1. The north rotunda, Howdon – the main access to and exit from the tunnels on the north bank.
2. The vertical lift – an alternative to using the inclined lifts.
3. The inclined lift and escalator – your glass-sided ‘gondola’ to a bygone age. Through its walls you will see the workings of one of the Otis-Waygood escalators, at one time the longest wooden-step escalators in the world. The workings of the escalator have been illuminated. The 85 ft (26 metre) rise of the lift is higher than the Angel of the North. Your journey will take 78 seconds. The escalators are no longer operational and will only be used as an exit in case of emergency.
4. The Pedestrian Tunnel – 900 ft (275 metres) long and at 10.5 ft (3.2 metres) in diameter. See the tiled signage marking the old border between Northumberland and Durham. Can you guess where that door at approximately half-way leads to?
5. The Cyclist Tunnel – slightly larger than its twin at just over 12 ft (3.7 metres) in diameter, the Cyclist Tunnel is a key link in the National Cycle Network connecting routes 14 and 72 as well as the rapidly developing network of cycleways on both sides of the river.
6. The River Tyne – at the time the Tunnels were conceived, the banks of the Tyne echoed to the sounds of shipbuilding and many other industries. Tens of thousands of people needed to cross the river to get to and from work. The Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnels, the first ever purpose-built dual-mode tunnels in the UK, replaced the old Jarrow ferry.
7. No need for an umbrella. The Tunnels are 40 ft (12 metres) below the river bed at their deepest point. The water and salts that constantly attack the tunnels are from ground water, not from the river.
8. The acoustics are amazing. You can hear a whispered conversation from one end of the Tunnel to the other.
9. Inclined lift and escalator (see Point 3).
10. Vertical lift (see Point 2)
11. The south rotunda, Jarrow. If you visit us by car, there is a free car park near the Jarrow rotunda.

Tunnels and inclined lifts FAQs

How many people can fit in the new lifts?

The lift’s maximum capacity is 21 people or up to 6 cyclists with standard bicycles.

Can we still use the vertical lifts?
Yes. The vertical lifts will still be in operation so there will be two lifts on each side of the tunnels.

Do I have to pay to use the Tyne Cyclist and Pedestrian tunnels?

No, the facility is completely free of charge for public use 24 hours a day.

Will the lift be available all the time?

The tunnels are open 24 hours each day. The lifts will be available at all times, unless it is necessary to take them out of service for maintenance.

During the first few weeks of operation, the new lifts will be closely monitored to understand how members of the public use and interact with them. As with any new installation, it might be necessary to take the lifts out of service for short periods during this monitoring phase to respond to anything that could arise with the commencement of sustained 24/7 use by the public.

We will endeavour to reduce the duration of any closures and the vertical lifts will remain in operation. Updates will be communicated on our website and social media channels.

What will happen if the two lifts at one end of the tunnels are out of service?

Should there ever be an occasion when the vertical and inclined lifts at one end of the tunnels have to be taken out of service at the same time, we will endeavour to provide a replacement bus service for pedestrians and cyclists to transport them to either end of the tunnel.

Why can’t I continue to use the wooden escalators?

The decommissioned wooden escalators have been used as a temporary staircase whilst the lift works have been ongoing, however they will not remain in regular use now that the lift works have finished. We appreciate that some users may  be disappointed by this, however use of the redundant escalators as a means of access was only every intended to be a temporary measure until the inclined lifts were brought into service.

Due to the historic nature of the retained wooden escalators, we have decided it is best for these not to be regularly used in the future in order to preserve their fabric. However the escalators will provide a means of escape in an emergency.

Why has it taken so long to complete the inclined lifts?

Completion of the custom-built inclined lifts within the grade II structure has been challenging, and there have been various complications that have delayed their entry to service.

We know that the new lifts are long-awaited and are glad that they are now available to use. We would like to thank tunnel users for their patience during this complex project.

Why has one of the wooden escalators at each end of the tunnel been retained?

The stationary wooden escalators will be closed for access, except for emergencies, the escalators were only intended as a temporary measure until the lifts were completed.

These escalators have been preserved to recognise their historical significance.

Who is responsible for the Tyne Cyclist Pedestrian Tunnels?

Following its creation in May 2024, the North East Combined Authority is now responsible for the tunnels.

Where can I get regular updates?

Operational updates are communicated on the tunnels website and social media channels.