Queensbury Tunnel Petition

[IanD]

Apologies if this has been raised before or is in the wrong place!

The Queensbury Tunnel Society have started a petition to stop Highways England’s Historical Railways Estate (HRE) from spending £3M on sealing off Queensbury tunnel (on the old Great Northern line between Bradford/Keighley and Halifax) but rather to spend a slightly smaller amount to make it safe and therefore potentially useable as a cycle/walking route - eventually becoming a link in the Great Northern Railway trail.

Parts of the old Great Northern routes between Bradford/Halifax/Keighley which are alreday preserved of make for excellent walking and cycling. Preserving Queensbury Tunnel could only enhance the experience.

Link to the petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/department-for-transport-securing-a-beneficial-future-for-queensbury-tunnel

 

[185]

It's a bit long... 2.3km i think. Great idea in principle. Also preserves the line / right of way for future use

 

[IanD]

I didn't realise it was that long. Ventured that way in the early eighties (and a few times since) to have a look at the remains of the GN network in the area. Got chased off by farmers occasionally but never got far into the tunnels.

 

[Clip]

It's a bit long... 2.3km i think. Great idea in principle. Also preserves the line / right of way for future use

Ha ha you're optimistic. Once they get converted to a cycle/walkway they will never be returned to a railway!!

 

[wingsoveryorks]

Used to play in the old 'Lees Moor' tunnel on this old line when I was a kid.

 

[sonorguy]

Ha ha you're optimistic. Once they get converted to a cycle/walkway they will never be returned to a railway!!

Not always, the extension of the T&W Metro into Sunderland meant that about 1 and a half miles (or so) of recently created cycle/walkway and carpark was all ripped up and reverted to it's original use, including section in a cutting that had been completely back-filled.

 

[Railsigns]

Not always, the extension of the T&W Metro into Sunderland meant that about 1 and a half miles (or so) of recently created cycle/walkway and carpark was all ripped up and reverted to it's [sic] original use, including section in a cutting that had been completely back-filled.

Same with Airdrie to Bathgate (about 15 miles).

 

[Pinza-C55]

Not always, the extension of the T&W Metro into Sunderland meant that about 1 and a half miles (or so) of recently created cycle/walkway and carpark was all ripped up and reverted to it's original use, including section in a cutting that had been completely back-filled.

And several bridges that had been demolished 10 years earlier had to be rebuilt at enormous extra expense.

 

[IanD]

Ha ha you're optimistic. Once they get converted to a cycle/walkway they will never be returned to a railway!!

One thing's for sure, if they seal it up, it will never see use again - rail or otherwise. At least converting it to a cycle route gives the option of rails being reinstated however slim the chance may be.

 

[Pinza-C55]

Why does it cost £3 million to seal off a tunnel ?

 

[ASharpe]

Why does it cost £3 million to seal off a tunnel ?

I think it's because the entire length of the tunnel needs to be made safe (for land above it) without any future maintenance.

 

[Pinza-C55]

I think it's because the entire length of the tunnel needs to be made safe (for land above it) without any future maintenance.

Ah , is there not much earth above it then ?

 

[w1bbl3]

The tunnel is prone to flooding and various parts of the linings have failed previously or are considered in a state likely to fail.

The sealing plan is based on the principle that once sealed the tunnel will be impossible to repair further in the future. Cover is generally good but with local sections of under 40m depth.

The concerns are that the tunnel will without ongoing maintenance collapse around the access shafts, two of which are located near to houses the cost which would be substantial if the tunnel was to fail. In detail both portals would be filled with 20m of foam concrete and the shafts backfilled the rest the tunnel would be allowed to collapse over time.

The repair option as proposed for the cycleway will render the tunnel unsuitable for reuse later for twin track rail with significant sections being narrowed by new linings of upto 1m in thickness reducing the bore to 5.4m wide and 5m high.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The concerns are that the tunnel will without ongoing maintenance collapse around the access shafts, two of which are located near to houses the cost which would be substantial if the tunnel was to fail. In detail both portals would be filled with 20m of foam concrete and the shafts backfilled the rest the tunnel would be allowed to collapse over time.

Is what you describe about the collapse of shafts similar to what occurred in "Black Harry's Tunnel" in Swinton in April 1953 where houses had been built over shaft areas in which five of the residents were killed?

 

[Joe D]

Same with Airdrie to Bathgate (about 15 miles).

And quite a bit on Borders Railway, at Eskbank and again through Galashiels and Tweedbank.

It's almost like every single example of a reopening is proof of the nonsense of the statement.

 

[30907]

Also preserves the line / right of way for future use

I cannot see even the remotest chance of a future rail use, given that Queensbury to Bradford is almost entirely built over - whereas a cycle route Halifax-Keighley is at least plausible.

 

[bramling]

Is what you describe about the collapse of shafts similar to what occurred in "Black Harry's Tunnel" in Swinton in April 1953 where houses had been built over shaft areas in which five of the residents were killed?

Not necessarily. The Clifton Hall incident involved a backfilled shaft, the contents of which was supported by timbers, which rotted over time and eventually were unable to support the weight of the backfill.

In the case of Queensbury, it would appear the bigger issue is with still-extant shafts, where the base of the shaft lining fails and is unable to support the brickwork above. This can be seen in many disused tunnels, where the base of the shafts is often marked by piles of bricks.

 

[Bevan Price]

I cannot see even the remotest chance of a future rail use, given that Queensbury to Bradford is almost entirely built over - whereas a cycle route Halifax-Keighley is at least plausible.

Even if the line was not built over, Queensbury station had one nearly unsurmountable problem - it was located at the foot of the valley - but most of the people live on / near the top of the "hill".

A long, steep climb from the station to your home is an unattractive option, when there are fairly frequent bus services close to the residential areas.

 

[bramling]

Even if the line was not built over, Queensbury station had one nearly unsurmountable problem - it was located at the foot of the valley - but most of the people live on / near the top of the "hill".

A long, steep climb from the station to your home is an unattractive option, when there are fairly frequent bus services close to the residential areas.

Not to mention that Halifax to Bradford already has a rail service, so any revival of the Queensbury route (lovely though this would be from an enthusiast point of view!) would be simply to serve intermediate local traffic. Doubtless some people would find it useful, but enough to cover costs?