Micheldean Tunnel | Railway | 715 | 782 yd | portals bricked up | ||
Greater Manchester | Clifton Hall Tunnel | Railway | 1,187 | 1298 yd | 1850 | ||
Greater Manchester | Disley Tunnel | Railway | 3535 | 2 miles, 346 yards | 1902 | ||
Greater Manchester | Farnworth Tunnel | Railway | 270 | 295 yd | Built around 1832 by the Manchester and Bolton Railway[16] | 1832 | |
Greater Manchester | Guardian Exchange | Telephone | 1300 | 1,400 yd | Concrete and brick[17] | 1954 | |
Greater Manchester | Standedge Tunnels | Canal | 5029 | 3 miles, 220 yards | Disused 1945; reopened 2001. Longest and highest canal tunnel in UK. Eastern portal located in West Yorkshire | 1811 | |
Greater Manchester | Standedge Tunnels – Central tunnel | Railway | 4803 | 3 miles, 57 yards | First of the 3 rail tunnels to be opened. Used for emergency access. Eastern portal located in West Yorkshire | 1848 | |
Greater Manchester | Standedge Tunnels – South tunnel | Railway | 4803 | 3 miles, 57 yards | Second single track tunnel, now disused. Eastern portal located in West Yorkshire | 1871 | |
Greater Manchester | Standedge Tunnels – Live tunnel | Railway | 4806 | 3 miles, 60 yards | Third tunnel, double track, in use. Eastern portal located in West Yorkshire | 1894 | |
Greater Manchester | Summit Tunnel | Railway | 2638 | 1 mile, 1125 yards | 1841 | ||
Hampshire | Fareham Tunnel No. 1 | Railway | 134 | 147 yd | Also known as Funtley No.1; also include M27 bridge | ||
Hampshire | Fareham Tunnel No. 2 | Railway | 506 | 553 yd | Also known as Funtley No.2 | ||
Hampshire | Greywell Tunnel | Canal | 1125 | 1230 yd | Brick construction | ||
Hampshire | Micheldever Tunnel | Railway | 181 | 198 yd[18] | Also known as Litchfield Tunnel | 1840[19] | |
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 | 483 | 528 yd[18] | Allows the South Western Main Line to pass under the Civic Centre in Southampton | 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 | Ponsbourne Tunnel | Railway | 2,454 | 2684 yd | Part of the Hertford Loop Line, it was the last tunnel constructed using traditional means | 1918 | |
Hertfordshire | Welwyn North Tunnel | Railway | 956 | 1046 yd | Welwyn North tunnel was the scene of a major accident in 1866 – three freight trains collided and burned | 1850 | |
Hertfordshire | Welwyn South Tunnel | Railway | 408 | 446 yd | 1850 | ||
Hertfordshire | Weston Hills Tunnel | Road | 230 | 250 yd | Cut and Cover[20][21] | 2006 | |
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 | Approximately half of this tunnel is in France. | 1994 | |
Kent | Dartford Tunnel | Road | 1436 | 1,570 yd | 1963, 1980 | ||
Kent | Medway Tunnel | Road | 240 | 260 yd | For A289 road | 1996 | |
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.[22][23] | 1844 | |
Kent | Abbotscliffe Tunnel South Eastern Main Line | Railway | 1800 | 2,000 yd | Twin track (i.e. single bore).[23] | 1844 | |
Kent | Martello Tunnel South Eastern Main Line | Railway | 500 | 550 yd | Twin track (i.e. single bore).[23] | 1844 | |
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.[24] Closed 16 June 1947. | 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. single 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).[25] | ||
Kent | Tyler Hill Tunnel | Railway | 757 | 828 yd | Underneath the main site of the University of Kent, Canterbury.[26] 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 | Blackburn Tunnel | Railway | 398 | 435 yd[27] | |||
Lancashire | Foulridge Tunnel | Canal | 1,487 | 1626 yd[28] | |||
Lancashire | Gannow Tunnel | Canal | 509 | 557 yd[28] | |||
Lancashire | Gisburn Tunnel | Railway | 144 | 157 yd | |||
Lancashire | Haslingden (North Hag) Tunnel | Railway | 134 | 146 yd[29] | Closed in 1966 | 1848 | |
Lancashire | Holme Tunnel | Railway | 242 | 265 yd | |||
Lancashire | Melling Tunnel | Railway | 1,120 | 1230 yd[30] | |||
Lancashire | Rishton Tunnel | Railway | 62 | 68 yd[27] | |||
Lancashire | Sough Tunnel | Railway | 1,843 | 1 mile, 255 yards[27] | |||
Lancashire | Upholland Tunnel | Railway | 877 | 959 yd | |||
Lancashire | Wilpshire Tunnel | Railway | 297 | 325 yd[27] | |||
Lancashire | Thrutch Tunnel | Railway | 541 | 592 yd | 1 track top section brick lined lower section stone, closed 1966 | 1880 | 53°41′29″N 2°14′55″W / 53.691300°N 2.248735°W |
Lancashire | Newchurch No.1 Tunnel | Railway | 148 | 162 yd | 1 track top section brick lined lower section stone, closed 1966 | 1852 | 53°41′29″N 2°14′55″W / 53.691400°N 2.248659°W |
Lancashire | Newchurch No.2 Tunnel | Railway | 270 | 290 yd | 1 track top section brick lined lower section stone, closed 1966 | 1852 | 53°41′26″N 2°14′42″W / 53.690653°N 2.244961°W |
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 | Northern line (Morden to East Finchley via Bank) | Railway | 27,800 | 30,400 yd | Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1886 and 1939 | 1890-1939 | |
London | Piccadilly line (Bounds Green to Barons Court) | Railway | 19,610 | 21,450 yd | Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1902 and 1932 | 1906–32 | |
London | Victoria line (Brixton to Walthamstow Central) | Railway | 22,040 | 24,100 yd | Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1962 and 1972 | 1968–72 | |
London | Central line (Stratford to White City) | Railway | 17,390 | 19,020 yd | Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1896 and 1940 | 1900–46 | |
London | Northern line (Kennington to Golders Green via Charing Cross) | Railway | 11,940 | 13,060 yd | Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1902 and 1926 | 1907–26 | |
London | Bakerloo line (Elephant & Castle to Queen's Park) | Railway | 10,900 | 11,900 yd | Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1898 and 1915 | 1906–15 | |
London | Waterloo & City line (Waterloo to Bank) | Railway | 2,226 | 2,434 yd | Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1894 and 1898 | 1898 | |
London | Blackwall Tunnel (Eastern bore) | Road | 1,174[31] | 1,284 yd | 1967 | ||
London | Blackwall Tunnel (Western bore) | Road | 1,350[31] | 1,480 yd | Built using tunnelling shields. | 1897 | |
London | Crossrail Royal Oak to Farringdon | Railway | 6,400 | 7,000 yd | Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter | Due to open 2017 | |
London | Crossrail Limmo Peninsula to Farringdon | Railway | 8,300 | 9,100 yd | Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter | Due to open 2017 | |
London | Crossrail Pudding Mill Lane to Stepney Green | Railway | 2,700 | 3,000 yd | Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter | Due to open 2017 | |
London | Crossrail Plumstead to North Woolwich (Thames tunnel section) | Railway | 26,00 | 2,800 yd | Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter | Due to open 2017 | |
London | Crossrail Limmo Peninsula (Royal Docks) to Victoria Dock portal | Railway | 900 | 980 yd | Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter | Due to open 2017 | |
London | East India Dock Link | Road | 350 | 383 yd | 1993 | ||
London | Greenwich foot tunnel | Pedestrian | 371 | 406 yd | Runs beneath River Thames; being refurbished until 2014 | 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 | 370 | 400 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 | 1955 | |||
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. 51°28′06″N 0°29′26″W / 51.46834°N 0.49059°W |
London | Heathrow Cargo Tunnel | Road | 885 | 968 yd | Links terminals 1,2 & 3 with terminal 4 | 1968 | 51°27′51″N 0°27′20″W / 51.46426°N 0.45555°W |
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.[32] | 1927 | |
London | Rotherhithe Tunnel | Road | 1481 | 1,620 yd | 1908[33] | ||
London | Snow Hill tunnel | Railway | 1866 | ||||
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 Marc 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 | 1912 | |
Merseyside | Kingsway Tunnel | Road | 2483 | 2,715 yd | Also called Wallasey Tunnel | 1971 | |
Merseyside | Mersey Railway | Railway | 3820 | 2 miles, 660 yards; | Length of longest tunnel in system | 1886–1892 | |
Merseyside | Queensway Tunnel | Road | 3237 | 3,540 yd | 1934 | ||
Merseyside | Scholes Tunnel | Railway | 73 | 80 yd | South of Thatto Heath | ? | |
Merseyside | Victoria Tunnel | Railway | 2475 | 2,707 yd | 1849 | ||
Merseyside | Wapping Tunnel | Railway | 2030 | 2,220 yd | Originally static steam engine haulage because of the steep gradient, then locomotive hauled. Closed on 15 May 1972 | 1829 | |
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 | 56 | 61 | 1888 | ||
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 | Hunsbury Hill Tunnel | Railway | 1053 | 1152 yd | 1881 | ||
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 | |
Northamptonshire | Stowe Hill tunnel | Railway | 449 | 491 yd | Single bore, twin tracks. West coast main line | 1838 | |
Northumberland | Hillhead Tunnel | Railway | 321 | 351 yd | Single Bore, brick lined. | 1887 | 55°23′32″N 1°49′56″W / 55.39217°N 1.83236°W |
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 | [34] | 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 | 1898 [35] | ||
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 | Built as part of the Langport and Castle Cary Railway. Part of the Berks and Hants Line between Taunton and Castle Cary | 1906 | 51°02′36″N 2°45′27″W / 51.04344°N 2.75761°W |
Somerset | White Ball Tunnel | Railway | 990 | 1092 yd | Bristol to Exeter line between Taunton and Tiverton Junction on Somerset–Devon border | 1844 | |
Somerset | Winsor Hill Down Tunnel | Railway | 219 | 239 yd | Brick-lined Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Masbury and Shepton Mallet[36] Rail service closed in 1964 and the tunnel was closed to walkers until the late 1990s.[37] | 1874 | |
Somerset | Winsor Hill Up Tunnel | Railway | 115 | 126 yd | Brick-lined Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Masbury and Shepton Mallet[36] Rail service closed in 1964 and the tunnel opened to walkers.[37] | 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(Brindley) | Canal | 2,630 | 2880 | Closed in 1914 due to subsidence | 1777 | |
Staffordshire | Harecastle Tunnel(Telford) | Canal | 2,676 | 2926 | 1827 | ||
Staffordshire | Harecastle railway tunnel | Railway | 200 | 243 yd | On new diversion replacing three Victorian tunnels | 1965 | |
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 | 385 yd | South of Dorking station.[38] | 1867 | |
Surrey | Hindhead Tunnel | Road | 1830 | 2,000 yd | Part of the A3 | 2011 | |
Surrey | Merstham Tunnel | Railway | 1,674 | 1831 yd | 1841 | ||
Surrey | Merstham Quarry Tunnel | Railway | 1,932 | 2113 yd | 1899 | ||
Surrey | Redhill Tunnel | Railway | 593 | 649 yd | 1899 | ||
Surrey | Mickleham Tunnel | Railway | 479 | 524 yd | Built by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. Runs under the eastern side of Norbury Park between Leatherhead and Dorking.[39] | 1867 | |
Surrey | St Catherine's Tunnel | Railway | 121 | 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.[40] | 1849 | |
Sussex – West | Southwick Hill Tunnel | Road | 490 | 540 | Twin-bore tunnel, part of A27 | 1996 | |
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 | 52°28′58″N 1°54′15″W / 52.4829°N 1.9042°W | ||||
West Midlands | Snow Hill Tunnel | Railway | 581 | 635 yd | 1852 | 52°28′51″N 1°53′46″W / 52.48095°N 1.89615°W | |
West Midlands | Black Lake Tunnel | Railway | 377 | 412 yd | Closed 1972, but now reopen for light rail use | ? | |
West Midlands | Dudley Tunnel | Canal | 2884 | 3,154 yd | 1792 | 52°31′03″N 2°05′12″W / 52.517544°N 2.086741°W | |
West Midlands | Dudley Railway Tunnel | Railway | 867 | 948 yd | 1850 | 52°30′30″N 2°04′43″W / 52.508392°N 2.078701°W | |
West Midlands | Hockley Tunnel 1 | Railway | 124 | 136 yd | Closed 1972 but later reopened for light rail use | ? | |
West Midlands | Hockley Tunnel 2 | Railway | 150 | 160 yd | Closed 1972 but later reopened for light rail use | ? | |
West Midlands | Lapal Tunnel | Canal | 3470 | 3,790 yd | Disused since 1917 | 1798 | 52°26′42″N 2°00′06″W / 52.4450°N 2.0017°W |
West Midlands | Netherton Canal Tunnel | Canal | 2768 | 3,027 yd | 1858 | 52°30′16″N 2°03′34″W / 52.50435°N 2.05932°W | |
West Midlands | Queensway (Birmingham) | Road | 548 | 600 yd | 52°28′59″N 1°54′09″W / 52.4830°N 1.9026°W | ||
West Sussex | Balcombe tunnel | Railway | 1036 | 1133 yd | 1841 | ||
West Sussex | Clayton Tunnel | Railway | 2066 | 1 mile, 499 yards | |||
West Sussex | Haywards Heath Tunnel | Railway | 228 | 249 yds | |||
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 | |
Wiltshire | Alderton Tunnel | Railway | 463 | 506 yards | South Wales main line | 1903 | |
Worcestershire and Herefordshire | Colwall Old Tunnel | Railway | 1,433 | 1567 yd | Closed 1926 | 1861 | |
Worcestershire and Herefordshire | Colwall New Tunnel | Railway | 1,433 | 1567 yd | In service on the Cotswold Line | 1926 | |
Herefordshire | Ledbury Tunnel | Railway | 1,205 | 1318 yd | In service | 1861 | |
Herefordshire | Dinmore Tunnel | Railway | 970 | 1060 yd | In service on Welsh Marches Line | 1853 Up Line and 1891 Down Line | |
Worcestershire | Redditch Tunnel | Railway | 300 | 330 yd | Closed 1980s[41] | 1868 | |
Yorkshire – East | Drewton Tunnel | Railway | 1,933 | 2114 yd | Hull & Barnsley Closed 1959 | 1885 | |
Yorkshire – East | Sugar Loaf Tunnel | Railway | 121 | 132 yd | Hull & Barnsley Closed 1959 | 1885 | |
Yorkshire – East | Weedley Tunnel | Railway | 121 | 132 yd | Hull & Barnsley Closed 1959 | 1885 | |
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 | 54°16′35.9″N 0°24′33.8″W / 54.276639°N 0.409389°W | |
Yorkshire – North | Kettleness Tunnel | Railway | 282 | 308 yd | 1883 | ||
Yorkshire – North | Ravenscar Tunnel | Railway | 255 | 279 yd | Also Peak Tunnel | 1885 | |
Yorkshire – North | Sandsend Tunnel | Railway | 1,511 | 1652 yd | 1883 | ||
Yorkshire – South | Bradway Tunnel | Railway | 1853 | 1 mile, 267 yards | 1870 | ||
Yorkshire – South | Cat Hill Tunnel | Railway | 141 | 154 yards | 1840 | ||
Yorkshire – South | Norwood Tunnel | Canal | 2637 | 1 mile, 1124 yards | Disused since 1907 | 1775 | |
Yorkshire – South | Thurgoland Tunnel (old) | Railway | 288 | 315 yd[18] | Down line from 1952 – Closed 1983 | 1845 | |
Yorkshire – South | Thurgoland Tunnel (new) | Railway | 310 | 339 yd[18] | Second single-track bore (up line)opened 1952 due to clearance problems on curves. Closed 1983 | 1953 | |
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 | Bingley Tunnel | Railway | 138 | 151 yards | Airedale Line | 1847 | |
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 (Huddersfield Narrow Canal). Western portal located in Greater Manchester | 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. Western portal located in Greater Manchester | 1848 | |
Yorkshire – West | Standedge Tunnels – South tunnel | Railway | 4803 | 3 miles, 57 yards | Second single track tunnel. Western portal located in Greater Manchester | 1871 | |
Yorkshire – West | Standedge Tunnels – live tunnel | Railway | 4806 | 3 miles, 60 yards | Third tunnel, double track, in use. Western Portal located in Greater Manchester | 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 |
Wales
County | Tunnel | Type | Length (Metres) | Length (Imperial) | Construction method / Notes | Date of opening |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bridgend | Nottage, Porthcawl | Railway | 58 | 63 yd[2] | Single track. Short, south portal relandscaped. | 1829? |
Caerphilly | Penar 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. Portals now backfilled | 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 |
Cardigan | Bryn Teify Tunnel | Railway | 92 | 101 yd | Closed 1970s and portals bricked up | ? |
Carmarthenshire | Pencader Tunnel | Railway | 901 | 985 yd | Built for broad gauge | 1861 |
Conwy | Conwy Road Tunnel[42] | Road | 1,080 | 1,180 | Carries the A55 road around Conwy | 1991 |
Conwy | Penmaenbach Westbound Tunnel[42] | Road | 658 | 720 | Carries the Westbound A55 road through the Penmaenbach headland | 1989 |
Conwy | Penmaenbach Eastbound Headland Tunnel[42] | Road | 172 | 188 | Carries the Eastbound A55 road through the Penmaenbach headland | 1932 |
Conwy | Pen-y-Clip Westbound Tunnel[42] | Road | 930 | 1,020 | Carries the Westbound A55 road through the Pen-y-Clip headland | 1994 |
Gwynedd | Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 1, Fron-gôch) | Railway | 180 | 200 yd | One of four tunnels on the Cambrian Coast Railway. | 1867 |
Gwynedd | Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 2, Morfa 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 | 7,012 | 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. Portals now buried | |
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. On a continuous curve of approximately 120 degrees | 1862 |
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 | 1,458 | 1595 yd | Built by the Great Western Railway. Single track. Straight. North end relandscaped | |
Neath Port Talbot | Gelli, Afan Valley | Railway | 153 | 167 yd[2] | Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway. Single track. Stone and brick. Closed 1964. | 1882 |
Neath Port Talbot | Gyfylchi Tunnel, Tonmawr / Afan Valley | Railway (disused) | 932 | 1019 yd | Single track. North end collapsed 1947. South Wales Mineral Railway. | 1863 |
Neath Port Talbot | Cwmcerwyn, Maesteg | Railway | 920 | 1010 yd | Built by the Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company. Single track, curved. | 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 | 666 yd | Brecon and Merthyr Railway. Also called Summit or Beacons Tunnel. Highest rail tunnel in UK at 1,313 feet (400 m) | 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 |
Powys | Marteg Tunnel | Railway | 340 | 372 yd | Mid Wales Railway. Closed 1963. North-west of Rhayader | 1864 |
Merthyr Tydfil CBC | Abernant / Merthyr | Railway | 2,283 | 2497 yd | Single track bore, curved at west end and with double-track portal. | 1853 |
Rhondda Cynon Tâf | Garth or Walnut Tree Tunnel | Railway | 410 | 490 yd[8] | Barry Railway Company Penrhos 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 Merthyr and Brecon Railway at Morlais Junction. | 1874 |
Merthyr Tydfil CBC | Quaker's Yard or Cefn-Glas Tunnel, Abercynon | Railway | 643 | 703 yd[13] | Vale of Neath / West Midland Railway GWR. Closed to traffic in 1964. | 1851 |
Rhondda Cynon Tâf | Rhondda or Treherbert Tunnel | Railway | 3,148 | 3443 yd | Single track. Closed due to subsidence in the 1960s. | 1890 |
Rhondda Cynon Tâf | Tinworks, Treforest | Water | 140 | 150 yd | Mill race "feeder" for Crawshays Tinworks. Tunnel made when embankment was constructed | 1907 |
Rhondda Cynon Tâf | Pontypridd | Railway | 1,210 | 1323 yd | Barry Railway Company Closed and bricked up | 1889 |
Rhondda Cynon Tâf | Tongwynlais | Railway | 160 | 180 yd | Cardiff Railway through the Taffs Well gorge. Closed 1938. Removed in constructing A470 dual carriageway at Tongwynlais. | 1907 |
Swansea | Penllergaer Tunnel | Railway | 267 | 292 yd | Active freight and sometimes passenger line on Swansea District Line | 1912 |
Swansea | Llangyfelach Tunnel | Railway | 1,785 | 1952 yd | Active freight and sometimes passenger line on Swansea District Line | 1912 |
Swansea | Peniel Green Tunnel (Lônlas) | Railway | 845 | 924 yd | Active freight and sometimes passenger line on Swansea District Line | 1912 |
Swansea | Cockett Tunnel | Railway | 721 | 788 yd | South Wales Main Line | |
Vale of Glamorgan | Wenvoe Tunnel | Railway | 1,707 | 1867 yd | Barry Railway. Closed 1964 | 1898 |
Vale of Glamorgan | Cogan Tunnel | Railway | 203 | 222 yd | Barry Railway. | 1886 |
Vale of Glamorgan | Barry Island Tunnel. Also called "Pier Tunnel" | Railway | 260 | 280 yd | Barry Railway. Closed in the 1970s bricked up but part of bore used as a rifle range from west portal access. | 1897 |
Vale of Glamorgan | Porthkerry No.1 Tunnel | Railway | 498 | 545 yd | Vale of Glamorgan Railway. | 1898 |
Vale of Glamorgan | Porthkerry No.2 Tunnel | Railway | 65 | 71 yd | Vale of Glamorgan Railway. | 1898 |
Wrexham | Chirk Tunnel | Canal | 420 | 459 yd | First in UK to have a towpath | 1902 |
Northern Ireland
County | Tunnel | Type | Length (Metres) | Length (Imperial) | Construction method / Notes | Date of opening |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Londonderry | Castlerock | Rail | 611 | 668 yd | Brick | 1845–1853[43] |
Londonderry | Downhill | Rail | 281 | 307 yd | 1845–1846[44] | |
Armagh | Lissummon | Rail | 1,608 | 1759 yd | Stone with some brick | early 1860s[45] |
Down | Binnian Tunnel | Aqueduct | 4,000 | 2.5 miles | Stone | 1948–1952 |
Antrim | Whitehead | Rail | 159 | 145 yd | Closed in 1994 until further notice. | 1862–1994[46] |
Tyrone | Dungannon | Rail | 870 | 800 yd | 1862 [47] | |
Scotland
County | Tunnel | Type | Length (Metres) | Length (Imperial) | Construction method / Notes | Date of opening |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dundee | Marketgait Tunnel | Road | 230 | approx 250 yd[48] | 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 | 10,500 | 6.5 miles | ||
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 |
Renfrewshire | Newton Street Tunnel | Railway | 1,930 | 1.2 miles | Longest bored railway tunnel in Scotland, linking Greenock to Gourock | 1889 |
See also
References
Notes
- ↑ "VII. Marple By-Passed 1898-191". www.marple-uk.com. Retrieved 2008-08-26
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "UK railway tunnel lengths G-P"
- ↑ Historic England. "Details from image database (413849)". Images of England. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- ↑ "Cheshire Magazine". www.cc-publishing.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-08-27
- ↑ "Cornwall & Scilly HER". English Heritage. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- ↑ "Cornwall & Scilly HER". English Heritage. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- ↑ "SX0853 : Former Railway Trackbed used as Private Road". Geograph – photograph every grid square. GeoGraph. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "UK railway tunnel lengths A-F"
- ↑ Driving the Clay Cross Tunnel, Cliff Williams, Scarthin Books, Cromford
- ↑ "UK canal tunnel lengths"
- ↑ The History of Chesterfield: With … - Google Book Search. books.google.co.uk. 1839. Retrieved 2008-08-28
- ↑ Killamarsh Branch & Extension: via kivetonwaleshistory
- 1 2 3 4 "UK railway tunnels lengths Q-Z"
- ↑ "Middlebere railway history"
- ↑ Hidden internet link
N’Kaoua, J; Pope, CW; Henson, DA. "A parametric study into the factors affecting the development and alleviation of micro-pressure waves in railway tunnels". Mott MacDonald Ltd. - ↑ Bardsley 1960, p. 7.
- ↑ Cold-War History in Manchester
- 1 2 3 4 Phil Deaves (Subeditor of The Railway Observer). "Railway tunnel lengths". Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ↑ Nick Hurrell. "The Railway through Micheldever". Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ↑ "BBC – Beds Herts and Bucks – Read This - Baldock bypass: it's open!". bbc.co.uk. horizontal tab character in
|title=
at position 40 (help) - ↑ LocalDetails.co.uk
- ↑ Kent Rail's page on Shakespeare Cliff Halt, accessed 15 May 2008
- 1 2 3 Railway People article on the repair work to the 3 tunnels, accessed 15 May 2008
- ↑ Barham Kent, accessed 15 May 2008
- ↑ Page on construction of tunnel, accessed 15 May 2008
- ↑ 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
- 1 2 3 4 "East Lancashire Historical Community Railways" (PDF). East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership. 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2012-05-03.
- 1 2 Clarke, Mike (1994). The Leeds & Liverpool Canal: A History and Guide. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing. p. 175. ISBN 1-85936-013-0.
- ↑ "Forgotten Relics of an Enterprising Age". Retrieved 2012-05-03.
- ↑ Williams, Michael (2011). On the Slow Train Again: Twelve Great British Railway Journeys. Preface Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-84809-285-3.
- 1 2 "The Road Tunnel Operator Association – Participants". The Road Tunnel Operator Association. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
- ↑ "Mail Rail unofficial website". Retrieved 2009-03-04
- ↑ "Rotherhithe Tunnel Traffic". LondonTrafic. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
- ↑ "Chesterfield Canal Trust – Official website". www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-08-28
- ↑ "Mansfield Road Tunnel". forgottenrelics.co.uk.
- 1 2 Calpcott, Kevin (10 August 2007). "Windsor Hill". Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- 1 2 "Bowlish, Spring Walk – 3.5 mls". Shepton Mallett Town Council. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
- ↑ Capper I (2010). "Betchworth Tunnel". TQ1849. Geograph Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ↑ Beechcroft G (2009). "Mickleham Tunnel". Railway Structures. Southern E-Group. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- ↑ Williams G (2011). "Railway Stations and Church Names". Glyn's Trains. sinfin.net. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ↑ "Redditch Raily History". Redditch Model Railway Club. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
- 1 2 3 4 "Tunnels". North Wales Trunk Road Agency. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
- ↑ "History of the Railway". Castlerock Community Association. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ↑ "1845–1861 Londonderry and Coleraine Railway". Retrieved 2010-09-23.
- ↑ "Lissummon Railway tunnel". Retrieved 2013-06-30.
- ↑ "Ireland's Disused Tunnels". Retrieved 2013-08-19.
- ↑ "Closure of the 'Derry Road' a great loss to Ireland – Derry Journal". Retrieved 2013-08-20.
- ↑ "Sabre Road Lists"
Bibliography
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tunnels in the United Kingdom. |
- 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