The Connaught Tunnel (also referred to as the Albert Dock Tunnel and the Silvertown Tunnel) is on the North Woolwich Line which opened in 1846, running between Stratford and Canning Town. In 1887, the services were extended Northwards to Palace Gates, however in 1963 that part of the line was closed to passenger service. 1979 saw The North Woolwich branch incorporated into the North London Line, bringing forward the closure of the Broad Street line. In 2006, all North London line services were withdrawn from the section south of Stratford with the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension to Stratford International taking over the line as far south as Canning Town. The Custom House to North Woolwich section will be used by Crossrail, and this work is being carried at the time of writing (February 2010).

The Victoria Dock originally had a swing-bridge at it's entrance when it was built, but it was seen that the operation of the bridge would have an impact on the train services. It was, therefore, decided to build a new route to the North of the dock. However, when the Albert Dock was opened, the line route was once again affected so a new "cut and cover" tunnel was constructed beneath it's surface.

The Connaught Tunnel has a symmetrical layout with long buttressed sections at both tunnel approaches. The double track width becomes two single track tunnels within the main bore. There are two airshafts sitting either side of the single bore tunnels with surface vents placed at each side of the Connaught Bridge. The tunnel's central section is iron ringed (much in the same was as deep level tube lines), with crossover passages between the two single-track tunnel sections. This section, which is under the Albert Dock, was reconstructed at a lower level after it was found that the bottom of passing boats were scraping the top of the tunnel!!! There was still some running track intact in the Northbound tunnel at the time the photographs were taken (January 2010), quite surprising when one considers that only the Southbound tunnel was used for passenger services from 1969, and that goods services stopped using the northbound tunnel in 1993.

The tunnel is due to be used again when the Custom House to North Woolwich section of track is taken over by Crossrail.

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