20.02.08
Call for feasibility study into Woodhead Tunnel
The chair of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has backed calls for a feasibility study into the future of a disused rail link at Woodhead Tunnel near Glossop in the Peak District.
Councillor Roger Jones is urging National Grid to wait until a study has been completed before continuing with a project that would make it more difficult to restore the rail link to Sheffield.
National Grid plans to run electricity cables through the disused twin-track tunnel, which provided an important rail route between Greater Manchester and Sheffield until it was closed in 1981.
Councillor 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.
"A detailed environmental and economic assessment would help us to judge the merits of restoring the rail link."
Campaigners have been calling for the rail link to be reopened and claim the cabling plans would compromise that.
National Grid currently uses one of two Victorian-era tunnels to house 440 kV electricity transmission cables. A third tunnel, built in 1953, was bought by National Grid in 1993 and is the subject of the current cabling project.
Under the Electricity Act 1989, National Grid can press ahead with its plans without planning permission.
Councillor Knowles said: "If these plans go ahead, it would be highly unlikely that the Woodhead Tunnel rail link would ever be restored.
"I would urge National Grid to allow a study to be carried out before a final decision is made."
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