Almost 2,000 people attended the opening of the
path
A £4m cycle and walking path with the
longest cycling tunnel in Britain has opened with a mass cycle ride.
The Two Tunnels Greenway route opens up two former railway tunnels nearly 50
years after they closed.
Almost 2,000 people attended the mass cycle to mark the opening of the route
which runs from Bath to Midford.
The path goes through Linear Park, on through the disused Devonshire and
Combe Down railway tunnels, and over the Tucking Mill Viaduct.
At over a mile long, the Combe Down tunnel will be the longest cycling tunnel
in Britain and will feature an interactive light and sound
installation.
One million users
The Two Tunnels Group - a team of 11 cycling, walking and railway enthusiasts
- first kicked off the plan to reopen the tunnels for public use seven years
ago.
Frank Tompson, chair of the group, has worked with cycling charity Sustrans -
who built the route - and Bath and North East Somerset Council to create the
path.
"It's been a long journey since some of us stood between the bricked-up
Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels and said, 'wouldn't it be a good idea if…',"
he said.
"I am really pleased that we are finally in a position to open the route to
the public and estimates suggest that up to a million people might use the path
each year."
The tunnels have low level LED lighting
The project is part of Sustrans five-year project to extend the National
Cycle Network into the heart of communities.
One of the first cyclists through the tunnel was Bath schoolboy Jamie
Gant.
"It feels like I've gone back to the past but there are modern lights and
modern stuff and there is no track. It was kind of a bit cold," he said.
Also trying out the new path was Winter Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams
MBE who unveiled a portrait bench of herself, WWI veteran Harry Patch and a
Roman solider.
Williams, from Bath, said: "This is so exciting for Bath and the community,
there are so many people here.
"It is only going to encourage more people to get on their bikes and go out
for walks and after the London Olympics ."
A few years ago I walked through the long tunnel and it was quite an experience. Next time I go up to Midford I'll take the bike and cycle through. Although this section of line doesn't feature in the New S&D's first tranche of reopenings - we'd prefer to go via Limpley Stoke to access the Network - in the longer term protection of the route can only be good for the railway. This should also make the visitor centre and shop at Midford much busier once it is open.
