Closure of Bransty Tunnel (near Whitehaven) expected until further notice

[35B]

Such fanciful ideologies are typical of the wider Milliband-esque schemes that are screwing this country and its economy. Somehow we have got our priorities completely misplaced. Service through the tunnel needs to be reinstated as a top priority to get public transport moving properly again, and any other issues be dealt with as and when, not before. i.e. what the EA want or demand should be WELL down the pecking order.

On some other lines, I’d be tempted to agree. On this minor rural backwater, that trade off is different.

 

[Bletchleyite]

On some other lines, I’d be tempted to agree. On this minor rural backwater, that trade off is different.

Particularly given that the two main flows on the line (Carlisle<->Whitehaven and Lancaster<->Barrow/Sellafield) are still possible.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

On some other lines, I’d be tempted to agree. On this minor rural backwater, that trade off is different.

This so-called "minor rural backwater" serves places like Sellafield, Ravenglass (useful for visiting the heritage line), Whitehaven and Workington...just to name four of these stations

 

[Bletchleyite]

This so-called "minor rural backwater" serves places like Sellafield, Ravenglass (useful for visiting the heritage line), Whitehaven and Workington...just to name four of these stations

And all of those places are still served from the side they are mostly accessed from. The middle bit is decidedly quiet. It wasn't even until recently that that bit (Millom-Whitehaven) got an hourly service or anything at all on Sundays - before that it was 2-hourly at best and no Sunday service.

If the bit of the line around Nethertown and the other very quiet station whose name I forget was to fall in the sea, odds on basically nobody would notice.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In the central area of this rail line, Workington has a population of 25,207 and Whitehaven has a population of 24.040.

 

[35B]

In the central area of this rail line, Workington has a population of 25,207 and Whitehaven has a population of 24.040.

And both are accessible from Carlisle, which is the dominant direction of demand.

The materiality of the line matters to the priority of work

 

[Pinus contorta]

And all of those places are still served from the side they are mostly accessed from.

There are ticketing anomalies involved though. Try travelling to somewhere like Glasgow for example from any of the stations north of Barrow. It wont let you travel southbound on a return ticket. And this has an additional time penalty on a Sunday due to the service winding down much earlier in the day. I dont know why the continuing rail ticket acceptance on TPE or Avanti wasnt allowed.

 

[themiller]

I believe the problem with clearance is also to do with the ‘6 foot’, as in the space between the two running lines, which risks wider stock hitting each other.

I’m sure I’ve heard that when the Network Rail 950 or occasional 195 has ran on the northern section it has been allowed providing nothing else passes on the opposite line.

Talking with a pway supervisor some years ago, he said that when they rebuilt the platforms at Aspatria, they were able to use their trolley on the rails of the 6’ because it was just over 1435mm between the up and down lines. I don’t know about the 950 running on the northern section but was told that the 150s that turned up at Barrow were not allowed north of Maryport due to their width.

 

[a_c_skinner]

The restrictions on the line north of Maryport do not require end doors otherwise classes 142 and 143 wouldn’t have been allowed! 142s were the main units until withdrawn.

Hmm, you may have a point there! It just shows I shouldn't believe the www. It rather begs the question of what will come after the current stock. OTOH if it were just a matter of trains not passing each other in parts we did work the WCML south of Penrith like that until recently.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Apr 2026 ==

Particularly given that the two main flows on the line (Carlisle<->Whitehaven and Lancaster<->Barrow/Sellafield) are still possible.

Forgive a second point. The issue isn't passengers it is votes. Keeping a line open doesn't garner votes but shutting one does the opposite in spades.

 

[yorksrob]

Keeping a line open doesn't garner votes but shutting one does the opposite in spades.

Thank goodness for that. The disastrous closure programme of the 1960's/70's helped to inoculate the popjlation against flimsy closure arguments.

 

[35B]

Forgive a second point. The issue isn't passengers it is votes. Keeping a line open doesn't garner votes but shutting one does the opposite in spades.

Does it? Or does it merely result in a lot of noise from those who care deeply about the line in question?

 

[The Planner]

Thank goodness for that. The disastrous closure programme of the 1960's/70's helped to inoculate the popjlation against flimsy closure arguments.

Has it? Beeching was 63 years ago.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If a decision to split the line in twain is taken, where do the thread contributors feel the line northwards from Sellafield should be terminated.

 

[yorksrob]

Has it? Beeching was 63 years ago.

Good point - we have to be forever vigilant and prepared to kick up a big stink.

Someone will try it on sometime, that's for sure !

 

[a_c_skinner]

Does it? Or does it merely result in a lot of noise from those who care deeply about the line in question?

That is the point, noise is votes. At least as far as anyone can know.

 

[35B]

That is the point, noise is votes. At least as far as anyone can know.

My point is that noise is not the same as votes. Especially in the internet age.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

If a decision to split the line in twain is taken, where do the thread contributors feel the line northwards from Sellafield should be terminated.

Corkickle, at the south side of the tunnel.
No need to close more than is nessecary.

 

[yorksrob]

My point is that noise is not the same as votes. Especially in the internet age.

By a similar point, people are more emotionally moved by removing something that they have, than the prospect of gaining something new.

 

[35B]

By a similar point, people are more emotionally moved by removing something that they have, than the prospect of gaining something new.

I agree completely. I just think that it is rash for those who care strongly about an issue to assume that others care similarly, and will act accordingly.

 

[yorksrob]

I agree completely. I just think that it is rash for those who care strongly about an issue to assume that others care similarly, and will act accordingly.

True, some brave person may put forward a proposal to truncate the line.

I say "brave" in the Yes Minister sense.

 

[thenorthern]

In the central area of this rail line, Workington has a population of 25,207 and Whitehaven has a population of 24.040.

And both are accessible from Carlisle, which is the dominant direction of demand.

The materiality of the line matters to the priority of work

Sellafield is the big employer along the route and closing it would cause a lot of problems.

The issue isn't passengers it is votes. Keeping a line open doesn't garner votes but shutting one does the opposite in spades.

And given the line passes through 4 marginal constituencies which Labour is likely to lose to Reform at the next election.

 

[Mag_seven]

Rail engineers are trying to find out how a mysterious orange-coloured water has started to enter Corkickle tunnel

MSN

Thread unlocked for an update from @_toommm_

 

[_toommm_]

Thread unlocked for an update from @_toommm_

Thank you

Seems funding has finally been proposed for the tunnel, albeit with no expected date:

Plan to reopen Bransty tunnel and tackle Whitehaven Harbour orange water

Network Rail announces £60m funding for Bransty rail tunnel and Whitehaven's Queen's Dock.

www.bbc.co.uk

Funding has been announced to reopen a rail tunnel and tackle orange water in a nearby harbour.

Network Rail said it had "firm proposals" and £60m government funding to open Bransty tunnel on the Cumbrian Coast Line and treat discoloured water flowing from it into Whitehaven's Queen's Dock.

Local MP Josh MacAlister said plans included a permanent water filter and work to fill the old mine workings under the track.

"These plans are now being carefully reviewed by partner agencies to get the necessary environmental approvals needed to allow us to start work as soon as we possibly can," Network Rail said.

Bransty tunnel, between Whitehaven and Corkickle, shut in July 2025 when engineers found its floor needed "significant reinforcement" following the discovery of old mine structures.

Rail passengers on the busy route to Sellafield have used replacement buses during the closure.

Meanwhile, the water in Queen's Dock has been discoloured orange since 2022 because of iron ochre draining through a culvert from the tunnel.

Network Rail said a solution had been found after "many months of detailed design and complex modelling" with the Mining Remediation Authority and the Environment Agency.

It had "firm proposals and funding for a dual solution to get both the railway reopened and tunnel water treated before it enters the harbour", North West and Central director Christian Irwin said.

However, it said it needed to secure environmental approvals over the next few weeks before it could share when work could start and how long it would take.

Chair of the Whitehaven Harbour Task Force, Labour MP Josh MacAlister, said the investment was a "huge breakthrough".

He added a previous proposal to divert the water into the sea had been "ruled out".

 

[AndrewE]

Thank you

Seems funding has finally been proposed for the tunnel, albeit with no expected date:

Plan to reopen Bransty tunnel and tackle Whitehaven Harbour orange water

Network Rail announces £60m funding for Bransty rail tunnel and Whitehaven's Queen's Dock.

www.bbc.co.uk

also being discussed on https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ion-on-this-issue.290244/page-10#post-7947876

 

[QueensCurve]

And given the line passes through 4 marginal constituencies which Labour is likely to lose to Reform at the next election.

Assuming Reform doesn't implode spectacularly during the next couple of years.

 

[yorksrob]

Hopefully this should put all this silliness about closing the line permanently, to bed.

 

[QueensCurve]

Thank you

Seems funding has finally been proposed for the tunnel, albeit with no expected date:

Plan to reopen Bransty tunnel and tackle Whitehaven Harbour orange water

Network Rail announces £60m funding for Bransty rail tunnel and Whitehaven's Queen's Dock.

www.bbc.co.uk

One of the interesting things is that the name has reverted to "Bransty Tunnel" more than 50 years since BR renamed it "Whitehaven Tunnel". The name is arguably more accurate since the tunnel passes under Whitehaven rather than Bransty further north.

 

[StoneRoad]

One of the interesting things is that the name has reverted to "Bransty Tunnel" more than 50 years since BR renamed it "Whitehaven Tunnel". The name is arguably more accurate since the tunnel passes under Whitehaven rather than Bransty further north.

Interesting, as I usually refer to it as Corkickle Tunnel as that's were the other end emerges.
The watercourse that's been bringing the polluted water to the Marina id Bransty Beck, though.

 

[MadMac]

One of the interesting things is that the name has reverted to "Bransty Tunnel" more than 50 years since BR renamed it "Whitehaven Tunnel". The name is arguably more accurate since the tunnel passes under Whitehaven rather than Bransty further north.

The station was called Whitehaven Bransty until 1968 and the signal box still is.

 

[EYFanatic]

One of the interesting things is that the name has reverted to "Bransty Tunnel" more than 50 years since BR renamed it "Whitehaven Tunnel". The name is arguably more accurate since the tunnel passes under Whitehaven rather than Bransty further north.

What does it say on the sectional?