Woodhead Tunnels
History
There are three disused rail tunnels that pass under the Peak District, starting at Woodhead. They are three and a half miles long, and they once connected Manchester and Sheffield through the Longdendale Valley.
In the 1960s, what was the National Grid then used the two smaller Victorian tunnels to put its electricity cables underground between power stations to the east and west of the Pennines. The rail route in the third tunnel was closed to passenger trains in 1970 and to freight in 1981. All three tunnels were then sold to National Grid and the track on both sides of the tunnels was converted into the popular Trans Pennine Trail.
Because the condition of the two smaller tunnels had deteriorated badly, National Grid began moving the cabling to the larger, southerly tunnel in 2008. Once this is finished, trains will not be able to use it. However, the two smaller tunnels could be refurbished to take the cabling again, as long as they are not allowed to fall in disrepair. This work would be extremely expensive, and unlikely to happen unless the need for a re-opened rail route can be proved.
What we want
We think the two smaller Victorian tunnels have the potential to be a really important resource. We don't want them falling into disrepair again, and are campaigning for them to be maintained until a feasibility study can look at the best way for rail routes to be organised across the Pennines this century.
What's happening now...
- We are working with Re-open the Woodhead Line, which originally started in response to National Grid’s plans.
- A campaign milestone was a House of Commons debate led by the MP for Hillsborough, Angela Smith, calling for the tunnels to be safeguarded for future rail use.
- In 2008, Rosie Winterton (the then Rail Minister) announced there would be a review about the need to preserve the Victorian tunnels for rail use before National Grid vacated and possibly abandoned them.
- National Grid are carrying on with the work in the larger tunnel.
- We're waiting for Network Rail, the Department for Transport, National Grid and the Northern Way to agree about the need for a Woodhead trans-Pennine rail route to meet long-term predictions for freight and passengers.
What you can do
- Lobby your MP and local councillor for the Victorian tunnels to be maintained, and for a proper study of the need for the rail route.
- Remind them that this could potentially remove the impact of freight lorries on the Peak District.
