Inside the two mile-long Rhondda Tunnel. (Image: Rhondda Tunnel Society/National Highways)
A new £13m project aims to transform an in into .
The two mile-long , which once transported coal between , has been closed for more than 50 years, but now campaigners hope to bring it back to life as a .
, which has been working for years to reopen the tunnel, has submitted a planning application to Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.
The group hopes to excavate and expose the buried entrance at Blaencwm, marking the first step towards turning the disused tunnel into an active travel route.
reported that 8,000m³ of spoil would need to be removed, with the material relocated to the former Glenrhondda Colliery site, which the society owns.
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The intended finished product. (Image: Rhondda Tunnel Society/National Highways)
The tunnel, which opened in 1890, was closed in 1968 as part of the Beeching cuts. (Image: Rhondda Tunnel Society/National Highways)
The plan includes removing a pipe at the sealing wall, clearing out silt from the tunnel drain, and installing a protective catch pit.
The society has already secured some funding and intends to raise the remaining money through fundraising initiatives.
If successful, the next phase would involve exposing the tunnel entrance at Blaengwynfi in the Afan Valley, although this will be more complex due to the tunnel’s depth at that end.
The tunnel, which opened in 1890, was closed in 1968 as part of the Beeching cuts, which led to widespread railway closures across the UK.
Both entrances were filled by 1981, and the site has remained abandoned ever since.
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The tunnel has been closed for more than 50 years. (Image: Rhondda Tunnel Society/National Highways)
However, a structural survey conducted by Balfour Beatty in 2018 found that 90% of the tunnel was in excellent condition, though some sections require repairs.
The project still faces hurdles, including ownership issues. The tunnel is currently owned by the Department for Transport (DfT) and managed by National Highways.
Under current rules, it cannot be reopened unless ownership is transferred to another suitable authority.
The DfT has agreed in principle to transfer ownership to the Welsh Government or local authorities after 10 years of maintenance by National Highways.
Supporters of the plan believe reopening the tunnel will bring major tourism and economic benefits to the area.
The site of the Blaencym end of the Rhondda Tunnel. (Image: Rhondda Tunnel Society/National Highways)
Rhondda Tunnel Society patron and TV presenter Martin Roberts said: “This is a hugely exciting step in the process of completely reopening the Rhondda Tunnel.
“As Europe’s longest walking and cycling tunnel, it will undoubtedly bring economic, tourism and cultural benefits to the immediate area and region as a whole.”
He added: “Visitors will undoubtedly come from far and wide to visit the tunnel, both as a great attraction in its own right and as a strategic link between other visitor attractions such as Zip World Tower, Wildfox Resort, and Bike Park Wales.”
The Welsh Government has already provided £250,000 towards the project, and the Railway Heritage Trust awarded a further £100,000 in November 2021 for assessment work.
The consultation for the planning application began on February 4, and if approved, the excavation work could take around 18 months to complete.