Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
No recent travel & transport from BBC stories as at 19:55 16 Mar 2025
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 19/03/25 - WWRUG AGM
19/03/25 - Forum offline 00:00 - 02:00
21/03/25 - TravelWatch SouthWest
27/03/25 - MetroWest -> Wiltshire event

On this day
16th Mar (1873)
~ Cook's European timetable first published (link)

Train RunningCancelled
19:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton
17/03/25 06:19 Par to Plymouth
Short Run
18:37 Port Talbot Parkway to London Paddington
Delayed
Additional 17:15 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington
PollsThere are no open or recent polls
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 16, 2025, 20:03:39 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[109] Extra trains for the six Nations, 15.3.2025
[77] Our contributor base and membership base.
[75] Plan for M4 to south coast corridor to avoid Bath, through Wes...
[49] RMT balloting for Industrial action on GWR
[44] Great British Railways
[41] Drivers carrying passengers who are travelling when they shoul...
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: "Mysterious" tunnels at Salisbury Station  (Read 456 times)
Marlburian
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 760


View Profile
« on: March 10, 2025, 18:29:26 »

Just seen this on Meridian TV news:
Engineers make remarkable discovery at Salisbury railway station during routine upgrade

One tunnel was briefly mentioned in the Salisbury & Avon Gazette in September.
Logged
Clan Line
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 966



View Profile
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2025, 15:56:57 »

Gosh...............any steam locos down there - the famous Strategic Steam Reserve !
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5655



View Profile
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2025, 08:29:27 »

Gosh...............any steam locos down there - the famous Strategic Steam Reserve !

The strategic steam reserve has been largely abolished, limitations on water supply, coal stocks, and train crew knowledge mean that steam is no longer a sensible choice for a significant reserve fleet.
The strategic reserve now contains a mixture of HSTs (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)), Thames Turbos, class 158/159s and similar diesel traction. Trains from the reserve fleet are run regularly in normal service, this is achieved by having TWO trains, each bearing the same number, one in use and the other stored. Swapped over regularly.
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
Chris from Nailsea
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 19416



View Profile Email
« Reply #3 on: Today at 13:59:14 »

More detail, from the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Quote
Secret tunnels discovered beneath railway station



Railway engineers have uncovered a "labyrinth" of historic tunnels and secret rooms hidden beneath an active railway station.

Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR» (South Western Railway - about)) staff have discovered the hidden network from a bygone era underneath Salisbury station in Wiltshire.

It came after an old phone box was removed as part of the ongoing £5.3m station forecourt upgrades, revealing a dark tunnel with unknown origins. Engineers are now hoping to learn more about its purpose as part of a larger effort to delve into the historical legacy and infrastructure of the railway station.


Engineers found a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms hidden beneath Platform 4

Salisbury station is used by two million people each year, but this discovery provides a small glimpse into part of the station that has been left unused and forgotten for decades.

It once occupied a much larger footprint in the city than it does today, with the old Great Western Railway platforms still in place behind the South Western Railway (SWR) depot.

The secret tunnel, concealed beneath sleepers immediately outside the station entrance, runs beneath Platform 4. The primary chamber beneath the platform features a striking architectural detail, with sections of rail repurposed as structural supports for the ceiling.


Platform 1 contains a building that is no longer in passenger use and features a map from the pre-Beeching era

Remnants of old signal equipment crafted from timber have also been uncovered, showing the passage of time. Further studies have uncovered the tunnel once played a role in the station's logistical operations.

When trains were equipped with guard's vans, barrels of beer and cider were transported to other stations where unofficial trade took place, such as the collection of eggs from stations like Whitchurch. Beer and cider were also sold and served at the station, although referred to as refreshments rather than as a bar.


Staff found old signs in Network SouthEast branding, which ceased to exist in 1994

Steve Kelly, Network Rail asset engineer, said: "This was one of the most interesting discoveries during my career on the railway. The tunnel's origins and purpose have become a topic of fascination, linking modern development with historical exploration. The tunnel offered a rare look into the hidden layers of the railway's history, preserving a snapshot of the site's legacy."


An old window on Platform 1 where railway staff would collect their pay

Dan Sherwood, site manager at Octavius Infrastructure, said: "We're thrilled that our survey works led to the incredible discovery of a hidden tunnel beneath the SWR car park redevelopment construction works. It's a reminder of the beauty of undiscovered historical infrastructure - hidden beneath our modern world, waiting to tell its story. We look forward to the second phase, to expose the wall and explore its possible link to the old hospital and uncovering where the staircase leads."

Logged

William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules via admin@railcustomer.info. Full legal statement (here).

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page