Disused tunnels database

Disused tunnels database

Research to expand our database of disused tunnels continues to pay dividends. Many thanks to those of you who have sent in contributions. If you can help with any details, omissions or corrections, please click the ‘contact us’ link in the sidebar to get in touch.

By clicking on the relevant column header, the database can be sorted by name, yardage, company or opening/closure dates. Hover over the abbreviated company name to see the full version. New tunnels are highlighted by a red tip; modified entries are in orange. More information or pictures – where available – is provided via the Link button.

Tunnels which were opened out either during or after the railway’s period of operation are excluded. Only those that still exist – even if now buried – are listed.


  • (g) length determined using historical maps and Google Earth’s measuring tool
  • ~ scaled length/approximate year
  • ? evidence uncertain
  • < earlier than/less than
  • > later than/more than

Click here to search the database by map. Each tunnel is marked at the midpoint of a straight line drawn between its portals (which can prove deceptive if the tunnel is curved). No buried tunnels are shown.

Most of the tunnels on the database can be viewed in GoogleEarth by opening a .kml file developed by Antony Badsey-Ellis. Download the ZIP to your hard disk by clicking here, then extract the .kml and open it using GoogleEarth.

Current total: 628

23
71
70
30
11
8
31
45
5
17
31
33
15
13
31
4
19
67
39
4
6
51
4
628

The Bs (71)

Tunnel Name(s)CompanyYardsTrksOpenClosedPortalLink
Bacup (Stubbylee)
Bacup (Stubbylee)L&Y114218521966
Badger's Oak (Hawkhurst)
Badger's Oak (Hawkhurst)C&PW178118931961
Baileycroft Quarry No.1
Baileycroft Quarry No.1WS&M31(g)1~18801906
Baileycroft Quarry No.2
Baileycroft Quarry No.2WS&M23(g)1~18801906
Balchriston
BalchristonG&SW47~219061955
Balgray
BalgrayL&D696218961966
Ballingham
BallinghamGW1208118551964
Balwhirley No.1
Balwhirley No.1G&A254118691991
Balwhirley No.2
Balwhirley No.2G&A184118691966
Barbican
BarbicanMetWL690218682009
As built, the section of line between Barbican and Moorgate featured three separate tunnels totalling ~259 yards but development in the latter half of the 20th century joined these structures together to form Barbican Tunnel.
Barnsdale
BarnsdaleHB&WRJ1226218851959
Barrack Street (St John St)
Barrack Street (St John St)G&SW161(g)218931913
Barren Clough
Barren CloughMS&L158~1~18501924
Barry Island (Barry Pier)
Barry Island (Barry Pier)Barry280218991975
Barry West Breakwater
Barry West BreakwaterBarry74(g)1~1910<1991
Basford
BasfordGN90119001968?
Basfords Hill
Basfords HillTT51(g)118021915
Bath Row Goods
Bath Row GoodsMid108118761967
Bathealton
BathealtonDv&Sm447118731966
Batley Carr (Crackenedge)
Batley Carr (Crackenedge)GN161218801965
Baynards
BaynardsLBSC381118651965
Beamish East
Beamish EastNE62218931983
Beamish West
Beamish WestNE35(g)218931983
Beaufort
BeaufortMT&A66218641958
Bedford Basin
Bedford BasinJF&O29611861?1952?
Bedford Place
Bedford PlaceAW38(g)117681924
The two short tunnels on the Alloa Waggonway are thought to be Scotland's oldest railway tunnels.
Bellgrove Goods
Bellgrove GoodsNth Brt27021904?1982?
Big (Brigham Forge)
Big (Brigham Forge)CK&P92118651972
Birchall
BirchallNth Stf69218491965
Birchenwood (Kidsgrove)
Birchenwood (Kidsgrove)Nth Stf88318751976
Birchenwood is a rare example of a tunnel built to accommodate three tracks.
Birkenshaw
BirkenshawGN106218561968
Blackheath Hill
Blackheath HillLC&D55218881917
Blackhill No.1
Blackhill No.1NE135119531982
Blackhill No.2
Blackhill No.2NE52118671963
Blists Hill
Blists HillLNW66218611960
Blorenge
BlorengeHill's45~11819
Blue Rock (Soudley)
Blue Rock (Soudley)SW109118541967
Boleyn Road (Goods)
Boleyn Road (Goods)Nth Lnd64(g)118681969
Bolsover (Scarcliffe)
Bolsover (Scarcliffe)LD&EC2624218971951
Bolton (Lever Street)
Bolton (Lever Street)LNW326218741965
Bondgate
BondgateNE93218561968
Boniface Down (Ventnor)
Boniface Down (Ventnor)IoW1313118661966
Bootle
BootleMid481218851968
Bootle Tunnel comprises two single bores.
Botanic Gardens (Kirklee)
Botanic Gardens (Kirklee)Cal220218961964
Boughton Brake
Boughton BrakeBR350119611993
Boughton Brake Tunnel became operational again with the partial reopening of the Bevercotes branch as part of a Network Rail test track in the summer of 2012.
Boulby Ironstone Mine
Boulby Ironstone MineBoul509(g)11904?1933?
Bourne Park
Bourne ParkSE&C330218891940
Bowling
BowlingL&D25218961964
Bowshank
BowshankNth Brt249218491969
Bowshank Tunnel was shortened at its southern end in the late 1950s, giving a new length of ~218 yards. The tunnel regained its operational status in June 2015 when the Borders Railway was commissioned.
Bradley Hill
Bradley HillSW299118541967
Bradnop
BradnopNth Stf36119051989
Bradnop Tunnel became operational again with the reopening of the Leekbrook-Cauldon Low line in 2010.
Brasenose Road
Brasenose RoadL&Y67218871965
Bredbury Low Level
Bredbury Low LevelS&M162218751967
Bridgeman St (High St)
Bridgeman St (High St)LNW259218851967
Bridgeton Cross No.1
Bridgeton Cross No.1GC&D74218921987
Bridgeton Cross No.2
Bridgeton Cross No.2GC&D210(g)218921987
Bridgnorth
BridgnorthSV559118621963
Brierley
BrierleyHB&WRJ684218851967
Brinnington
BrinningtonCLC168218801982
Britannia (Newline)
Britannia (Newline)L&Y144218811947
Bromshall (Loxley)
Bromshall (Loxley)S&U321118671951
Brymbo (Moss Hill)
Brymbo (Moss Hill)S&C437(g)118471862
Bryn
BrynNA&H398218581964
Bryn Teify (Cross Inn)
Bryn Teify (Cross Inn)M&M101118661973
Buchanan Street
Buchanan StreetCal430218491966
Burbage
BurbageC&HP580118321892
Burdale
BurdaleM&DJ1744118531958
Burdale Tunnel was built with both one and two-track width sections.
Burdon Road
Burdon RoadBR167(g)2~19671984
Burham
BurhamBBL&C573(g)11870s?1930?
Burnbank (Blantyre)
Burnbank (Blantyre)GBH&C120~218771963
Burrell Street
Burrell StreetCr&Co110~118931964
Butterhouse (Ryefield)
Butterhouse (Ryefield)LNW329218851966
Butternab
ButternabL&Y256118681965
Byker
BykerNE150218791987