Old railway tunnel will not reopen

A 2.2km former railway tunnel will not be reopened despite attempts for it to become a traffic-free greenway for walkers and cyclists.

Queensbury Tunnel closed in 1956 and was part of a line that linked Bradford and Halifax with a branch to Keighley.

The Queensbury Tunnel Campaign wanted to reopen the route, but owner National Highways started filling the tunnel with gravel in 2021 to prevent collapse.

Bradford Council said that while it was "supportive of restoring the tunnel in principle" it was unlikely to be able to fund further work to it and would instead focus on other active travel projects.

Campaigner Norah McWilliam said she was "disappointed but not surprised" by the decision.

In April 2021, the council commissioned Sustrans to investigate options for bringing the tunnel back into use as part of a wider greenway network.

More than 150 possible routes between Halifax, Bradford and Keighley with and without the structure were assessed, and six were put forward for consideration.

The council said that although the restoration of the tunnel would have a positive benefit cost ratio, the option was also the most expensive highlighted in the Sustrans report and it was "certain" that the predicted costs would be "significantly higher".

The council added that inspection visits were not possible due to flooding in the tunnel, and that "further deterioration" was likely.

Ms McWilliam said that in light of a drive to counteract climate change and encourage walking and cycling, reopening the tunnel would have been beneficial.

"Here is a fantastic structure that would connect two major conurbations in West Yorkshire in an off-road route which also has the potential for tourism and economic benefits."

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "We know Queensbury Tunnel really captured people's imagination on what might be possible and we successfully secured funding from the last government to explore what it might cost to restore the tunnel as part of a wider active travel network.

"Sadly, it’s not proved possible to access all parts of the tunnel as parts of it are still flooded, but even with the information we do have, we know the costs as they stand would be prohibitive.

"We're still supportive in principle but we have to focus on what we can affordably and realistically deliver, and we're already making great strides on the wider active travel network between Bradford, Keighley and Queensbury."

Ross-Shaw added: "I'd like to thank everyone who campaigned to reopen the tunnel, even though this is not the news we were hoping for."

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