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 Ss (67)

Tunnel Name(s)CompanyYardsTrksOpenClosedPortalLink
Scotland Street
Scotland StreetEL&G1008218471868
Summerhill (Gwersyllt)
Summerhill (Gwersyllt)S&C266(g)118471908
Stella Old
Stella OldSCCW148(g)1<1898<1920
Stodhart
StodhartPFT88117961924
Snow Hill East Curve
Snow Hill East CurveLC&D310~218711927
Swainsley (Manifold)
Swainsley (Manifold)LMVLR164119041934
Converted into road tunnel.
St Aubin
St AubinJR&T69(g)2~18981936
St Aubin Tunnel was reopened between 1942-45 as part of a German military railway.
Stock's Moor
Stock's MoorDG212(g)118541941
Spital Hill (Wicker)
Spital Hill (Wicker)Mid307(g)218481948
Savile Road (Dewsbury MR)
Savile Road (Dewsbury MR)Mid187119061950
Sutton Harbour (Jubilee Street)
Sutton Harbour (Jubilee Street)LSW74118791950
Sherwood
SherwoodNot Sub442218891951
Sneinton
SneintonNot Sub183218891951
St Fillans
St FillansCal62119041951
St Lawrence (High Hat)
St Lawrence (High Hat)IoWC619118971952
Singleton
SingletonLBSC741118811953
Soothill (Woodkirk)
Soothill (Woodkirk)GN659218901953
St Margaret's
St Margaret'sNth Brt461118771954
St Michaels (Shoreham)
St Michaels (Shoreham)K&ESL31119051954
Shields Covered Way No.1
Shields Covered Way No.1CGU149~118741957
Shields Covered Way No.2
Shields Covered Way No.2CGU85~118741957
Sandsend (Deepgrove)
Sandsend (Deepgrove)WR&MU1652118831958
Settrington
SettringtonM&DJ57218531958
Stoney Stanton
Stoney StantonLHQ96(g)1<1903~1958
Sugar Loaf
Sugar LoafHB&WRJ132218851959
Symonds Yat
Symonds YatR&M433118731959
Sorley
SorleyGW638118931963
Severn Bridge (Purton)
Severn Bridge (Purton)SB506218791964
Part of the western approach to the old Severn Railway Bridge.
St Vincent Crescent
St Vincent CrescentCal77218961964
Strowan (Trowan)
Strowan (Trowan)Cr&Co99118931964
Shirland
ShirlandMid189118661965
St John's Road
St John's RoadL&Y109218871965
Stenalees (Goonbarrow)
Stenalees (Goonbarrow)CM341118931965
Shafton
ShaftonDV92(g)219021966
Shaugh (Leighbeer)
Shaugh (Leighbeer)SD&T308118591966
Springwood
SpringwoodMS&L311218921966
Standedge Down
Standedge Down LNW5342118491966
Standedge Up
Standedge UpLNW5342118711966
Sutton-in-Ashfield
Sutton-in-AshfieldMans50(g)219161966
Slade (Ilfracombe) Down
Slade (Ilfracombe) DownLSW70118741967
Spinkhill
SpinkhillLD&EC492218981967
Spitalfields Goods
Spitalfields GoodsEst Lon69(g)3?s18801967?
Sherwood Rise
Sherwood RiseGC665218981968
Shillamill
ShillamillPD&SWJ603218901968
St Leonard's (Arthur's Seat)
St Leonard's (Arthur's Seat)E&D572118311968
Stanley Road
Stanley RoadMid44(g)218851968
Stanley Road Tunnel comprises two single bores.
Stella New
Stella NewS&GR99(g)1<1920~1968
Staple Hill
Staple HillB&Glos515218351969
Staple Hill Tunnel was widened to accommodate a two-track broad gauge railway in 1844.
Sandhills
SandhillsCLC49(g)218821969
Seaham North
Seaham NorthSHD16(g)1<1920>1969
Seaham South
Seaham SouthSHD121(g)1<1920>1969
Slade (Ilfracombe) Up
Slade (Ilfracombe) UpLSW70118911970
Stonehouse Bridge
Stonehouse BridgeLSW45(g)118861970
Stonehouse Bridge Tunnel was originally 40 yards long but was extended at the north end as part of a road realignment.
Shaw Cross
Shaw CrossWYks209118641972
St Dunstans
St DunstansGN43218761972
Stalybridge New (Cocker Hill)
Stalybridge New (Cocker Hill)LNW298218861976
Stobcross Depot
Stobcross DepotCal190218941980
Silkstone (Worsboro') No.1
Silkstone (Worsboro') No.1MS&L289218801981
Silkstone (Worsboro') No.2
Silkstone (Worsboro') No.2MS&L74218801981
South Dock
South DockDD402118771982
Scotswood
ScotswoodNE269218751986
Stockton Brook
Stockton BrookNth Stf66(g)218671989
St Hilda's Loop
St Hilda's LoopHar96(g)1~19061989?
Stoney Low
Stoney LowNth Stf39218701991?
Silverdale
SilverdaleNth Stf684218701999?
Silvertown (Connaught)
Silvertown (Connaught)GE600218802006
Smithfield
SmithfieldMetWL293(g)218662009
As built, the tunnel was 242 yards long but extensions have since been added at both ends.