One tunnel holds the record as the UK’s longest at 17 miles, carrying approximately 900,000 people daily – but another will claim the title in 2030.
The longest tunnel in the UK is currently in London(Image: Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images)
The UK’s longest tunnel might not be what you’d expect. It’s tucked away out of sight, yet it’s used by a staggering 900,000 people every single day.
The UK has long been celebrated for its world-class and ambitious infrastructure. Perhaps the most renowned is the London Underground.
This globally recognised network of tunnels links the capital beneath its iconic skyline.
However, one of its lines holds the record for the longest tunnel in the UK. The Northern Line, stretching an impressive 17 miles, has ferried millions of passengers since its inauguration in 1937.
It’s the busiest Tube line in London, transporting approximately 900,000 passengers daily and carrying more people annually than any other underground line, according to the London Assembly, reports the Express.
Its tracks run from Morden in the city’s south to East Finchley in the north, with stops at key locations like Bank, Charing Cross and Leicester Square.
But in just a few years, a new contender is set to snatch the title from the Northern Line. The Woodsmith Mine Line, currently under construction, will be significantly longer when it’s slated to open in 2030.
Spanning 23 miles, it will be used to transport polyhalite, a naturally occurring mineral used as fertiliser, beneath the North York Moors National Park. The line will extend from an underground deposit near Whitby to a processing facility in Wilton, close to Teesside.
In December, the tunnel reached a length of 30km, equivalent to just over 18 miles. The tunnel boring machine (TBM), affectionately named Stella Rose, surpassed the record for the longest continuous drive by a single TBM.
The Woodsmith Mine Line is a project undertaken by contractor Strabag on behalf of Anglo American. Recently, Woodsmith Project director Andrew Johnson expressed his pride at this achievement, stating: “We are incredibly proud of this milestone.
“The Woodsmith Project is one of the most innovative mining developments in the world today and construction is progressing well.
“We currently employ 1,100 people in the area of which 75% are local – something we are incredibly proud of.
“We are also proud to have a small international workforce with the specialist expertise we need for this unique world-class engineering project that will provide employment for hundreds of local people for many many years to come.”