Powerline river crossings in the United Kingdom

There are a number of substantial overhead power line river crossings in the United Kingdom.

The tallest electricity pylons in the UK are those of the 400 kV Thames Crossing, at West Thurrock, which are 190 m (630 ft) high. These were constructed by BICC in 1965. The cables stretch 1300 m (4,500 ft) across the River Thames and have a minimum clearance of 76 m (250 ft). There are two 400 kV circuits that connect Littlebrook substation on the south bank to West Thurrock substation on the north side.[1]

The longest powerline river crossing in the UK is the Aust Severn Powerline Crossing over the River Severn at Aust, stretching 1700 m (5,310 ft) between towers 148 m (488 ft) high. The line was commissioned in 1959 and comprises two 275 kV electricity circuits forming part of the line between Iron Acton and Whitson substations.[2] This pylon crossing is paralleled by the Severn-Wye Cable Tunnel beneath it, at almost the same location.

The 275 kV Forth Crossing, just upriver of the Kincardine Bridge, in Scotland, has a span of about 1130 m (3,700 ft) over the River Forth.

The 275 kV crossing over the River Forth south-east of Alloa comprises 2 double electricity circuits.

A crossing of the River Tyne, located near Jarrow has a height of 128 meters, [3] and a span of around 800 meters. The crossing is a single 275 kV circuit connecting Tynemouth and West Boldon substations.[4]

There are four parallel power line crossings over the River Ribble west of Preston Lancashire. There is a double 400 kV circuit, a single 400 kV circuit and two double 132 kV circuits.[5][6]

There was formerly an overhead power line crossing of the River Thames between Crossness and Dagenham. The towers were 148.4 metres tall and the crossing had a span of 933 metres,[7] it carried a single 132 kV circuit on the Belevdere to Crosslands line. The crossing was built between 1927 and 1932, and was dismantled in 1987.

There was formerly a double overhead power line crossing of the River Yare at Trowse, Norwich, Norfolk. The towers were 72.5 metres high[8] and carried 132 kV lines from Norwich Main substation into the city. They were dismantled in 2017.[9]

There is a 132 kV double circuit crossing over the River Soar in Leicester, the span is 265 m.

In addition to overhead power-line river crossings, there are also underground power-line river crossings.

These include tunnels under the River Thames, from east to west these are:

• Thames Cable Tunnel, between Tilbury and Gravesend, commissioned in 1970, comprising two 400 kV circuits between Tilbury and Kingsnorth substations[10]
• Dartford Cable Tunnel, between Littlebrook substation and West Thurrock substation, constructed 2003–04, comprising two 400 kV circuits[11]
• Barking Cable Tunnel, between Barking and Thamesmead, comprising four 33 kV circuits[12]
• Millennium Dome electricity cable tunnel, between West Ham substation and the Millennium Dome, comprising 11 kV circuits[13]
• Deptford River Tunnel, between Deptford and Millwall Isle of Dogs, comprising 30 11 kV circuit[13]
• New Cross to Finsbury Market Cable Tunnel, between Bermondsey and Wapping, built between 2009 and 2017, comprises three 132 kV circuits[14]
• Bankside river Tunnel, between Bankside and Blackfriars, connects Bankside substation and City Road substation, comprises 132 kV and 33 kV circuits[14]
• Bankside – Charing Cross, crosses beneath Hungerford Bridge, comprises two 20 kV circuits
• Wimbledon – Pimlico Cable Tunnel, crosses the Thames between Nine Elms and Pimlico, comprises a 132 kV circuit[15]
• Battersea Power Station Tunnels
• London Power Tunnels Kensal Green to Wimbledon, crosses the Thames between Wandsworth and Hurlingham, constructed between 2011 and 2016, comprises a single 400 kV circuit.[16]

Other underground tunnel cable crossings are:

• River Medway Cable Tunnels under the lower River Medway between Grain and Chetney Marshes, Kent, built between 1973–76, comprises two 400 kV circuits[17]
• Fawley Tunnel under Southampton Water between Fawley and Chilling, built between 1962 and 1965, comprises two 400 kV circuits[18]
• Severn-Wye Cable Tunnel under the River Severn and Wye between Aust and Newhouse, two 400 kV circuits.[19] This runs parallel to the Severn overhead pylon crossing (see above), and was commissioned in 1972.

• "Notes and news". Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society. February 2003.