Ambitious plans to transform a disused rail tunnel in the Rhondda into the world’s longest digital art space have been branded as "nonsense" by locals. Developers Scott Brownrigg has unveiled plans to transform the Victorian rail tunnel, the Rhondda Tunnel into a major visitor attraction.
The tunnel is the longest disused railway tunnel in Wales and was previously billed to become Europe’s longest underground cycle lane. The two-mile-long Victorian tunnel was built in 1890, connecting the Rhondda and Afan valleys to transport coal to Swansea Bay.
Members of Rhondda Tunnel Service have long been working to re-open the tunnel but have labelled these new proposals as unrealistic. The group have been working to re-open the tunnel as a cycling and walking route since 2014. The plan was given a boost in 2021 when transport secretary Grant Shapps agreed to transfer ownership of the tunnel from National Highways to the Welsh government.
