Woodhead Tunnel Campaign

Woodhead Tunnel Campaign

Any prospect of the line being relaid through Britain’s longest disused tunnel has effectively vanished with completion of the National Grid’s project to install power lines through it.

British Rail’s 1954 tunnel through Woodhead last saw trains in 1981 when the route was controversially closed. It has sat idle ever since. Instead of using it as a cable run, environmental and transport campaigners believe that the railway should be reopened to increase the network’s limited freight capacity and combat the blight of HGVs clogging up roads through the Peak District National Park.

This page will be updated to include articles related to the story as well as providing links to other sources of information.

Words & pictures


Articles

Off-site films and information

Cabview
Archive film and cabview of both east and west approaches to the tunnel.
Wikipedia
A potted history of Woodhead’s three disused railway tunnels.

Off-site press stories

November 2013

Campaign fails to secure tunnels’ future05/11/13Manchester Evening News

April 2013

Bid to bring trains back to Woodhead04/04/13Manchester Evening News

July 2011

New tunnel vision01/07/11Sheffield Telegraph

June 2009

Campaign to reopen tunnel on right track19/06/09The Star (South Yorkshire)

April 2009

Tunnel route ‘unlikely’ to reopen23/04/09Sheffield Telegraph

March 2009

Speedy decision on tunnel needed12/03/09Sheffield Telegraph

February 2009

MPs call for trans-Pennine link move25/02/09Cranswick Today

August 2008

Demonstrators gather for campaign05/08/08Sheffield Telegraph

July 2008

Demo in campaign to reopen rail route23/07/08Sheffield Telegraph
Plans unveiled for high-speed rail link19/07/08Huddersfield Examiner

March 2008

Tunnel vision reaps rewards19/03/08Glossop Advertiser
Woodhead tunnel decision delayed19/03/08Manchester Evening News
New blow to Woodhead tunnel hopes18/03/08The Star (South Yorkshire)
MPs call for train route to reopen12/03/08Fleetwood Weekly News
MP Angela Smith calls to preserve tunnel11/03/08The Star (South Yorkshire)
Rail route challenge as tunnel battle won01/03/08The Star (South Yorkshire)

February 2008

Woodhead tunnel fight: Kelly speaks out27/02/08Bolton News
Angela Smith in talks over future of…26/02/08The Star (South Yorkshire)
MEP calls for resort to have Chunnel link12/02/08This is Lancashire
‘Save tunnel’ plea to Blears01/02/08Manchester Evening News
Minister boosts rail tunnel campaign01/02/08Yorkshire Post

January 2008

Kelly forced to backtrack on Woodhead25/01/08The Star (South Yorkshire)
Save our tunnel appeal22/01/08Huddersfield Daily Examiner
MP’s call for rail link tunnel vision17/01/08The Star (South Yorkshire)
Tunnel demo ‘victory’16/01/08Glossop Advertiser
Protest over plans for Woodhead tunnel15/01/08The Star (South Yorkshire)
Woodhead fight goes on13/01/08Manchester Evening News
Bosses on board to save tunnel11/01/08Manchester Evening News
Call to block electricity line tunnel plan10/01/08The Star (South Yorkshire)
Fight stepped up to save tunnel09/01/08Glossop Advertiser

December 2007

Campaign for tunnel vision27/12/07Manchester Evening News
Protest over power line in rail tunnel18/12/07The Star (South Yorkshire)
Dormant lines could ease rail congestion11/12/07Manchester Evening News

September 2007

Bypass cable shock19/09/07Glossop Advertiser

Other resources

Save the Woodhead Tunnel

Campaign group’s website, including archive of information on battle against the power lines.