 TWO disused rail tunnels opened more than 150 years ago could be brought out of retirement to ease Liverpool’s transport headache. A report compiled by Merseytravel’s chief executive Neil Scales is calling for studies into reopening the Waterloo and Wapping tunnels out of Edge Hill, built in the early days of steam to cater for dock-bound traffic. Both tunnels were closed in the early 1970s, but may now have a new lease of life as part of a 21st-century transport infrastructure. Last night, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce transport spokesman Stephen Pearse welcomed the move and called for imaginative ideas to make full use of the redundant underground routes. He said one scheme could be a futuristic monorail to link Edge Hill Station with the new arena and convention centre at Kings Dock and the Grosvenor development. Merseytravel’s rails services committee is to study a report detailing the reopening of the tunnels at a meeting early next month. Reopening them could open up new links to Manchester and St Helens from Southport. Wapping Tunnel opened in 1829 to directly link the main Liverpool to Manchester line to the south docks. The Waterloo tunnel opened 20 years later to link the main line to the north docks, close to the site now occupied by the giant Costco wholesale warehouse. The report describes the state of both tunnels, which both start at Edge Hill station, as being in some disrepair. But it adds that, with extensive repair work, they could feasibly be reopened for railway use. Merseytravel is talking to the city council about protecting the sites to enable the tunnel heads to have space to link to the existing City Line. Wapping would be easier to return to use because preparation work was carried out in 1974 when the original Merseyrail system was built. Last night, Mr Scales said: “The reopening of the tunnels would provide for a number of potential additional, or modified rail services. “Both tunnels link into the City Line network in the Edge Hill area.” Mr Scales said it was envisaged the tunnels would both use electric trains to enable them to integrate into the electrified Northern Line services. He added: “The Waterloo tunnel may be particularly important in terms of the developing economy. “Merseytravel is in discussions with the Liverpool Land Development Company regarding the potential development of the north shore area which the Waterloo Tunnel could provide a direct link to for current City Line services.” The cost of reopening the tunnels has not yet been assessed, but it is likely to be a multi-million pound project. Mr Pearse added: “We welcome discussions about improved transport links in and around Liverpool. There are many imaginative solutions that could be proposed, using the tunnels. If train services are not feasible, they could be used for transport modes such as a monorail. It would be a good solution for people heading to the arena and the Liverpool One development, as well as the waterfront.” A spokesman for Merseytravel said last night: “With the consequent rise in popularity of rail services nationwide, and the ever- increasing congestion on roads, there will be continuing pressure to provide public transport options which allow a shift from private car to the railway. “The reopening of either the Waterloo or Wapping tunnels for passenger services could well provide a solution to potential transport problems in the future.”
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