PLANS have been unveiled to try to re-open a unique brick and iron pedestrian tunnel at Great Malvern railway station to showcase important aspects of the town’s Victorian history.
And, according to the chairman of The Friends of Malvern Railways, the reintroduction of ‘The Worm’ for the first time in more than 40 years will significantly enhance the area surrounding the station, providing an interesting focal point for commuters and other travellers.
Peter Clement told The Observer: “We are unsure of the exact cost of the project but both the Heritage Lottery Fund and Railway Heritage Trust are very interested in getting The Worm re-opened.
“There is a lot of work which needs to be done on the passageway but we will ensure the Victorian heritage is kept.
“Having The Worm re-opened permanently to the public will improve the ambience of the station.
“Great Malvern railway station is in the top ten heritage stations in the country and having the passageway re-opened will make it look grand.
“Tourism in the area will also be greatly boosted as hundreds of people pass through the station every day.”
Owned by Network Rail, The Worm was built in 1862 and linked the station to the old Imperial Hotel, which is now the site of Malvern St James Girls’ School.
And after several decades of being unused, Mr Clement contacted the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) at the start of January with a potential solution to permanently open the tunnel.
The response from the HLF was positive and plans are now being drawn up to assess the amount of work needed to restore The Worm and the cost to make the passageway accessible for public use. The Railway Heritage Trust has also been approached for funding.
Exhibitions
Mr Clement hopes to have The Worm open to the public every day during the station’s working hours so visitors can wander inside the tunnel to read information and look at exhibitions provided by Malvern Museum.
In 2012 Network Rail opened the tunnel for a week and, following a positive public response, The Friends of Malvern Railway have been inspired to work towards making it a permanent feature.
The group is now liaising with Network Rail to make the project become a reality.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We always welcome improvements to the infrastructure and in particular at stations as we continue to deliver our Railway Upgrade Plan.
“The Worm in Great Malvern has huge significance to the local community and we wish The Friends of Malvern Railways every success in their quest for funding to help this become a reality.”
