Jump to content

List of tunnels in the United Kingdom

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rcsprinter123 (talk | contribs) at 21:04, 9 January 2021 (links). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Downhill Railway Tunnels near Castlerock on the NIR network.

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). This will be superseded in 2021 by the 37,600-metre (123,400 ft) Woodsmith Mine Tunnel in North Yorkshire that will transport polyhalite from North Yorkshire to a port on Teesside.[1] Standedge Tunnel at 5,029 metres (3.125 mi) is the longest canal tunnel in the United Kingdom.

England

County Tunnel Type Length (m) Length (yd) Construction method / Notes Date of opening Coordinates
Bedfordshire Ampthill Tunnel Railway 654 715 4 tracks in 2 bores 1859 52°02′01″N 0°30′48″W / 52.03361°N 0.51333°W / 52.03361; -0.51333 (Ampthill Tunnel)
Bedfordshire Linslade Tunnel Railway 249 272 4 tracks in 3 bores 1837, 1859, 1876 51°55′32″N 0°40′34″W / 51.92544°N 0.67611°W / 51.92544; -0.67611 (Linslade Tunnel)
Bedfordshire Old Warden Tunnel Railway 807 883 Brick construction, Carried the Bedford to Hitchin line 1853 52°05′18″N 0°22′33″W / 52.08835°N 0.37581°W / 52.08835; -0.37581 (Old Warden Tunnel)
Bedfordshire Wymington Tunnel Railway 1,690 1,850 Also known as Sharnbrook Tunnel, allows freight trains to avoid the gradients over Sharnbrook summit (elevation 315 feet) 1859 52°15′06″N 0°34′58″W / 52.25166°N 0.58266°W / 52.25166; -0.58266 (Wymington Tunnel)
Bristol Clifton Down Tunnel Railway 1,601 1,751 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 / 51.46720; -2.62531 (Clifton Down Tunnel)
Buckinghamshire Brill Tunnel Railway 175 191 Great Western Railway, now Chiltern Main Line 1910
Buckinghamshire Saunderton Tunnel Railway 76 83 Single track (southbound) on Chiltern Main Line, allowed heavily-loaded coal trains from the Midlands to London to avoid the gradient over Saunderton summit 1901
Buckinghamshire Whitehouse Tunnel Railway 322 352 Chiltern Main Line 1905
Cambridgeshire Wansford Tunnel Railway 563 616 Now on preserved Nene Valley Railway 1847 52°33′55″N 0°23′58″W / 52.56518°N 0.39956°W / 52.56518; -0.39956 (Wansford Tunnel)
Cheshire Disley Tunnel Railway 3,535 3,865 Bored tunnel[2] 1901 53°22′18″N 2°05′09″W / 53.37172°N 2.08576°W / 53.37172; -2.08576 (Disley Tunnel)
Cheshire Preston Brook Tunnel Canal 1,133 1,239 1775
Cheshire Prestbury Tunnel Railway 250 273 [3] Brick[4] 1845 53°17′44″N 2°08′40″W / 53.29551°N 2.14447°W / 53.29551; -2.14447 (Prestbury Tunnel)
Cheshire Sutton Tunnel Railway 1,724 1,885 [5] See also Sutton Tunnel railway accident 1848 53°19′13″N 2°40′40″W / 53.32020°N 2.67790°W / 53.32020; -2.67790 (Sutton Tunnel)
Cornwall Saltash Tunnel Road 410 448 Carries the A38 1988 50°24′42″N 4°12′54″W / 50.41161°N 4.21496°W / 50.41161; -4.21496 (Saltash Tunnel)
Cornwall Brownqueen Tunnel Railway 80 88 1859 50°26′05″N 4°40′51″W / 50.43466°N 4.68092°W / 50.43466; -4.68092 (Brownqueen Tunnel)
Cornwall Toldish Tunnel Railway 460 500 Used by horse-drawn trams, closed 1874 1849 50°24′11″N 4°55′31″W / 50.40311°N 4.92533°W / 50.40311; -4.92533 (Toldish Tunnel)
Cornwall Trelill Tunnel Railway 304 333 Disused (closed 1966) 1895 50°34′08″N 4°45′46″W / 50.56886°N 4.76268°W / 50.56886; -4.76268 (Trelill Tunnel)
Cornwall Shillingham Tunnel Railway 412 451 aka Wivelscombe 1908 50°23′43″N 4°15′51″W / 50.39539°N 4.26427°W / 50.39539; -4.26427 (Shillingham Tunnel)
Cornwall Treverrin Tunnel Railway 516 564 1859 50°22′58″N 4°40′34″W / 50.38281°N 4.67616°W / 50.38281; -4.67616 (Treverrin Tunnel)
Cornwall Polperrow Tunnel Railway 348 381[6] 1859 50°17′10″N 5°00′41″W / 50.28615°N 5.01136°W / 50.28615; -5.01136 (Polperrow Tunnel)
Cornwall Buckshead Tunnel Railway 290 320[7] 1859 50°16′46″N 5°02′27″W / 50.27936°N 5.04071°W / 50.27936; -5.04071 (Buckshead Tunnel)
Cornwall Sparnick Tunnel Railway 449 491 1863 50°14′25″N 5°05′41″W / 50.24026°N 5.09462°W / 50.24026; -5.09462 (Sparnick Tunnel)
Cornwall Pinnock Tunnel Railway 1,073 1,173[8] Now converted to private road 1874 50°21′05″N 4°39′44″W / 50.35125°N 4.66219°W / 50.35125; -4.66219 (Pinnock Tunnel)
Cumbria Whitehaven Tunnel Railway 1,219 1,333 Single track, bore widened 1958 1852 54°27′07″N 3°34′55″W / 54.45200°N 3.58200°W / 54.45200; -3.58200 (Whitehaven Tunnel)
Derbyshire Alfreton Tunnel Railway 770 840 1862 53°05′31″N 1°21′41″W / 53.09200°N 1.36136°W / 53.09200; -1.36136 (Alfreton Tunnel)
Derbyshire Ashbourne Tunnel Railway 350 383 Now a cycleway 1899 53°00′57″N 1°44′05″W / 53.01571°N 1.73483°W / 53.01571; -1.73483 (Ashbourne Tunnel)
Derbyshire Ashwood Dale Tunnel Railway 91 100 1863 53°15′09″N 1°49′13″W / 53.25252°N 1.82034°W / 53.25252; -1.82034 (Ashwood Dale Tunnel)
Derbyshire Barmoor Clough Tunnel Railway 101 111 1863 53°18′57″N 1°53′49″W / 53.31590°N 1.89683°W / 53.31590; -1.89683 (Barmoor Clough Tunnel)
Derbyshire Bolsover Tunnel Railway 2,399 2,624 Infilled with coal waste 1966-7 1897 53°13′00″N 1°16′36″W / 53.21662°N 1.27669°W / 53.21662; -1.27669 (Bolsover Tunnel)
Derbyshire Bradway Tunnel Railway 1,853 2,026 1870 53°19′02″N 1°29′53″W / 53.31721°N 1.49813°W / 53.31721; -1.49813 (Bradway Tunnel)
Derbyshire Breadsall Tunnel (also Morley) Railway 218 238 1878 52°57′21″N 1°24′32″W / 52.95597°N 1.40889°W / 52.95597; -1.40889 (Breadsall Tunnel)
Derbyshire Burbage Tunnel Railway 530 580[9] 1830 53°15′42″N 1°57′11″W / 53.26168°N 1.95300°W / 53.26168; -1.95300 (Burbage Tunnel)
Derbyshire Butterley Tunnel Canal 2,712 2,966 Disused canal 1794 53°03′34″N 1°23′42″W / 53.05936°N 1.39487°W / 53.05936; -1.39487 (Butterley Tunnel)
Derbyshire Chee Tor Tunnel (1) Railway 390 430[9] 1863 53°15′21″N 1°48′38″W / 53.25584°N 1.81063°W / 53.25584; -1.81063 (Chee Tor Tunnel (1))
Derbyshire Chee Tor Tunnel (2) Railway 86 94 [9] 1863 53°15′17″N 1°48′52″W / 53.25468°N 1.81452°W / 53.25468; -1.81452 (Chee Tor Tunnel (2))
Derbyshire Clay Cross Tunnel Railway 1,631 1,784 Brick[10] 1839 53°10′04″N 1°24′49″W / 53.16790°N 1.41363°W / 53.16790; -1.41363 (Clay Cross)
Derbyshire Cowburn Tunnel Railway 3,385 3,702 1892 53°21′07″N 1°52′00″W / 53.35200°N 1.86680°W / 53.35200; -1.86680 (Cowburn Cross)
Derbyshire Cressbrook Tunnel Railway 431 471 [9] 1863 53°14′58″N 1°44′49″W / 53.24949°N 1.74688°W / 53.24949; -1.74688 (Cressbrook Tunnel)
Derbyshire Dove Holes Tunnel Railway 2,729 2,984 Closed to passenger traffic in 1967 1865 53°18′11″N 1°53′19″W / 53.30293°N 1.88853°W / 53.30293; -1.88853 (Doves HolesCross)
Derbyshire Duckmanton Tunnel Railway 458 501 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 / 53.228944; -1.367028
Derbyshire Duffield Tunnel Railway 48 52 1867
Derbyshire Eaves Tunnel Railway 394 431 1863
Derbyshire Great Rocks Tunnel Railway 147 161 1863
Derbyshire Gregory Tunnel Canal 69 76 1794
Derbyshire Haddon Tunnel Railway 967 1,058 Constructed with cut and cover methods, closed in 1967 1863 53°11′47″N 1°39′07″W / 53.19644°N 1.65207°W / 53.19644; -1.65207 (Doves HolesCross)
Derbyshire Hag Tunnel Canal 85 93 Disused canal[11] 1794
Derbyshire Headstone Tunnel Railway 487 533 1863
Derbyshire High Tor Tunnel 1 Railway 294 321 [12] 1849
Derbyshire High Tor Tunnel 1A Railway 53 58 1849
Derbyshire High Tor Tunnel 2 Railway 346 378 1849
Derbyshire Holt Lane Tunnel Railway 115 126 1849
Derbyshire Hopton Tunnel Railway 103 113 1830
Derbyshire Hindlow Tunnel Railway 470 514 Now a cycleway 1832
Derbyshire Hollingwood Common Tunnel Canal 2,820 3,080 Disused coalmine canal joining with Chesterfield Canal[13] 1777
Derbyshire Lea Wood Tunnel Railway 288 315 1849
Derbyshire Litton Tunnel Railway 472 516 1863 53°15′07″N 1°45′19″W / 53.25204°N 1.75534°W / 53.25204; -1.75534 (Litton Tunnel)
Derbyshire Mickleover Tunnel Railway 424 464 1878
Derbyshire Milford Tunnel Railway 782 855 1839 53°00′06″N 1°29′12″W / 53.00177°N 1.48672°W / 53.00177; -1.48672 (Millford Tunnel)
Derbyshire Morley Tunnel Railway 218 238 1878
Derbyshire Newhaven Tunnel Railway 47 51 1830
Derbyshire New Mills Tunnel Railway 112 123 1867
Derbyshire Newtown Tunnel Railway 82 90 1902
Derbyshire Norwood Tunnel Canal 2,637 2,884 Collapsed 1907 1775 W. 53°19′57″N 1°17′21″W / 53.33253°N 1.28921°W / 53.33253; -1.28921 ("Norwood Tunnel, west portal"), C. 53°20′06″N 1°16′11″W / 53.33501°N 1.26971°W / 53.33501; -1.26971 ("Norwood Tunnel, approx centre point"), E. 53°20′15″N 1°15′01″W / 53.33744°N 1.25022°W / 53.33744; -1.25022 ("Norwood Tunnel, east portal")
Derbyshire Norwood End Tunnel No. 10 Railway 270[14] 300 Parallel to Norwood Tunnel 1878
Derbyshire Peak Forest Tunnel Railway 27 29 1863
Derbyshire Pic Tor Tunnel Railway 175 191 1863
Derbyshire Redhill Tunnel 1 Railway 141 154 1839
Derbyshire Redhill Tunnel 2 Railway 160 170 1839
Derbyshire Rowthorn Tunnel Railway 849 929 Closed 1930 1890
Derbyshire Rusher Cutting Tunnel Railway 111 121 [15] 1863
Derbyshire Shirland Tunnel Railway 173 189
Derbyshire Spinkhill Tunnel Railway 458 501 Closed 9 January 1967 and subsequently lifted 1897
Derbyshire Stodhart Tunnel Tramway 92 101 1796
Derbyshire Toadmoor Tunnel Railway 118 129 1839
Derbyshire & Yorkshire – South Totley Tunnel Railway 5,700 6,230 1892
Derbyshire Whatstandwell Tunnel Railway 136 149 1849
Derbyshire Whitwell Tunnel Railway 497 544
Derbyshire Willersley Tunnel Railway 699 764 1849
Derbyshire Wingfield Tunnel Railway 239 261 1839
Devon Aller Tunnel Railway 270 295 Built using 110 concrete bridge beams, A380 passes overhead 2014
Devon Dainton Tunnel Railway 266 291 1847
Devon Devonport Leat Tunnel Leat 500 547 1790s
Devon Marley Tunnel Railway 795 869
Devon Parson's Tunnel Railway 554 606 Known for the Legend of the Parson and Clerk
Dorset Beaminster Tunnel Road 105 115 Carries the A3066, brick lined construction, one of the oldest road tunnels still in use 1832
Dorset Buckhorn Weston Tunnel Railway 678 742
Dorset Bincombe Tunnel (North) Railway 749 819
Dorset Bincombe Tunnel (South) Railway 44 48
Dorset Evershot Tunnel Railway 282 308
Dorset Frampton Tunnel Railway 595 651
Dorset Middlebere Plateway Tunnels Railway Built in two stages 1807, 1825[16]
Dorset Poundbury Tunnel Railway 244 267
East Sussex Cuilfail Tunnel Road 430 470 Carries the A26, built to ease traffic congestion in Lewes 1980
East Sussex Argos Hill Tunnel Railway 64 70 Closed 1965 1880
East Sussex Bopeep Tunnel Railway 1,205 1,318 1846
East Sussex Crowborough Tunnel Railway 935 1,022 1868
East Sussex Culver Tunnel Railway 227 289 Closed 1958 1882
East Sussex Falmer Tunnel Railway 450 490 1846
East Sussex Hastings Tunnel Railway 700 770 1846
East Sussex Heathfield Tunnel Railway 242 265 Closed 1965, now cycleway & footpath 1880
East Sussex Kingston Tunnel Railway 98 107 1846
East Sussex Lewes Tunnel Railway 362 396 1847
East Sussex Mayfield Tunnel Railway 83 91 Closed 1965 now infilled 1880
East Sussex Mountfield Tunnel Railway 481 526 Reduced from double track to single track in the 1970s 1851
East Sussex Mount Pleasant Tunnel Railway 131 143 1851
East Sussex Patcham Tunnel Railway 446 488 1841
East Sussex Wadhurst Tunnel Railway 1,102 1,205 Reduced from double track to single track in 1985 1851
Essex Audley End Tunnel Railway 417 456 Double track[17][18] 1845
Essex & Kent Dartford West Tunnel Road 1,436 1,570 Carries northbound traffic on the A282 as part of the Dartford Crossing, original tunnel 1963
Essex & Kent Dartford East Tunnel Road 1,436 1,570 Carries northbound traffic on the A282 as part of the Dartford Crossing, carried southbound traffic until 1991 1980
Essex Dartford Cable Tunnel Electricity cables Upriver from Dartford Road Tunnels, carrying 400kV cables 2004
Essex Bell Common Tunnel Road 470 514 Cut-and-cover tunnel on the M25 1984
Essex Littlebury Tunnel Railway 372 407 Two tracks, south portal is Grade 2 listed[17] 1845
Essex Maldon West Tunnel Railway 60 66 Closed 1939, now filled-in 1888
Essex Stansted Airport Tunnel Railway 1,778 1,944 Single track[17] 1991
Essex & Kent Thames Cable Tunnel Electricity cables 1,675 1,832 Carries two 400kV electricity circuits[19][20] 1970
Gloucestershire Chipping Sodbury Tunnel Railway 4,064 4,444
Gloucestershire Patchway Old Tunnel Railway 1,140[21] 1,246 In use for westbound trains
Gloucestershire Patchway New Tunnel Railway 1,609 1,760 In use for eastbound trains 1886
Gloucestershire Sapperton Canal Tunnel Canal 1,873 2,048 1789
Gloucestershire Larger Sapperton Tunnel Railway 1,704 1,864 On the Golden Valley Line
Gloucestershire Smaller Sapperton Tunnel Railway 323 353 On the Golden Valley Line
Gloucestershire Severn Tunnel (1810) Tramroad 126 138 Abandoned, uncompleted in 1812 after flooding 51°47′16″N 2°26′46″W / 51.78770°N 2.44598°W / 51.78770; -2.44598 (Severn tunnel (1810))
Gloucestershire & Monmouthshire Severn Tunnel Railway 7,012 7,668 Longest mainline tunnel in the UK until 2007 when tunnels on High Speed 1 opened 1886
Gloucestershire Severn-Wye Cable Tunnel Electricity cables 3,600 Carries two 400kV electricity circuits 1973 51.608459°N 2.615454°W
Gloucestershire Micheldean Tunnel Railway 715 782 Portals bricked up
Greater Manchester Clifton Hall Tunnel Railway 1,187 1,298 1850
Greater Manchester Disley Tunnel Railway 3,535 3,866 1902
Greater Manchester Farnworth Tunnel Railway 270 295 Built by the Manchester and Bolton Railway[22] 1832
Greater Manchester Guardian Exchange Telephone 1,300 1,422 Concrete and brick[23] 1954
Greater Manchester & Yorkshire – West Standedge Tunnels Canal 5,029 5,500 Disused 1945, reopened 2001, longest and highest canal tunnel in UK on Huddersfield Narrow Canal 1811
Greater Manchester & Yorkshire – West Standedge Tunnels (Central Tunnel) Railway 4,880 5,337 First of the three rail tunnels to be opened, used for emergency access 1848
Greater Manchester & Yorkshire – West Standedge Tunnels (South Tunnel) Railway 4,880 5,337 Second tunnel, single track 1871
Greater Manchester & Yorkshire – West Standedge Tunnels (live tunnel) Railway 4,883 5,340 Third tunnel, double track, in use 1894
Greater Manchester Summit Tunnel Railway 2,638 2,885 1841
Hampshire Fareham Tunnel No. 1 Railway 134 147 Also known as Funtley No.1, M27 passes overhead
Hampshire Fareham Tunnel No. 2 Railway 506 553 Also known as Funtley No.2
Hampshire Greywell Tunnel Canal 1,125 1,230 Brick construction
Hampshire Micheldever Tunnel Railway 181 198 [24] Also known as Litchfield Tunnel 1840[25]
Hampshire Midhurst Tunnel Railway 252 276
Hampshire Popham No. 1 Tunnel Railway 242 265
Hampshire Popham No. 2 Tunnel Railway 182 199
Hampshire Privett Tunnel Railway 967 1,058 Closed 1955 1903
Hampshire Southampton Tunnel Railway 483 528[24] Allows the South Western main line to pass under the Civic Centre in Southampton 1847
Hampshire Wallers' Ash Tunnel Railway 458 501
Hampshire Winchester Tunnel Railway 422 461 Also known as St Giles or Chesil Tunnel
Hampshire Fawley Tunnel Electricity cables 3,200 Two 400 kV electricity circuits 1965 50.826°N 1.314°W
Hertfordshire & London Elstree to St. John's Wood Cable Tunnel Electricity cables 19,800 21,653 3-metre diameter, forced air cooling, 7 ventilation shafts, carries one 400kV circuit, provision for second circuit, battery powered overhead monorail system for access[26] 2005
Hertfordshire Hatfield Tunnel Road 1,147 1,531 Cut-and-cover tunnel on the A1(M) between J3 and J4 1986
Hertfordshire Holmesdale Tunnel Road 600 656 Cut-and-cover tunnel on the M25 between J25 and J26 1984
Hertfordshire Northchurch Tunnels Railway 319 349 Bores consist of Down and Up fast (double track), Down slow (single track), Up slow (single track) 1838
Hertfordshire Ponsbourne Tunnel Railway 2,454 2,684 Part of the Hertford Loop Line, it was the last tunnel constructed using traditional means 1918
Hertfordshire Potters Bar Tunnel Railway 1,110 1,214 Bores consist of Down slow & fast, Up slow & fast 1849 51°41′07″N 0°11′06″W / 51.6854°N 0.1849°W / 51.6854; -0.1849 (Potters Bar Tunnel)
Hertfordshire Welwyn North Tunnel Railway 956 1,046 Welwyn North Tunnel was the scene of a major accident in 1866 1850
Hertfordshire Welwyn South Tunnel Railway 408 446 1850
Hertfordshire Weston Hills Tunnel Road 230 250 Cut-and-cover tunnel on the A505[27] 2006
Isle of Wight Ryde Tunnel Railway 358 391
Isle of Wight Ventnor Tunnel Railway 1,201 1,313 Closed 1966 1866
Kent & Pas-de-Calais (France) Channel Tunnel Railway 50,459 55,183 Consists of two single track railway tunnels and one service tunnel, 26,988 m of the tunnel is on the British side of the UK/France border 1994
Kent Medway Tunnel Road 240 260 Carries A289 1996
Kent Ramsgate Tunnel Road 800 875 Carries A299, also known as Pegwell Tunnel 2000
Kent Roundhill Tunnel Road 380 416 Carries A20 1993
Kent Abbotscliffe Tunnel Railway 1,800 1,969 Double track[28] 1844
Kent Badgers Oak Tunnel Railway 163 178 Closed 1961 1893
Kent Bourne Park Tunnel Railway 370 400 Used to hide a giant railway borne artillery piece in World War Two,[29] closed 16 June 1947 1887
Kent Charlton Tunnel Railway 138 154
Kent Chatham Tunnel Railway 272 297 Double track
Kent Chelsfield Tunnel Railway 545 597 Double track[30] 1868 51°20′55″N 0°07′04″E / 51.3487°N 0.1178°E / 51.3487; 0.1178 (Chelsfield Tunnel)
Kent Dover Harbour Tunnel Railway 625 684 1861
Kent Edenbridge Tunnel Railway 180 197 1888
Kent Eynsford Tunnel Railway 757 828 1862
Kent Fort Pitt Tunnel Railway 391 428 Double track
Kent Golgotha Tunnel Railway 436 477 Single track but partly constructed for double track 1911
Kent Greenhithe Tunnel Railway 228 253 1849
Kent Grove Tunnel Railway Closed on 6 July 1985 with the rest of the Tunbridge Wells West branch, single track
Kent Grove Hill Tunnel Railway 262 287 On the Hastings line 1851
Kent Guston Tunnel Railway 1,287 1,408 1881
Kent Hayne Tunnel Railway 86 94 Closed 1951, since closure has been flooded 1874
Kent Higham and Strood Tunnel Railway 3,595 3,931 Built between 1819 and 1824 for the Thames and Medway Canal, single track railway laid on the tow-path in 1845, was soon doubled by infilling the canal, 100-yard air vent cut in the middle 1824
Kent Horsmonden Tunnel Railway 79 86 Closed 1961 1892
Kent Little Browns Tunnel Railway 111 121 1888
Kent Lydden Tunnel Railway 2,166 2,369 1861
Kent Mark Beech Tunnel Railway 1,226 1,341 1888
Kent Martello Tunnel Railway 500 547 Double track[28] 1844
Kent North Downs Tunnel Railway 3,200 3,500 Under Blue Bell Hill, tunnel is to UIC GB gauge on High Speed 1, double track but due to air pressure of opposing trains at high speeds trains are scheduled not to pass at the line speed of 300 km/h.[31] 2001
Kent Polhill Tunnel Railway 2,387 2,610 Double track 1868 51°19′30″N 0°09′45″E / 51.3250°N 0.1626°E / 51.3250; 0.1626 (Polhill Tunnel)
Kent Priory Tunnel Railway 142 155 1861
Kent Ramsgate Harbour Tunnel Railway 1,028 1,124 Closed 1926 1863
Kent River Medway Cable Tunnels Electricity cables 1,700 1,860 Twin 2.54 m diameter tunnels, Isle of Grain to Chetney Marshes, each carries a 400kV circuit[32] 1976
Kent Saltwood Tunnel Railway 872 954 1843
Kent Sandling Tunnel Railway 91 99 1843
Kent Sevenoaks Tunnel Railway 3,156 3,520 Double track 1868
Kent Shakespeare Tunnel Railway 1,260 1,387 Two individual single bore tunnels[28][33] 1844
Kent Shepherd's Well Tunnel Railway 2,138 2,376
Kent Somerhill Tunnel Railway 370 410 Originally double track but reduced to single track in 1985 1845
Kent Strawberry Hill Tunnel Railway 262 286 Originally double track but reduced to single track in 1985 1851
Kent Tyler Hill Tunnel Railway 757 828 Underneath the main site of the University of Kent,[34] the line was closed in 1953, part of the tunnel collapsed in July 1974 1830
Kent Week Street Tunnel Railway 90 98 Twin track 1884
Kent Wells Tunnel Railway 753 823 Twin track 1846
Kent Wheeler Street Tunnel Railway 327 358 Twin track 1884
Lancashire Blackburn Tunnel Railway 398 435 [35]
Lancashire Foulridge Tunnel Canal 1,487 1,626 [36]
Lancashire Gannow Tunnel Canal 509 557 [36]
Lancashire Gisburn Tunnel Railway 144 157
Lancashire Haslingden (North Hag) Tunnel Railway 134 146 [37] Closed 1966 1848
Lancashire Holme Tunnel Railway 242 265
Lancashire Melling Tunnel Railway 1,120 1,230 [38]
Lancashire Rishton Tunnel Railway 62 68 [35]
Lancashire Sough Tunnel Railway 1,843 2,015 [35]
Lancashire Upholland Tunnel Railway 877 959
Lancashire Wilpshire Tunnel Railway 297 325 [35]
Lancashire Thrutch Tunnel Railway 541 592 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 / 53.691300; -2.248735 (Thrutch Tunnel)
Lancashire Newchurch No.1 Tunnel Railway 148 162 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 / 53.691400; -2.248659 (Newchurch No.1 Tunnel)
Lancashire Newchurch No.2 Tunnel Railway 270 290 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 / 53.690653; -2.244961 (Newchurch No.2 Tunnel)
Leicestershire Ashby de la Zouch Tunnel Railway 282 308 Also known as Old Parks or Ashby Tunnel
Leicestershire Clawson Tunnel Railway 763 834 Also known as Hose Tunnel
Leicestershire Husbands Bosworth Tunnel Canal 1,066 1,166 1813
Leicestershire Saddington Tunnel Canal 805 880 1797
Leicestershire Glenfield Tunnel Railway 1,633 1786 Closed 1966 1832
Lincolnshire Kirton-in-Lindsey Tunnel Railway 1,200 1,312
Lincolnshire Stamford Tunnel Railway 312 341
Lincolnshire Stoke Tunnel Railway 800 880
London Northern line (Morden to East Finchley via Bank) Railway 27,800 30,402 Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1886 and 1939 1890-1939
London Piccadilly line (Bounds Green to Barons Court) Railway 19,610 21,446 Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1902 and 1932 1906–32
London Piccadilly line (Hounslow Central to Heathrow Terminal 5) Railway 8,760 9,580 Deep Level tunnel beyond Hatton Cross 1975-2008
London Victoria line (Brixton to Walthamstow Central) Railway 22,040 24,103 Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1962 and 1972 1968–72
London Central line (Stratford to White City) Railway 17,390 19,018 Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1896 and 1940 1900–46
London Northern line (Kennington to Golders Green via Charing Cross) Railway 11,940 13,058 Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1902 and 1926 1907–26
London Bakerloo line (Elephant & Castle to Queen's Park) Railway 10,900 11,920 Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1898 and 1915 1906–15
London Waterloo & City line (Waterloo to Bank) Railway 2,226 2,434 Deep level 'tube' lines constructed between 1894 and 1898 1898
London Barnet Tunnel Railway 553 607 3 bores: Down slow / Centre / Up Slow 1849 51°37′46″N 0°09′30″W / 51.6295°N 0.1582°W / 51.6295; -0.1582 (Barnet Tunnel)
London Belsize Fast Lines Tunnel Railway 1,619 1,771 Midland Railway, now Midland Main Line[17] 1868[18]
London Belsize Slow Lines Tunnel Railway 1,707 1,867 Midland Railway, now Midland Main Line/Thameslink[17] 1884[18]
London Bishopsgate Tunnel Railway 573 627 Great Eastern Railway, Down/Up Suburban Lines from/to Liverpool Street Station
London Blackwall Tunnel (Western bore) Road 1,350[39] 1,476 Built using tunnelling shields, one of the oldest road tunnels still in use, carries northbound traffic on the A102 1897
London Blackwall Tunnel (Eastern bore) Road 1,174[39] 1,284 Newer bore, carries southbound traffic on the A102 1967
London Camden Road Tunnels Railway 288 315 Midland Railway. Down/Up Fast, Down/Up Slow, Down/Up Moorgate the latter is two tunnels of 205 and 66 yards 1867
London Canal Tunnels Railway 688 628 2 bores: both bidirectional. Up Line 688y/628m, Down Line 723y/681m 2016 51°32′24″N 0°07′25″W / 51.5400°N 0.1236°W / 51.5400; -0.1236 (Canal Tunnels)
London Canonbury Tunnel Railway 498 545 Great Northern Railway, Now single track freight line 1874
London Clapton Tunnel Railway 260 284 Great Eastern Railway 1872
London Copenhagen Tunnels Railway 543 594 Great Northern Railway. West tunnel Up & Down Slow, Central tunnel Up & Down Fast, East Tunnel disused since 1977 1877, 1850, 1886
London Crossrail Royal Oak to Farringdon Railway 6,400 6,999 Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter Due to open 2020/2021
London Crossrail Limmo Peninsula to Farringdon Railway 8,300 9,077 Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter Due to open 2020/2021
London Crossrail Pudding Mill Lane to Stepney Green Railway 2,700 2,953 Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter Due to open 2020/2021
London Crossrail Plumstead to North Woolwich (Thames tunnel section) Railway 2,600 2,843 Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter Due to open 2020/2021
London Crossrail Limmo Peninsula (Royal Docks) to Victoria Dock portal Railway 900 984 Twin tunnels 6.2m in diameter Due to open 2020/2021
London Crouch Hill Tunnel Railway 82 90 alias Crown Hill tunnel, Tottenham & Hampstead Junction Railway[17] 1868[18]
London East India Dock Link Road 350 383 1993
London Fore Street Tunnel Road A406 North Circular Road under Edmonton town centre, refurbished 2014 1998
London Gas Works Tunnels Railway 483 528 Great Northern Railway. West tunnel Slow Lines, Middle tunnel Fast Lines, East tunnel disused since 1977[17][18] 1892, 1852, 1878
London Greenwich foot tunnel Pedestrian 371 406 Runs beneath River Thames; being refurbished until 2014 1902
London Hadley Wood North Tunnels Railway 212 232
London Hadley Wood South Tunnels Railway 351 384
London Islington Tunnel Canal 878 976 On Regent's Canal 1818
London Maida Hill Tunnel Canal 251 272 On Regent's Canal 1816
London Eyre's tunnel Canal 48 52 On Regent's Canal 1816
London Bankside power station cooling water discharge tunnel River water 366 400 3 metres diameter, 10 metres below river Thames, terminating on the north bank of the river bed adjacent to St Paul's railway bridge, disused since 1981, now sealed 1952
London Battersea power station tunnels Electricity cables, steam & hot water pipes 3 tunnels, 2 carrying cables under the Thames to either side of Chelsea bridge, third carrying steam and hot water pipes for a district heating system for the Churchill Gardens estate
London Hackney Downs or Queen's Road Tunnel Railway 407 445 Great Eastern Railway 1872
London Hampstead Heath Tunnel Railway 1,066 1,166 Hampstead Junction Railway. Now North London Line 1860
London Hoe Street Tunnel Railway 65 71 Great Eastern Railway 1870
London Kingsway Exchange Telephone 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 Constructed using cut-and-cover method. Abandoned in 1952 with the rest of the tram network, now partially used as the Strand Underpass 1906
London Limehouse Link tunnel Road 1,800 1,969 Constructed with cut-and-cover methods, carries the A1203 1993
London London Deep Level Shelters Air Raid Shelter 370 405 Eight built in total 1942
London Hampstead Tunnel Railway 632 694 Great Central Railway, now Chiltern Main Line 1899
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 1,420 1,553 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 / 51.46834; -0.49059 ("Heathrow Airside Road Tunnel, west portal"), E. 51°28′10″N 0°27′18″W / 51.46954°N 0.45507°W / 51.46954; -0.45507 ("Heathrow Airside Road Tunnel, east portal")
London Heathrow Cargo Tunnel Road 885 968 Links terminals 1,2 & 3 with terminal 4 1968 51°27′51″N 0°27′20″W / 51.46426°N 0.45555°W / 51.46426; -0.45555 (Heathrow Cargo Tunnel)
London Kensal Green Tunnels Railway 293 320 London and Birmingham Railway: Down/Up Fast, Down/Up Slow.London North Western Railway: Down/Up DC Electric constructed 1915 1837
London London Post Office Railway Railway 10,500 11,483 Narrow gauge railway built to transport mail between sorting offices. Now decommissioned but still kept in working order.[40] 1927
London London Tunnel 1 Railway 7,564 8,272 Part of the High Speed 1 railway from Stratford to St Pancras 2004
London London Tunnel 2 Railway 9,660 10,560 Part of the High Speed 1 railway from Dagenham to Stratford 2004
London Primrose Hill Fast Tunnel Railway 1,080 1,182 London North Western Railway[17] 1879[18]
London Primrose Hill Slow Tunnel Railway 1,070 1,170 London and Birmingham Railway[17] 1837[18]
London Rotherhithe Tunnel Road 1,481 1,619 1908[41]
London Snow Hill tunnel Railway 1866
London St John's Wood Tunnel Railway 1,469 1,606 Great Central Railway, now Chiltern Main Line 1899
London South Hampstead Tunnel Railway 1,328 1,452 London North Western Railway. Up tunnel is 1,264 yards (1,156 m) 1922
London South Harrow Tunnel Railway 187 204 Great Central Railway, now Chiltern Main Line 1905
London Stoke Newington Tunnel Railway 55 60 Great Eastern Railway 1872
London Strand Underpass Road 365 399 Formed from the disused Kingsway Tramway Subway 1964
London Sydenham Hill (also Penge) Railway 1,958 2,141 The tunnel was disliked by Queen Victoria, brick lining was made from clay extracted from the tunnel itself 1863
London Thames Tunnel Railway 396 433 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 Thames–Lea water main tunnel Water 30,577 33,440 Water from the Thames at Sunbury to Chingford reservoirs 1959
London Tottenham North Curve Tunnel No.1 Railway 146 160 Midland Railway[17] 1883[18]
London Tottenham North Curve Tunnel No.2 Railway 64 70 Midland Railway 1883
London Tottenham North Curve Tunnel No.3 Railway 94 103 Midland Railway 1883
London Tower Subway Pedestrian 411 450 Built using Tunnelling shields. Closed in 1898 due to the opening of the Tower Bridge. Now used for water mains only 1870
London Wood Green Tunnel Railway 645 705 3 bores: Down slow / Centre / Up Slow 1848 51°36′18″N 0°08′02″W / 51.6050°N 0.1340°W / 51.6050; -0.1340 (Wood Green Tunnel)
London Woolwich foot tunnel Pedestrian 498 545 Under River Thames 1912
Merseyside Kingsway Tunnel Road 2,483 2,715 Also called Wallasey Tunnel 1971
Merseyside Mersey Railway Railway 3,820 4,180 Length of tunnel under the river 1886–1892
Merseyside Queensway Tunnel Road 3,237 3,540 1934
Merseyside Scholes Tunnel Railway 73 80 South of Thatto Heath 1871
Merseyside Victoria Tunnel & Waterloo Tunnel Railway 3,254 3,559 The Victoria and Waterloo tunnels - 2,475 metres (2,707 yd) and 862 metres (943 yd) - form a single tunnel divided by an air shaft, and having different names on each side of the shaft 1849
Merseyside Wapping Tunnel Railway 2,030 2,220 Originally static steam engine haulage because of the steep gradient, then locomotive hauled. Closed on 15 May 1972 1829
Merseyside Williamson Tunnels Folly 3,000 3,281 1800–40
Norfolk Aylsham Bypass Tunnel Railway 166 182 On narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway 1990
Norfolk Cromer Tunnel Railway 56 61 1888
Northamptonshire Blisworth Tunnel Canal 2,794 3,056 Grand Union Canal 1805
Northamptonshire Braunston Tunnel Canal 1,887 2,064 Grand Union Canal 1796
Northamptonshire Catesby Tunnel Railway 2,740 2,997 Great Central Railway 1899
Northamptonshire Corby Tunnel Railway 1,760 1,920 1878
Northamptonshire Crick Tunnel Canal 1,397 1,528 1814
Northamptonshire Hunsbury Hill Tunnel Railway 1,053 1,152 1881
Northamptonshire Kelmarsh Tunnel Railway 294 322 Was single bore, but doubled. Now pedestrian 1859
Northamptonshire Kilsby Tunnel Railway 2,218 2,426 1838
Northamptonshire Oxendon Tunnel Railway 422 462 Was single bore, but doubled. Now pedestrian 1859
Northamptonshire Stowe Hill tunnel Railway 449 491 Single bore, twin tracks. West Coast Main Line 1838
Northumberland Hillhead Tunnel Railway 321 351 Single Bore, brick lined 1887 55°23′32″N 1°49′56″W / 55.39217°N 1.83236°W / 55.39217; -1.83236 (Hillhead tunnel)
Nottinghamshire Annesley Tunnel Railway 915 1,001 1892
Nottinghamshire Barnstone Tunnel Railway 90 98 1899
Nottinghamshire Ashwell Tunnel Railway 64 70 1889
Nottinghamshire Drakeholes Tunnel Canal 141 154 [42] 1777
Nottinghamshire Mapperley Tunnel Railway 1,035 1,132 1875
Nottinghamshire Park Tunnel Horsedrawn carriages
Nottinghamshire Redhill Tunnel
Nottinghamshire Sherwood Tunnel Railway 404 442 1889
Nottinghamshire Sherwood Rise Tunnel Railway 605 662 1899
Nottinghamshire Sneinton Tunnel Railway 117 128 1889
Nottinghamshire Stanton Tunnel Railway 1,220 1,330 Railway Test Track, Stanton on the Wolds 1879
Nottinghamshire Thorneywood Tunnel Railway 373 408 1889
Nottinghamshire Victoria Street Tunnel Railway 266 291 Also known as Weekday Cross Tunnel 1897
Nottinghamshire Watnall Tunnel Railway 245 268
Nottinghamshire Mansfield Road Tunnel Railway 1,087 1,189 1898[43]
Oxfordshire Ardley Tunnel Railway 1,056 1,155 Great Western Railway, now Chiltern Main Line 1910
Oxfordshire Bodleian Library Tunnel Library
Oxfordshire Horspath or Wheatley Tunnel Railway 479 524 Great Western Railway, closed 1963 1864
Oxfordshire Wolvercot Tunnel Railway 133 145 Buckinghamshire Railway 1850
Rutland Glaston Tunnel Railway 1,684 1,842 1878
Rutland Manton Tunnel Railway 685 749 1846
Rutland Seaton Tunnel Railway 188 206 1878
Rutland Wing Tunnel Railway 323 353 1878
Shropshire Knowlesands Tunnel Railway 40 44 Severn Valley Railway 1862
Shropshire Oakengates Tunnel Railway 430 471 1849
Somerset Chilcompton Tunnel Railway 59 64 Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, north of Chilcompton - closed in 1966 1874
Somerset Combe Down Tunnel Railway 1,672 1,829 Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, between Devonshire Tunnel and Midford - closed in 1966 1874
Somerset Devonshire Tunnel Railway 409 447 Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Bath Green Park and Combe Down Tunnel; Closed in 1966 now a cycle path 1874
Somerset Somerton Tunnel Railway 963 1,053 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 / 51.04344; -2.75761 (Somerton Tunnel)
Somerset White Ball Tunnel Railway 990 1,092 Bristol to Exeter line between Taunton and Tiverton Junction on Somerset–Devon border 1844
Somerset Winsor Hill Down Tunnel Railway 219 239 Brick-lined, Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Masbury and Shepton Mallet[44] Rail service closed in 1966 and the tunnel was closed to walkers until the late 1990s[45] 1874
Somerset Winsor Hill Up Tunnel Railway 115 126 Brick-lined, Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway between Masbury and Shepton Mallet[44] Rail service closed in 1966 and the tunnel opened to walkers.[45] 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 Churnet Valley Railway 1849
Staffordshire Harecastle Tunnel (Brindley) Canal 2,630 2,880 Closed in 1914 due to subsidence 1777
Staffordshire Harecastle Tunnel (Telford) Canal 2,676 2,926 1827
Staffordshire Harecastle railway tunnel Railway 200 243 On new diversion replacing three Victorian tunnels 1965
Staffordshire Leek Tunnel Railway 432 472 disused since 1964 1849
Staffordshire Meir Tunnel Railway 744 814 1894
Staffordshire Meir Tunnel Road 260 284 Carries A50 1997
Staffordshire Oakamoor Tunnel Railway 454 497 disused since 1965, though plans are afoot to relay the line and reopen the tunnel 1849
Staffordshire Shugborough Tunnel Railway 710 777 1847
Staffordshire Stockton Brook Tunnel Railway 66 72 disused since 1988, though plans are afoot re-open the line and tunnel 1867
Staffordshire Swainsley Tunnel Road 150 164 former railway tunnel on the Leek and Manifold Light Railway 1904
Suffolk Stoke Tunnel Railway 330 361 1846
Surrey Betchworth Tunnel Railway 352 385 South of Dorking station[46] 1867
Surrey Bletchingley Tunnel Railway 1,213 1,327 1842
Surrey Hindhead Tunnel Road 1,830 2,001 Part of the A3 bypassing Hindhead and the Devil's Punchbowl 2011
Surrey Limpsfield Tunnel Railway 504 551 1884
Surrey Merstham Tunnel Railway 1,674 1,831 1841
Surrey Mickleham Tunnel Railway 479 524 Runs under the eastern side of Norbury Park between Leatherhead and Dorking[47] 1867
Surrey Oxted Tunnel Railway 2,067 2,261 1884
Surrey Quarry Tunnel Railway 1,932 2,113 [48] 1899
Surrey Redhill Tunnel Railway 593 649 1899
Surrey Reigate Tunnel Horsedrawn carriages 91 100 Brick, length is approximate, said to be the first road tunnel[49] 1823
Surrey St Catherine's Tunnel Railway 121 132 Built by the London and South Western Railway, runs under St Catherine's Hill south of Guildford, also known as the Guildford Sand Tunnel[50] 1849
Surrey Staines– Kempton aqueduct tunnel Water 7640 8355 River water from the Thames at Hythe End to Kempton Park water works 1963
Tyne and Wear Tyne Cyclist and Pedestrian Tunnel Pedestrian 270 300 1951
Tyne and Wear Tyne Tunnel (Western bore) Road 1,676 1833 Carries northbound traffic on the A19, original tunnel 1967
Tyne and Wear Tyne Tunnel (Eastern bore) Road Carries southbound traffic on the A19 2011
Tyne and Wear Victoria Tunnel Wagonway 1842
Warwickshire Fenny Compton Tunnel Canal 1,000 2.75 metres wide with 4.87 metre passing places, opened out to a deep cutting 1838-1870[51] 1776
Warwickshire Harbury Tunnel Railway 64 70
Warwickshire Shrewley Tunnel Canal 396 433 1799
Warwickshire Newbold Tunnel Canal 250 1778
West Midlands Anchor Exchange Telephone 52°28′58″N 1°54′15″W / 52.4829°N 1.9042°W / 52.4829; -1.9042
West Midlands Snow Hill Tunnel Railway 581 635 1852 52°28′51″N 1°53′46″W / 52.48095°N 1.89615°W / 52.48095; -1.89615
West Midlands Black Lake Tunnel Railway 377 412 Closed 1972, but now reopen for light rail use
West Midlands Dudley Tunnel Canal 2,884 3,154 1792 52°31′03″N 2°05′12″W / 52.517544°N 2.086741°W / 52.517544; -2.086741
West Midlands Dudley Railway Tunnel Railway 867 948 1850 52°30′30″N 2°04′43″W / 52.508392°N 2.078701°W / 52.508392; -2.078701
West Midlands Hockley Tunnel 1 Railway 124 136 Closed 1972 but later reopened for light rail use
West Midlands Hockley Tunnel 2 Railway 150 160 Closed 1972 but later reopened for light rail use
West Midlands Lapal Tunnel Canal 3,470 3,795 Disused since 1917 1798 52°26′42″N 2°00′06″W / 52.4450°N 2.0017°W / 52.4450; -2.0017
West Midlands Netherton Canal Tunnel Canal 2,768 3,027 1858 52°30′16″N 2°03′34″W / 52.50435°N 2.05932°W / 52.50435; -2.05932
West Midlands Queensway (Birmingham) Road 548 600 52°28′59″N 1°54′09″W / 52.4830°N 1.9026°W / 52.4830; -1.9026
West Midlands & Worcestershire Wast Hills Tunnel Canal 2,493 2,726 Wide enough to accommodate two narrow boats but there is no towpath 1796
West Sussex Balcombe tunnel Railway 1,036 1,133 1841
West Sussex Clayton Tunnel Railway 2,066 2,259
West Sussex Haywards Heath Tunnel Railway 228 249
West Sussex Lywood Tunnel Railway 197 215 Closed 1963 1883
West Sussex Midhurst Tunnel Railway 252 276 Closed 1964 1866
West Sussex North Stoke Tunnel Railway 76 83
West Sussex Sharpthorne Tunnel Railway 668 731 Closed 1965, reopened 1994 1882
West Sussex Southwick Hill Tunnel Road 490 536 Twin-bore tunnel, part of A27 Brighton Bypass 1996
Wiltshire Box Tunnel Railway 2,937 3,212 1841
Wiltshire Bruce Tunnel Canal 459 502 Kennet and Avon Canal 1809
Wiltshire Alderton Tunnel Railway 463 506 South Wales main line 1903
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Colwall Old Tunnel Railway 1,433 1,567 Closed 1926 1861
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Colwall New Tunnel Railway 1,433 1,567 In service on the Cotswold Line 1926
Herefordshire Ledbury Tunnel Railway 1,205 1,318 In service 1861
Herefordshire Dinmore Tunnel Railway 970 1,060 In service on Welsh Marches Line, opened 1853 Up Line and 1891 Down Line 1853, 1891
Worcestershire Redditch Tunnel Railway 300 330 Closed 1980s[52] 1868
Yorkshire – East Drewton Tunnel Railway 1,933 2,114 Hull & Barnsley, closed 1959 1885
Yorkshire - East & Lincolnshire Humber Gas Tunnel Natural gas 4,900 5,400 Tunnel boring machine (TBM)/Concrete lining December 2020 53°42′04″N 0°14′31″W / 53.701°N 0.242°W / 53.701; -0.242 (Humber Gas Tunnel)
Yorkshire – East Sugar Loaf Tunnel Railway 121 132 Hull & Barnsley, closed 1959 1885
Yorkshire – East Weedley Tunnel Railway 121 132 Hull & Barnsley, closed 1959 1885
Yorkshire – North Burdale Tunnel Railway 1,597 1,746 1853
Yorkshire – North Blea Moor Tunnel Railway 2,404 2,629 Settle–Carlisle line 1876
Yorkshire – North Grosmont Horse Tunnel Railway 119 130 Whitby & Pickering Railway 1835
Yorkshire – North Prospect Tunnel Railway 754 825 In Crimple, Harrogate 1848
Yorkshire – North Falsgrave Tunnel Railway 240 260 1885 54°16′35.9″N 0°24′33.8″W / 54.276639°N 0.409389°W / 54.276639; -0.409389 (Falsgrave Tunnel)
Yorkshire – North Haw Bank Tunnel Railway 200 220 1888
Yorkshire – North Kettleness Tunnel Railway 282 308 1883
Yorkshire – North Mossdale Head Tunnel Railway 99 108 Closed tunnel on abandoned line between Hawes and Garsdale 1878
Yorkshire – North Ravenscar Tunnel Railway 255 279 Also Peak Tunnel 1885
Yorkshire – North Sandsend Tunnel Railway 1,511 1,652 1883
Yorkshire – North Woodsmith Mine Tunnel Mineral transport 37,000 40,464 Tunnel boring machines Due 2021 54°31′06″N 0°57′36″W / 54.5182°N 0.9599°W / 54.5182; -0.9599
Yorkshire – South Bradway Tunnel Railway 1,853 2,027 1870
Yorkshire – South Cat Hill Tunnel Railway 141 154 1840
Yorkshire – South Norwood Tunnel Canal 2,637 2,884 Disused since 1907 1775
Yorkshire – South Thurgoland Tunnel (old) Railway 288 315[24] Down line from 1952 – Closed 1983 1845
Yorkshire – South Thurgoland Tunnel (new) Railway 310 339[24] Second single-track bore (up line) opened 1952 due to clearance problems on curves, closed 1983 1953
Derbyshire & Yorkshire – South Woodhead Tunnel 1 Railway 4,840 5,293 First of 3 tunnels 1845
Derbyshire & Yorkshire – South Woodhead Tunnel 2 Railway 4,840 5,293 Second of 3 tunnels 1853
Derbyshire & Yorkshire – South Woodhead Tunnel 3 Railway 4,871 5,340 Third tunnel built using electric trains. Currently used by National Grid 1953
Yorkshire – West Bingley Tunnel Railway 138 151 Airedale Line 1847
Yorkshire – West Bramhope Tunnel Railway 3,439 3,761 Harrogate Line 1849
Yorkshire – West Gildersome Tunnel Railway 2,131 2,331 Disused tunnel on the former Leeds New Line. Filled with colliery waste to support the M62 being built on top of it in 1971[53] 1900 53°45′06.2″N 1°37′27.3″W / 53.751722°N 1.624250°W / 53.751722; -1.624250 (Gildersome Tunnel)
Yorkshire – West Greenside Tunnel Railway 563 616 Located on the former Pudsey Loop line 1893 53°47′23″N 1°40′12″W / 53.78972°N 1.67000°W / 53.78972; -1.67000 (Greenside Tunnel)
Yorkshire – West Lees Moor Tunnel Railway 1,402 1,533 1884 53°50′11.9″N 1°55′32″W / 53.836639°N 1.92556°W / 53.836639; -1.92556 (Lees Moor Tunnel)
Yorkshire – West Morley Tunnel Railway 3,081 3,369 1848
Yorkshire – West Queensbury Tunnel Railway 2,501 2,287 Closed in 1963 - proposal to re-open the tunnel as part of the Great Northern railway Trail 1879 53°45′59.4″N 1°51′24.3″W / 53.766500°N 1.856750°W / 53.766500; -1.856750 (Queensbury Tunnel)
Yorkshire – West Summit Tunnel Railway 2,638 2,885 Manchester and Leeds Railway 1841
Yorkshire – West Thackley Tunnel Railway 1,200 1,300 Airedale Line 1845
Yorkshire – West Victoria Avenue Tunnel Road 237 258 Carries A658 under the runway of Leeds Bradford International Airport [1] 1982/3
Yorkshire – West Well Heads Tunnel Railway 605 662 Former Great Northern Queensbury Lines[54] 1882 53°47′35.6″N 1°52′39.1″W / 53.793222°N 1.877528°W / 53.793222; -1.877528 (Well Heads Tunnel)

Wales

County Tunnel Type Length (m) Length (yd) Construction method / Notes Date of opening
Anglesey Bodorgan Tunnel Railway 530 580 Two sections of tunnel (approx. 80m and 375m long) separated by open cut 1849
Bridgend Nottage, Porthcawl Railway 58 63 Single track. Short, south portal relandscaped. Length[3] 1829?
Caerphilly Penar Tunnel Railway 219 239 On Halls Road Branch between Risca and Markham
Caerphilly Glyn Tunnel, Hafodyrynys Railway 260 280 Taff Vale Extension. Single track. Closed 1964. Portals now backfilled 1857
Caerphilly Caerphilly Tunnel Railway 1,768 1933 In use between Thornhill, Cardiff and Caerphilly. On the Rhymney Railway 1871
Cardiff Queensgate Tunnel Road 715 782 Part of the A4232 Butetown link road 1995
Cardigan Bryn Teify Tunnel Railway 92 101 Closed 1970s and portals bricked up ?
Carmarthenshire Pencader Tunnel Railway 901 985 Built for broad gauge 1861
Conwy Conwy Road Tunnel[55] Road 1,080 1181 Carries the A55 road around Conwy 1991
Conwy Penmaenbach Westbound Tunnel[55] Road 658 720 Carries the Westbound A55 road through the Penmaenbach headland 1989
Conwy Penmaenbach Eastbound Headland Tunnel[55] Road 172 188 Carries the Eastbound A55 road through the Penmaenbach headland 1932
Conwy Pen-y-Clip Westbound Tunnel[55] Road 930 1017 Carries the Westbound A55 road through the Pen-y-Clip headland 1994
Gwynedd Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 1, Fron-gôch) Railway 180 200 One of four tunnels on the Cambrian Coast Railway. 1867
Gwynedd Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 2, Morfa Bach) Railway 200 219 One of four tunnels on the Cambrian Coast Railway. 1867
Gwynedd Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 3) Railway 175 191 One of four tunnels on the Cambrian Coast Railway. 1867
Gwynedd Penhelig Tunnels (Aberdovey No. 4, Craig-y-Don) Railway 487 533 One of four tunnels on the Cambrian Coast Railway. 1867
Gwynedd Ffestiniog Tunnel Railway 3,407 3726 UK's longest single-track tunnel, in use on the Conwy Valley Line 1879
Monmouthshire & Gloucestershire Severn Tunnel Railway 7,012 7668 Longest mainline tunnel in the UK until 2007 when tunnels on High Speed 1 opened 1886
Monmouthshire Gibraltar Tunnel Road 185 202 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 250 273 Between Nantyglo and Govilon. Closed 1958 1862, doubled 1877
Monmouthshire Gelli-felen Tunnels Railway 230 352 Co-located with Clydach. On a continuous curve of approximately 120 degrees 1862
Monmouthshire Monmouth Troy Railway 130 142 Disused and blocked 1857
Monmouthshire Usk Railway 234 256 Disused but walkable 1857
Neath Port Talbot Cymmer, Afan Valley Railway 1,458 1595 Built by the Great Western Railway. Single track. Straight. North end relandscaped
Neath Port Talbot Gelli, Afan Valley Railway 153 167 [3] 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 Single track. North end collapsed 1947. South Wales Mineral Railway[2]. 1863
Neath Port Talbot Cwmcerwyn, Maesteg Railway 920 1010 Built by the Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company. Single track, curved.[3][permanent dead link] 1964
Newport Hillfield Tunnels, Newport Railway 700 770 Mainline tunnel west of Newport railway station.
Newport Gaer Tunnel, Newport Railway 369 403 Line to Bassaleg west of Hillfield Tunnels.
Newport Brynglas Tunnels Road 370 400 Twin-bore, two-lane tunnels on M4. 1967
Pembrokeshire Castle Tunnel, Maenclochog Railway 91 99 Used for target practice in WWII. Closed 1949. 1867
Pembrokeshire Saundersfoot Railway Railway 450 490 3 short Coppet Hall Tunnels on the shoreline plus the longer Hill Tunnel inland
Powys Torpantau Tunnel Railway 610 666 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 Brecon and Merthyr Railway 1864
Powys Ashford Tunnel Canal 343 375 Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal 1800
Powys Rhayader Tunnel Railway 270 290 Mid Wales Railway. Closed 1963. Now a nature reserve 1864
Powys Marteg Tunnel Railway 340 372 Mid Wales Railway. Closed 1963. North-west of Rhayader 1864
Merthyr Tydfil CBC Abernant / Merthyr Railway 2,283 2497 Single track bore, curved at west end and with double-track portal. 1853
Rhondda Cynon Tâf Garth or Walnut Tree Tunnel Railway 410 490 [9] Barry Railway Company Penrhos branch to Llanbradach. Double track. Closed 1963. Partly breached by Garth Quarry. 1905
Merthyr Tydfil CBC Morlais Tunnel, Merthyr Tydfil Railway 948 1040 Double track, curved at west end. 3 airshafts. Closed 6 January 1958. Linked LNWR with Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway at Morlais Junction. 1 June 1879
Merthyr Tydfil CBC Quaker's Yard or Cefn-Glas Tunnel, Abercynon Railway 643 703 [56] Vale of Neath / West Midland Railway GWR. Closed to traffic in 1964. 1851
Rhondda Cynon Tâf Rhondda Tunnel Railway 3,148 3443 Single track. Closed due to subsidence in the 1960s. 1890
Rhondda Cynon Tâf Tinworks, Treforest Water 140 150 Mill race "feeder" for Crawshays Tinworks. Tunnel made when embankment was constructed 1907
Rhondda Cynon Tâf Pontypridd Railway 1,210 1323 Barry Railway Company Closed and bricked up 1889
Rhondda Cynon Tâf Tongwynlais Railway 160 180 Cardiff Railway through the Taffs Well gorge. Closed 1938. Removed in constructing A470 dual carriageway at Tongwynlais. 1907
Swansea Penllergaer Tunnel Railway 267 292 Active freight and sometimes passenger line on Swansea District Line 1912
Swansea Llangyfelach Tunnel Railway 1,785 1952 Active freight and sometimes passenger line on Swansea District Line 1912
Swansea Peniel Green Tunnel (Lônlas) Railway 845 924 Active freight and sometimes passenger line on Swansea District Line 1912
Swansea Cockett Tunnel Railway 721 788 South Wales Main Line
Torfaen Pwll Du Tunnel Tramroad 1875 2,051 Opened 1816 linking Blaenavon with Pwll Du 1926
Vale of Glamorgan Wenvoe Tunnel Railway 1,707 1867 Barry Railway. Closed 1964 [4][permanent dead link] 1898
Vale of Glamorgan Cogan Tunnel Railway 203 222 Barry Railway. 1886
Vale of Glamorgan Barry Island Tunnel. Also called "Pier Tunnel" Railway 260 280 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 Vale of Glamorgan Railway. 1898
Vale of Glamorgan Porthkerry No.2 Tunnel Railway 65 71 Vale of Glamorgan Railway. 1898
Wrexham Chirk Tunnel Canal 420 459 First in UK to have a towpath 1802

Northern Ireland

County Tunnel Type Length
(m)
Length
(yd)
Construction method / Notes Date of opening
Londonderry Castlerock Rail 611 668 Brick 1845–1853[57]
Londonderry Downhill Rail 281 307 1845–1846[58]
Armagh Lissummon Rail 1,608 1759 Stone with some brick early 1860s[59][dead link]
Down Binnian Tunnel Aqueduct 4,000 4400 Stone 1948–1952
Antrim Whitehead Rail 159 145 Closed in 1994 until further notice. 1862–1994[60][dead link]
Tyrone Dungannon Rail 870 800 1862 [61]

Scotland

County Tunnel Type Length (m) Length (yd) Construction method / Notes Date of opening
Dundee Marketgait Tunnel Road 230 250 Cut and cover. Length[62]
Midlothian Broomieknowe Tunnel Railway 393 430 Closed 1951 1877
Glasgow Clyde Tunnel Road 762 833 1964
Dumfries and Galloway Drumlanrig Tunnel Railway 1,270 1,389
Glasgow M8 Motorway, Charing Cross. Road Cut and cover, short sections
Glasgow Glasgow Subway Railway 10,500 11,440
Scottish Borders Whitrope Tunnel Railway 1,105 1,208 Closed 1969 1862
Scottish Borders Penmanshiel Tunnel Railway 244 267 Original tunnel closed in 1979 after collapse and new cutting constructed adjacent to old tunnel. 1979
Scottish Highlands Nevis Tunnel Water 24,000 26,400 hydroelectric scheme
Stirling A9, City Centre Tunnel Road Cut and cover
Dundee Dock Street Tunnel Railway 558 610
Aberdeen Schoolhill Tunnel Railway 229 250
Aberdeen Hutcheon Street Tunnel Railway 256 280
Edinburgh Scotland Street Tunnel Railway 914 1,000 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
Falkirk Falkirk Tunnel Canal 630 690 Union Canal connection to Falkirk Wheel and Forth and Clyde Canal 1822
Glasgow Kelvingrove Tunnel Railway 870 950 Glasgow Central Railway. Closed 1964 1896
Glasgow Cowlairs Tunnel Railway 905 990 1842
Glasgow Anderston Tunnel Railway 2,533 2,770
Glasgow Canning Street Tunnel Railway 423 463
Glasgow Stobcross Street Tunnel Railway 585 640
Glasgow Dalmarnock Road Tunnel Railway 722 790
Glasgow Charing Cross Tunnel Railway 1,006 1,100
Glasgow Glasgow Harbour Tunnel Vehicle and pedestrian 213 233 3 bores. Vehicles hoisted to tunnel level. Closed 1987 1895
South Lanarkshire Barncluith Tunnel Railway 347 380
South Lanarkshire Kirkhill Tunnel Railway 265 290
Perth and Kinross Moncrieffe Tunnel Railway 1,106 1,210
Inverclyde Newton Street Tunnel Railway 1,930 2,110 Longest bored railway tunnel in Scotland, linking Greenock to Gourock 1889

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Whipple, Tom (13 April 2019). "Colossal bore gets priest's blessing to dig a giant tunnel at Yorkshire Mine". The Times. No. 72820. p. 22. ISSN 0140-0460.
  2. ^ "VII. Marple By-Passed 1898-191". www.marple-uk.com. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "UK railway tunnel lengths G-P".
  4. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1222039)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Cheshire Magazine". www.cc-publishing.co.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Cornwall & Scilly HER". English Heritage. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Cornwall & Scilly HER". English Heritage. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  8. ^ "SX0853 : Former Railway Trackbed used as Private Road". Geograph – photograph every grid square. GeoGraph. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d e "UK railway tunnel lengths A-F".
  10. ^ Driving the Clay Cross Tunnel, Cliff Williams, Scarthin Books, Cromford
  11. ^ "UK canal tunnel lengths". Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.
  12. ^ "Railway Tunnel lengths G-P".
  13. ^ George Hall, Rev (1839). The History of Chesterfield: With … - Google Book Search. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  14. ^ Killamarsh Branch & Extension: via kivetonwaleshistory
  15. ^ "UK railway tunnels lengths Q-Z".
  16. ^ "Middlebere railway history". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Brailsford, Martyn (2016). Railway Track Diagrams Book 2: Eastern. Frome: Tackmaps. ISBN 978-0-9549866-8-1.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h Brown, Joe (2015). London Railway Atlas. Hersham: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-7110-3819-6.
  19. ^ Haswell, C.K. (December 1969). "Thames Cable Tunnel". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 44 (4): 323–340. doi:10.1680/iicep.1969.7250.
  20. ^ Anon (May 1970). "Cables Down Under". Electronics & Power. 16 (5): 175. doi:10.1049/ep.1970.0161 – via IEEE Xplore.
  21. ^ 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". The Fluid Engineering Centre. Mott MacDonald Ltd. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.621.9034.
  22. ^ Bardsley 1960, p. 7.
  23. ^ Cold-War History in Manchester Archived 10 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ a b c d Phil Deaves (Subeditor of The Railway Observer). "Railway tunnel lengths". Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  25. ^ Nick Hurrell. "The Railway through Micheldever". Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  26. ^ "Elstree - St John's Wood cable tunnel" (PDF).
  27. ^ "Baldock bypass: it's open!". bbc.co.uk.
  28. ^ a b c Railway People article on the repair work to the 3 tunnels, accessed 15 May 2008
  29. ^ Barham Kent Archived 20 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 15 May 2008
  30. ^ Network Rail (6 June 2015). Kent Sussex Wessex Route Sectional Appendix. Vol. Module KSW2. p. 274.
  31. ^ Page on construction of tunnel Archived 21 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 15 May 2008
  32. ^ Dumbleton, MJ; et al. (1978). "Site investigation aspects of the River Medway cable tunnels" (PDF). Transport and road research laboratory.
  33. ^ Kent Rail's page on Shakespeare Cliff Halt, accessed 15 May 2008
  34. ^ 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
  35. ^ a b c d "East Lancashire Historical Community Railways" (PDF). East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership. 8 August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  36. ^ a b Clarke, Mike (1994). The Leeds & Liverpool Canal: A History and Guide. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing. p. 175. ISBN 1-85936-013-0.
  37. ^ "Forgotten Relics of an Enterprising Age". Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  38. ^ Williams, Michael (2011). On the Slow Train Again: Twelve Great British Railway Journeys. Preface Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-84809-285-3.
  39. ^ a b "The Road Tunnel Operator Association – Participants". The Road Tunnel Operator Association. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  40. ^ "Mail Rail unofficial website". Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  41. ^ "Rotherhithe Tunnel Traffic". LondonTrafic. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  42. ^ "Chesterfield Canal Trust – Official website". www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  43. ^ "Mansfield Road Tunnel". forgottenrelics.co.uk.
  44. ^ a b Calpcott, Kevin (10 August 2007). "Windsor Hill". Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  45. ^ a b "Bowlish, Spring Walk – 3.5 mls". Shepton Mallett Town Council. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  46. ^ Capper I (2010). "Betchworth Tunnel". TQ1849. Geograph Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  47. ^ Beechcroft G (2009). "Mickleham Tunnel". Railway Structures. Southern E-Group. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  48. ^ Quail Map Company (1 September 2002). Railway Track diagrams. Vol. 5 England South. p. 15A.
  49. ^ "roads.org.uk website".
  50. ^ Williams G (2011). "Railway Stations and Church Names". Glyn's Trains. sinfin.net. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  51. ^ "Fenny Compton Tunnel".
  52. ^ "Redditch Raily History". Redditch Model Railway Club. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  53. ^ "Gildersome Tunnel". www.forgottenrelics.co.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  54. ^ "Well Heads Tunnel". www.forgottenrelics.co.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  55. ^ a b c d "Tunnels". North Wales Trunk Road Agency. 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  56. ^ "UK railway tunnels lengths Q-Z".
  57. ^ "History of the Railway". Castlerock Community Association. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  58. ^ "1845–1861 Londonderry and Coleraine Railway". Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  59. ^ "Lissummon Railway tunnel". Retrieved 30 June 2013.[permanent dead link]
  60. ^ "Ireland's Disused Tunnels". Retrieved 19 August 2013.[permanent dead link]
  61. ^ "Closure of the 'Derry Road' a great loss to Ireland – Derry Journal". Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  62. ^ "Sabre Road Lists".

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.