Secret Tunnels Discovered Under Salisbury Railway Station

Bea Swallow

BBC News, West of England

Network Rail A man wearing an orange hi-vis suit, dark coloured trousers and a hard helmet. He is walking through a dark brick tunnel towards the camera, and is slightly silhouetted from light behind him. The tunnel floor is filled with debris, dirt and dust. There are wires fixed to the walls of the tunnel. — Inside the tunnel underneath Salisbury station

Railway engineers have uncovered a “labyrinth” of historic tunnels and secret rooms hidden beneath an active railway station.

Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) staff have discovered the hidden network from a bygone era underneath Salisbury station in Wiltshire.

It came after an old phone box was removed as part of the ongoing £5.3m station forecourt upgrades, revealing a dark tunnel with unknown origins.

Engineers are now hoping to learn more about its purpose as part of a larger effort to delve into the historical legacy and infrastructure of the railway station.

Engineers found a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms hidden beneath Platform 4

Network Rail A man wearing an orange hi-vis suit, yellow gloves and a blue hard helmet. He is carefully stepping down a ladder and descending into a dark hole in the ground, which is covered by wooden sleeper blocks. — Engineers found a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms hidden beneath Platform 4

Salisbury station is used by two million people each year, but this discovery provides a small glimpse into part of the station that has been left unused and forgotten for decades.

It once occupied a much larger footprint in the city than it does today, with the old Great Western Railway platforms still in place behind the South Western Railway (SWR) depot.

The secret tunnel, concealed beneath sleepers immediately outside the station entrance, runs beneath Platform 4.

The primary chamber beneath the platform features a striking architectural detail, with sections of rail repurposed as structural supports for the ceiling.

Platform 1 contains a building that is no longer in passenger use and features a map from the pre-Beeching era

Network Rail A man wearing an orange hi-vis suit and holding up a phone and a torch to take a picture of a map on the wall of an underground room. The walls are covered in cracked and yellowing tiles, and there are noticeboards and ticket signs stacked up in piles. The grey and yellow map is outdated. — Platform 1 contains a building that is no longer in passenger use and features a map from the pre-Beeching era

Remnants of old signal equipment crafted from timber have also been uncovered, showing the passage of time.

Further studies have uncovered the tunnel once played a role in the station’s logistical operations.

When trains were equipped with guard’s vans, barrels of beer and cider were transported to other stations where unofficial trade took place, such as the collection of eggs from stations like Whitchurch.

Beer and cider were also sold and served at the station, although referred to as refreshments rather than as a bar.

Staff found old signs in Network SouthEast branding, which ceased to exist in 1994

Network Rail Old signs propped up in the corner of a dark underground room. The walls are covered in yellowing square tiles on the top and dark green tiles on the bottom, separated by a brown patterned border. — Staff found old signs in Network SouthEast branding, which ceased to exist in 1994

Steve Kelly, Network Rail asset engineer, said: “This was one of the most interesting discoveries during my career on the railway.

“The tunnel’s origins and purpose have become a topic of fascination, linking modern development with historical exploration.

“The tunnel offered a rare look into the hidden layers of the railway’s history, preserving a snapshot of the site’s legacy.”

An old window on Platform 1 where railway staff would collect their pay

Network Rail A grey slot window in the middle of a brown brick wall. It is covered in grey metal mesh with a thin windowsill. — An old window on Platform 1 where railway staff would collect their pay

Dan Sherwood, site manager at Octavius Infrastructure, said: “We’re thrilled that our survey works led to the incredible discovery of a hidden tunnel beneath the SWR car park redevelopment construction works.

“It’s a reminder of the beauty of undiscovered historical infrastructure – hidden beneath our modern world, waiting to tell its story.

“We look forward to the second phase, to expose the wall and explore its possible link to the old hospital and uncovering where the staircase leads.”

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