The historic Grade II-listed Tunnels reopened in August 2019 after a six-year, £16 million refurbishment. See a timelapse video of the lift installation.
Now restored to their 1950s glory, they are free to use and are open every day 24/7.
The Tunnels were the first in Britain designed to carry both cyclists and pedestrians. Each have their own dedicated tunnel.
Whether you use them for work or play, the Tunnels provide a vital, green link between
North Tyneside and South Tyneside, and celebrate Tyneside’s industrial heritage.
Two of the four original Waygood-Otis escalators, once the longest single-rise, wooden-tread escalators in the world, have been kept in situ as part of the North East’s engineering heritage.
New funicular-style glass-sided lifts have replaced the other two escalators, taking up to 26 visitors at a time smoothly up and down into the tunnels in under a minute.
For the safety and comfort of users, the Tunnels are monitored by CCTV and there are Help Points strategically placed in case of an emergency.
The Tunnels are owned by the Joint Transport Committee of the North of Tyne Combined Authority and the North East Combined Authority, and managed on its behalf by Transport North East.