Halifax - Keighley cycle route through tunnel?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I am never sure whether it is better not to rattle National Highways' Historical Railways Estate's cage, as their normal response is to either fill it with concrete or demolish it (depending on the type of structure).

Yeah, I know.    It should be, where realistic, picked up for the national future but that feels like a long shot at present; it may be re-opening for leisure, it may in some cases be letting it go for ever but it needs to be a balance and differing people will have differing views of the balance. 

It could be that the campaign strategy of "let be" until there is a new national strategy / body that's more benign in place should be adopted - but that's high risk too, and doesn't there need to be work done to persuade whoever-it-is to put that more benign / even-keeled approach in place?

I am aware that at present "all options" are being considered in much national campaign work, with both short term work to persuade the current government, and also work with each of the groupings who may be forming the government or part of it by this time next year.

[ChrisB]

1.4 mile tunnel you say?

How would personal safety while walking through be guaranteed?

[Mark A]

It's counterintuitive, but an individual is rather safer in a tunnel than in much of the outside world (and in much of that we're also safe). This applies even in urban areas as the lack of incidents in the likes of Netherton canal tunnel (3027 yards) in the urban West Midlands demonstrates. A fraction of the risk exposure from say road danger en route to a tunnel. We are though as a species deeply programmed to be wary of dark spaces and of confined spaces into which we cannot see.

Mark

[ChrisB]

I bet no solo female walks that tunnel either....but it's been there a long time.

Opening up this tunnel these days is not so clever. Lighting would be necessary or gated closure during dark hours too

[CyclingSid]

It would certainly not b a first. The Two Tunnels near Bath, lit and the ability to shut them. Another tunel in S Wales has seasonal closing, for bats. The main impediment to reopening tunnels is not humans, but Natural England and bats, prime example are the three tunnels on the old Chichester to Midhurst line.

[Chris from Nailsea]

If you are looking for other examples the Shute Shelve tunnel in Winscombe on the Strawberry Line is part of the cycleway.

I've cycled through that one several times.  There's no lighting, so you just need lights on your bike and/or a torch. 

[eXPassenger]

If you are looking for other examples the Shute Shelve tunnel in Winscombe on the Strawberry Line is part of the cycleway.

I've cycled through that one several times.  There's no lighting, so you just need lights on your bike and/or a torch. 

The lighting is now working again.

[DR7835]

If you are looking for other examples the Shute Shelve tunnel in Winscombe on the Strawberry Line is part of the cycleway.

I've cycled through that one several times.  There's no lighting, so you just need lights on your bike and/or a torch. 

There are plenty of other examples in the Peak District (some lit , other not):-
Ashbourne Tunnel (Tissington Trail - lit and complete with train sound effects!)
Swainsley Tunnel (Manifold Trail - narrow gauge and now shared with a road)
Chee Tor 1 & 2, Litton, Cressbrook and Headstone (Monsal Head) Tunnels (Monsal Trail)