Woodhead Tunnel comprises three trans-Pennine railway tunnels, all now disused, which formerly carried a major rail link from Manchester to Sheffield. The western portals are at Woodhead in Derbyshire and the eastern portals are at Dunford Bridge, near Penistone, Yorkshire.

The earlier twin tunnels (Woodhead 1 & 2) were completed in the mid 19th century, with significant loss of life. At the time of its completion in 1845, Woodhead 1 was one of the world's longest railway tunnels; it was the first of several trans-Pennine tunnels (Standedge, Totley), which only slightly exceed it in length.

The twin tunnels saw heavy use by steam-hauled traffic (250 trains a day each way) and had a reputation for having a poor working environment with high maintenance needs. They were replaced by a new twin-track single-bore tunnel (Woodhead 3, designed by Sir William Halcrow & Partners) in 1954. This carried an electrified route, running at 1.5kV DC (using EM1/Class 76 and EM2/Class 77 engines), not the later network standard of 25kV AC. The engines were able to use regenerative braking on descent.

The route was closed to passenger traffic in the 1970s when it was clear that the Hope Valley Line through Edale would be required to remain open for social reasons. In the 1980s the reduction in trans-Pennine coal traffic brought about the closure to freight, and mothballing of the line.

Meanwhile, in the 1960s, one of the earlier tunnels had a new lease of life, having been acquired and renovated by the CEGB to carry the trans-Pennine 400kV electricity link below ground, rather than over the moors of the Peak District National Park

There have been periodic proposals to revive the Woodhead route, most recently in 2003 as part of a rail link to the Channel Tunnel.

Much of the trackbed is currently part of the Trans-Pennine Trail.

Alternative uses for the tunnel route have been suggested from time to time - see M67 motorway.

The Woodhead line has, unusually for an electric route, managed to achieve a cult status with collectors of railway memorabilia. The original poster of the 'modern' route, published in 1955 by British Railways Board and entitled 'Britain's First All-Electric Main Line', fetches high prices at auction, and is still available in reproduction.

External Link

The woodheadsite - has good history section