It was on 1 September in 1886 when Twnnel Hafren (the Severn Tunnel) was opened to trains by the Great Western Railway (GWR) for the first time. It was designed by GWR chief engineer, John Hawkshaw, and took 13 years to complete, with work on the tunnel having begun in 1873.
The purpose of the opening was simple: the tunnel could dramatically reduce journey times for each of trains, passengers and goods alike. With plenty of trains moving between de Cymru (south Wales) and the west of England, the tunnel was an essential opening.
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Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.