Inspire (Structures) Ltd STE06 Engineers were present during the recent blockades on the Bristol and South Wales Union Line to carry out an annual detailed condition examination of the Severn Tunnel and all its elements.
Its bore is just shy of 4.5 miles in length and took 13 years to construct (1873-1886).
The tunnel contains a continuous drainage culvert between the two tracks which leads groundwater to the lowest point of the tunnel where you will find an enormous fan shaft and Sudbrook Pumping Station. This station is responsible for the pumping of around 50 million litres of fresh spring water from the tunnel each day. This was something Richard Hammond and Channel 4 were also keen to explore at the time of our works as part of an upcoming documentary on the River Severn.
