Diggle, UK. 27th Oct, 2014. The UK Government announces it will develop a strategy for a new high speed rail link in the North of England. Disused tunnels alongside the live Standedge Tunnel could provide a route through the Pennines for a new high speed link between Leeds and Manchester. Credit: David Preston/Alamy Live News

Diggle, UK. 27th Oct, 2014. The UK Government announces it will develop a strategy for a new high speed rail link in the North of England. Disused tunnels alongside the live Standedge Tunnel could provide a route through the Pennines for a new high speed link between Leeds and Manchester. Credit: David Preston/Alamy Live News

David Preston / Alamy Stock Photo

Image ID: E9G866

The Standedge Tunnels are a series of 4 tunnels that link West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. Originally built to carry the Huddersfield Narrow Canal through the Pennine Hills, railway tunnels were built later. Only one railway tunnel is currently used as is the canal tunnel, which was originally opened in 1811 and is 3.25 miles long making it Britain's longest canal tunnel. The canal tunnel was closed in 1943 but reopened in 2001 following restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. This image shows the entrance to one of the disused railway tunnels. With the idea of a northern high speed rail link, known as High Speed 3 being discussed, crossing The Pennines will once again become a technical challenge.

Location: Diggle, Greater Manchester, UK