Shakespeare Tunnel is a railway tunnel carrying the South Eastern Main Line between Folkestone and Dover in Kent, UK. Completed in 1884,[1] it was bored beneath the chalk Shakespeare Cliff along the south eastern coastline of England and allows services into and out of Dover Priory railway station.

Shakespeare Tunnel
Shakespeare Tunnel's eastern portal
Shakespeare Tunnel's eastern portal
Overview
LineSouth Eastern Main Line
Coordinates51°06′44.6″N 1°17′46.2″E / 51.112389°N 1.296167°E / 51.112389; 1.296167
OS grid reference
StatusOpen
Operation
Opened1844
Technical
Design engineerWilliam Cubitt
Length0.69 miles (1.11 km)
No. of tracks2

Shakespeare Tunnel was designed by William Cubitt during the construction of the South Eastern Main Line from London in 1844 in a gothic style. Significant works were completed in 2009 to allow high speed Class 395 trains to operate services through the tunnel, connecting Dover to London via High Speed 1.[2]

References

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  1. ^ “Railway Structures. Shakespeare Tunnel and Folkestone Warren” sremg.org.uk, Retrieved: 29 August 2023.
  2. ^ “Shakespeare Tunnel Works” kentrail.org.uk, Retrieved: 29 August 2023.