Explore London’s secret underground tunnels on a 100-year-old abandoned Post Office railway this summer
The secret 'mail rail' underground line was built in the early 20th century to transport post across the capital
TOURISTS will soon be able to travel back in time along a series of hidden tunnels beneath London’s pavements.
The Postal Museum will allow people to ride along a secret “mail rail” underground line that was built almost 100 years ago to transport post across the capital.
Snaking 70 feet below the ground, from Paddington to Whitechapel, the train moved tons of letters and packages across the city.
Following extensive renovation work on the line, trains can now run along the tracks for the first time in ten years.
But July 28 will also mark the first time that public has been allowed to ride on the line, which opened in 1927, and was the first driverless electric railway in the world.
Trains would run every five minutes at peak hours along a network of 22 miles to ferry letters and parcels across town.
The trains would shuttle mail quickly, while avoiding traffic and weather between two main railway stations – Paddington and Whitechapel and six major sorting offices which were above ground.
MOST READ IN TRAVEL
At one point, Mail Rail carried four million letters every day.
After a tour of the museum in Clerkenwell, visitors will descend into the old engineering depot of Mail Rail and board a miniature train designed to transport up to 30 people through its narrow tunnels.
The interactive train ride will pass through and stop at the original Mount Pleasant station platforms, where an audio visual display will take riders back in time.
Adrian Steel, Director of The Postal Museum, said: “Along with an immersive ride through Mail Rail’s original tunnels, it promises to offer something for everyone.
“We can’t wait to start welcoming people through our doors so they can experience it all for themselves.”
If you're thinking of visiting The Postal Museum, .