Kingsway Tram Subway
The tramway system in London was arranged in 2 sections - northern and southern. Virtually the only connection between the 2 parts was a subway running from Theobald’s-road, under Southampton-row, Kingsway, and Aldwych, and joining the Victoria embankment at Waterloo Bridge.
1906 "Kingsway tunnel and tramway have been long in the making, but the work is now virtually complete. A formal inspection of the new route will take place tomorrow morning". "The new tram route from Aldwych to the Angel through the Kingsway tunnel, is now ready, and will be formally inspected to-morrow"[1]
However, the subway was designed and built with head room of only 14 ft., not large enough to take the double-deck tramcars which were then in use throughout the most of the rest of the network. This was said to have been a result of the conditions at the Holborn end, where a larger tunnel would have meant placing the station farther down Kingsway from Holborn, the acquisition of additional property in Theobald’s-road to secure a suitable entrance, and a greater length of open approach.
This was only publicly recognised some time later.
1907 "... the shallow tramway under Kingsway was designed on the model of the subways at New York and Boston. Head space for double-decked cars was, in the nature of things, impossible." [2]
1908 The whole tram subway was opened to traffic. "The first day of the opening to the public of the underground tramway service between the Thames Embankment and Holborn was attended by an accident..."[3]
As time went on it became clear that, as the traffic carried by the trams using the subway increased, the link would be much more useful if it could accommodate double-deck cars.
c.1928 It was therefore decided to enlarge the tunnel to give an extra headway of 2 to 7 ft. Designs were prepared by Sir George W. Humphreys, K.B.E.[4]
1931 The subway was enlarged by the contractors Messrs. John Cochrane and Sons in the remarkably short time of eighteen months. The subway was formally re-opened for traffic on Thursday, January 15.
Further changes were made, including a connection onto the new Waterloo Bridge when it was opened.
1952 The subway had a relatively short active life, closing in 1952. More than half of the subway still exists to this day, complete with original features.
1964 Partially re-opened as the Strand Underpass taking light vehicles in a northerly direction from Lancaster Place to Kingsway.[5]
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] LT museum