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NEWS
Abandoned train tunnels below London 'to be transformed' into leisure sites
POSTED 23 Sep 2014 . BY Katie Buckley
Aldwych Station has been closed since 1994, but was used during the First and Second World Wars to store collections from the National Portrait Gallery and The British Museum Credit: flickr.com/diamondgeezer
Up to 34 Transport for London (TfL)-owned “ghost” train tunnels running beneath the UK capital could soon be transformed into an array of attractions and leisure sites, according to reports.

It is understood that TfL is preparing to invite companies to bid to take part in the transformation of several disused Underground and Overground Stations, as well as old horse tunnels that run below the city.

Ajit Chambers, a former Barclays executive, who started The Old London Underground Company back in 2009, believes TFL’s disused assets under the city could be worth around £3.6bn ($5.8bn, €4.5bn).

Out of the 750 tunnels that TfL owns, Chambers has identified 34 possible sites for transformation and reuse. He envisages 13 of these flagship spaces being used for art galleries, nightclubs, hotels and possibly a National Fire Brigade Museum.

Speaking to the MailOnline Chambers said: “In 2009, as part of my effort to assist the financial downturn in the UK, I founded a company that would unearth one of London’s state-owned ‘sleeping property portfolios.’”

In a statement, TfL said: “We cannot show any prejudice ahead of public tender” and that it had “no affiliation” with The Old London Underground Company.

TfL has already undertaken several Underground Station transformations. There is now a herb farm below Clapham North and a deal has recently been signed for customers to pick up Waitrose goods from lockers at Chalfront & Latimer.

Chambers has several prominent investors on board for the venture, including Duncan Vaughn-Arbuckle, founder of the Vinopolis Wine Museum, while mayor of London Boris Johnson has also pledged his support.
RELATED STORIES
  Mail Rail plans get the green light


Islington Borough Council has approved plans to open up a section of the old Post Office Underground Railway – also known as the Mail Rail – as an attraction for the newly created British Postal Museum & Archives (BPMA).
  Paris ghost stations could become leisure spaces


Paris’ 16 “ghost stations” which have been disused for decades could have new life breathed into them as leisure spaces, if ideas put forward by a politician come to fruition.
MORE NEWS
Disneyland Paris renames theme park as part of $2 billion transformation
Disneyland Paris has unveiled a new name for Walt Disney Studios Park as part of the park’s US$2 billion transformation.
UK's Royal attractions had a bumper year in 2023
Numbers from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, (ALVA) show that Royal attractions saw a huge increase in visitor numbers during 2023 – the coronation year of King Charles III.
Efteling to convert steam trains to electric as part of green drive
The Everyday Heritage initiative celebrates and preserves working class histories
Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England.
+ More news   

COMPANY PROFILES
ProSlide Technology, Inc.

A former national ski team racer, ProSlide® CEO Rick Hunter’s goal has been to integrate the smoot [more...]
QubicaAMF UK

QubicaAMF is the largest and most innovative bowling equipment provider with 600 employees worldwi [more...]
Painting With Light

By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
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FEATURED SUPPLIER

CSI Design Expo Americas 2024 announces new Attractions & Entertainment Technology Zone
Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) invites cruise lines, shipyards, design studios, outfitters, and suppliers to take part in CSI Design Expo Americas in Miami, Florida, the region’s only event dedicated to cruise ship interior design. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
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DIARY

 

18-22 May 2024

Eco Resort Network

The Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Mauritius
23-24 May 2024

European Health Prevention Day

Large Hall of the Chamber of Commerce (Erbprinzenpalais), Wiesbaden, Germany
+ More diary  
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NEWS
Abandoned train tunnels below London 'to be transformed' into leisure sites
POSTED 23 Sep 2014 . BY Katie Buckley
Aldwych Station has been closed since 1994, but was used during the First and Second World Wars to store collections from the National Portrait Gallery and The British Museum Credit: flickr.com/diamondgeezer
Up to 34 Transport for London (TfL)-owned “ghost” train tunnels running beneath the UK capital could soon be transformed into an array of attractions and leisure sites, according to reports.

It is understood that TfL is preparing to invite companies to bid to take part in the transformation of several disused Underground and Overground Stations, as well as old horse tunnels that run below the city.

Ajit Chambers, a former Barclays executive, who started The Old London Underground Company back in 2009, believes TFL’s disused assets under the city could be worth around £3.6bn ($5.8bn, €4.5bn).

Out of the 750 tunnels that TfL owns, Chambers has identified 34 possible sites for transformation and reuse. He envisages 13 of these flagship spaces being used for art galleries, nightclubs, hotels and possibly a National Fire Brigade Museum.

Speaking to the MailOnline Chambers said: “In 2009, as part of my effort to assist the financial downturn in the UK, I founded a company that would unearth one of London’s state-owned ‘sleeping property portfolios.’”

In a statement, TfL said: “We cannot show any prejudice ahead of public tender” and that it had “no affiliation” with The Old London Underground Company.

TfL has already undertaken several Underground Station transformations. There is now a herb farm below Clapham North and a deal has recently been signed for customers to pick up Waitrose goods from lockers at Chalfront & Latimer.

Chambers has several prominent investors on board for the venture, including Duncan Vaughn-Arbuckle, founder of the Vinopolis Wine Museum, while mayor of London Boris Johnson has also pledged his support.
RELATED STORIES
Mail Rail plans get the green light


Islington Borough Council has approved plans to open up a section of the old Post Office Underground Railway – also known as the Mail Rail – as an attraction for the newly created British Postal Museum & Archives (BPMA).
Paris ghost stations could become leisure spaces


Paris’ 16 “ghost stations” which have been disused for decades could have new life breathed into them as leisure spaces, if ideas put forward by a politician come to fruition.
MORE NEWS
Disneyland Paris renames theme park as part of $2 billion transformation
Disneyland Paris has unveiled a new name for Walt Disney Studios Park as part of the park’s US$2 billion transformation.
UK's Royal attractions had a bumper year in 2023
Numbers from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, (ALVA) show that Royal attractions saw a huge increase in visitor numbers during 2023 – the coronation year of King Charles III.
Efteling to convert steam trains to electric as part of green drive
The Everyday Heritage initiative celebrates and preserves working class histories
Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England.
Universal announces long-awaited details of its Epic Universe, set to open in 2025
Universal has revealed it will be adding new Harry Potter attractions, alongside Super Nintendo and How to Train Your Dragon worlds to its Florida resort.
Heartbreak for Swedish theme park, Liseberg, as fire breaks out
A fire has destroyed part of the new water world, Oceana, at Liseberg in Sweden, and a construction worker has been reported missing.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
ProSlide Technology, Inc.

A former national ski team racer, ProSlide® CEO Rick Hunter’s goal has been to integrate the smoot [more...]
QubicaAMF UK

QubicaAMF is the largest and most innovative bowling equipment provider with 600 employees worldwi [more...]
Painting With Light

By combining lighting, video, scenic and architectural elements, sound and special effects we tell s [more...]
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

CSI Design Expo Americas 2024 announces new Attractions & Entertainment Technology Zone
Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) invites cruise lines, shipyards, design studios, outfitters, and suppliers to take part in CSI Design Expo Americas in Miami, Florida, the region’s only event dedicated to cruise ship interior design. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

18-22 May 2024

Eco Resort Network

The Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Mauritius
23-24 May 2024

European Health Prevention Day

Large Hall of the Chamber of Commerce (Erbprinzenpalais), Wiesbaden, Germany
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2024

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
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PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
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