Manchester Evening News: Bosses on board to save tunnel (Alan Salter)

An article from today's Manchester Evening News, by Alan Salter:

Transport chiefs have joined the campaign to save the famous Woodhead Tunnel.

Rail enthusiasts are trying to stop plans to lay electricity cables in the old trans-Pennine tunnel, which runs under the Peak District National Park.

They fear that if the plan goes ahead then it would spell the end to any hope of restoring the tunnel as a rail link between Manchester and Sheffield.

A protest is due to be held at the mouth of the tunnel tomorrow where campaigners will call on the National Grid to halt plans to run the cables through the tunnel.

Roger Jones, the chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority said he believed the Woodhead Tunnel should be kept clear in case it is needed for the rail network.

Coun Jones said: "The number of people travelling in and out of Greater Manchester continues to grow and the transport network is already running close to capacity.

"It's important that we explore all the options that are open to us to reduce the pressure on the network.

"One option worth considering is to reopen the Woodhead Tunnel line but National Grid's project could put an end to that".

Blackley MP Graham Stringer has already called on the government to intervene to prevent the `rail route being lost forever' and has the backing of 28 MPs.

There were two Woodhead Tunnels built on the route, with the first opening in 1845, and at their height there were used by 250 steam trains every day.

A new tunnel was built in 1953 for electric trains but was closed down in the 1980s.

Under the Electricity Act 1989, National Grid can press ahead with its plans without planning permission.