Building    From 24/2/1906 

Kingsway tram tunnel / Strand underpass

Categories: Transport

The title of Wikipedia's page "Kingsway tramway subway" has way too many 'way's, but the page is very informative.

The tunnel was constructed 1906, enabled by the 'slum clearance' project in the Aldwych / Kingsway area. There were two stations in the tunnel: at Holborn and Aldwych. Trams ceased using the tunnel in 1952, after which it was mainly used for storage. It was opened for north-bound motor traffic in 1964 in an effort to reduce congestion around the Aldwych. 

You can see two northern entrances/exits to the tunnel, one in Southampton Row, just south of the junction with Theobald's Road, and another in Kingsway just north of the Aldwych. The northern one was used by the trams. The southern one was constructed in the 1960s as an exit for motor traffic.

The southern entrance/exit has changed twice. Originally the trams entered/exited from the Embankment, just to the west of Waterloo Bridge (shown in this photo). When the bridge was rebuilt during WW2 that entrance/exit was moved to be centrally below the bridge. In the 1960s that was closed off (and the space used to accommodate a business) and a new entrance created for traffic from the bridge itself.

Stories of London has many images that help to make sense of this history in words. The image on this page shows a tram exiting the tunnel when the mouth was on the Embankment to the west of the old Waterloo Bridge.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Kingsway tram tunnel / Strand underpass

Commemorated ati

Strand underpass

The Strand underpass is a one-way vehicle tunnel connecting Waterloo Bridge t...

Read More

Other Subjects

Croydon Canal

Croydon Canal

It ran from a junction with the Grand Surrey Canal near New Cross Gate to a basin on a site now occupied by West Croydon station. With 28 locks grouped into two flights, and numerous swing bridges,...

Place, Transport

1 memorial
London Bridge station

London Bridge station

One of the world's oldest train stations, it opened as part of the London and Greenwich Railway. By the early 21st century it had become distinctly tatty, and 2009-17 it underwent a complete transf...

Place, Transport

1 memorial
Amy Johnson

Amy Johnson

Pioneering pilot who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. Flying solo or with her husband, Jim Mollison, she set many long-distance records during the 1930s.  Born Yorkshire. ...

Person, Exploring, Transport

1 memorial
London and Birmingham Railway

London and Birmingham Railway

Built the first intercity line into London (Euston), opened in sections, 1837- 8, engineered by Robert Stephenson. Merged with other railways to form the London and North Western Railway. The image...

Group, Transport

1 memorial
Stratford Depot

Stratford Depot

A Motive Power Depot (MPD) used for the storage of train engines when not in use.

Place, Engineering, Transport

1 memorial

Previously viewed

V1 Flying Bomb - Walthamstow

V1 Flying Bomb - Walthamstow

E17, Hoe Street, Central Parade

This replacement development consists of: a new parade of shops, flats, a public hall, civic offices and a clock tower, but was not finis...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Sgt Eric Thomas Potts, RCAF

Sgt Eric Thomas Potts, RCAF

From Knaresborough, Yorkshire.  Aged 22 years. Buried in the town cemetery.

Person

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Charles Lightoller

Charles Lightoller

Born Charles Herbert Lightoller in Chorley, Lancashire. He joined the White Star Line in 1900 and served on several ships before being appointed second officer on the Titanic. As the ship was aband...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy, Transport

1 memorial