Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Birmingham Canal Navigations: New Main
Line
Distance
24km from Gas Street Basin to Aldersley Juntion
Highlights
Brindleyplace, with its hub of bars and restaurants, as well as Symphony Hall and the Inter-
national Convention Centre
Old Turn Junction, with the National Indoor Arena and National Sea Life Centre
The imposing cast-iron Telford Aqueduct
The Netherton Tunnel - the largest cross-section canal tunnel in the country
The 21-lock Wolverhampton Flight
Navigation Authority
Canal & River Trust
Canal Society
Birmingham Canal Navigations Society
OS 1:50,000 Map
127 Stafford & Telford
139 Birmingham & Wolverhampton
The major improvement to the Old Main Line came between 1825 and 1838 when Telford
engineered the New Main Line between Deepfields and Birmingham. He introduced bold cut-
tings and embankments, producing extra water space to ease traffic congestion and shorten the
route by 11km at the lower 138m Birmingham Level.
The canal starts from Gas Street Basin at the end of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in
the centre of Birmingham. Dating back to 1821, the Tap & Spile pub precedes Broad Street
Bridge, a vast tunnel with buildings on top of it. Much of the New Main Line has twin foot-
paths, partly because of the complexity of the system and partly to reduce congestion.
