Victorian Tunnel Left Untouched in Modern Rail Extension

A UK tube tunnel built in the 1800s which represents the birth of London Underground and tunnel-building techniques will form part of the new £1bn East London Line.

The tube tunnel was designed by British engineer Sir Marc Brunel and has come to represent British excellence with Victorian brickwork viewed as a benchmark of quality.

The line is being built by Transport for London (TFL) and engineers working on the East London Line extension have told the BBC they do not intend to touch the 'fabric' of the tunnel which they regard as 'excellent'.

The renewal of the line is part of a five-year investment programme to connect up the transport network with a southern and northern extension programme in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.