The Woodhead Tunnels are three parallel trans-Pennine 3-mile (4.8 km) long railway tunnels on the Woodhead Line, a former major rail link from Manchester to Sheffield in Northern England. The western portals of the tunnels are at Woodhead in Derbyshire and the eastern portals are at Dunford Bridge, near Penistone, South Yorkshire.

Woodhead 1 was one of the world's longest railway tunnels when it opened in 1845. Woodhead 2 was completed in 1853 and Woodhead 3 opened almost exactly 100 years later in 1953. Passenger services ended in 1970 and the last train passed through in 1981.

The tunnels are currently owned by National Grid plc who initially used Woodhead 1 and 2 to carry power cables and in 2008 started to install new cables in Woodhead 3. The use of Woodhead 3 for power cables was controversial as it would create difficulties in reinstating rail services on the line, and was resisted by a sizeable campaign.

Mike Dempsey

September 13, 2022

Railway history before your eyes!

Targi

May 10, 2024

The high-voltage cables have now been laid through Tunnel 3.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 270 m

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Location: Tintwistle, High Peak, Derbyshire, East Midlands, England, United Kingdom

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