Network Rail closed Sough Tunnel on May 17 after damage was found to the tunnel wall during morning inspections, shutting the Blackburn-to-Bolton rail link and forcing replacement buses onto the route. The line was expected to stay closed for most of the day while engineers carried out a full inspection of the structure.
The tunnel, about 1,842 metres long, has carried trains between Lancashire and Manchester for more than 175 years and runs through a hillside in Darwen. Its two shaft turrets once vented steam trains and now help relieve air pressure from diesel trains moving through the bore, but the closure brought a different kind of pressure to the route: major disruption and cancellations for passengers trying to travel across the corridor.
“We’ve closed Sough tunnel - the railway tunnel connecting Blackburn and Bolton - while our engineers carry out an inspection of the structure,” Network Rail said. It added: “We expect the line to be closed for most of today. We’re sorry to anyone affected and thank you for bearing with us. Rail replacement buses are running to keep people moving.” Tickets were being accepted on the buses, and passengers were told to check before travelling for the latest updates.
The problem was not just a routine pause in service. Network Rail said specialist equipment was needed on site to carry out repairs, which meant the line had to remain shut while the work was done. That left no reopening time in place on May 17, turning what began as a morning inspection into an all-day closure on a key Lancashire-Manchester connection.
In a later update, Network Rail said: “Sough Tunnel between Blackburn and Bolton remains closed after damage was found to the tunnel wall during inspections this morning.” It said: “We need specialist equipment on site to carry out repairs, so we need to keep the line closed while we fix it.” The operator also said: “We don’t yet have a reopening time but will share an update as soon as we know more,” and added, “We’re sorry for the disruption and thank passengers for their patience.”
For travelers, the answer today is simple: the tunnel is shut, buses are replacing trains, and the main route through Sough Tunnel will stay closed until the repairs and inspections are complete.
