List of railway lines in Great Britain

This is a list of railway lines in Great Britain that are currently in operation, split by country and region.

Railway lines in England and Wales

There are a limited number of main inter-regional lines, with all but one entering Greater London.[1] The line from London to the Channel Tunnel is the only line designated 'high speed', although the other main routes also operate limited-stop express services.

The bulk of the secondary network is concentrated in London and the surrounding East and South East regions; an area marketed by National Rail as London and the South East. The majority of these lines are radial to London.[2] There is a further concentration of routes around Birmingham in the West Midlands[3] and in the urbanised part of northern England that stretches from Liverpool in the west, via Greater Manchester to Leeds in the east.[4]

Some areas, such as Wales and Scotland, have relatively sparse railway provision.[1] There are local lines throughout all areas of Great Britain with some services designated as community railways.

Main inter-regional lines
NameEnd and major calling pointsCountries and regionsCategory
Cross Country RouteBristol, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, YorkEngland: East Midlands, South West, Yorkshire and the Humber, West MidlandsHigh Speed Main Line (125mph)
East Coast Main LineLondon, Leeds, York, Newcastle, EdinburghEngland: East, East Midlands, London, North East, Yorkshire and the Humber; ScotlandHigh Speed Main Line (125mph)
Great Eastern Main LineLondon, Ipswich, NorwichEngland: East, LondonMain Line (100mph)
Great Western Main LineLondon, BristolEngland: London, South East, South WestHigh Speed Main Line (125mph)
High Speed 1London, Channel TunnelEngland: East, London, South East.

Continental Europe: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany

 High Speed Line (186mph)
Midland Main LineLondon, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, LeedsEngland: East, East Midlands, London, Yorkshire and the HumberHigh Speed Main Line (125mph)
South Wales Main LineBristol, Swansea via CardiffEngland: South West; Wales: SouthMain Line (100mph)
South Western main lineLondon, Southampton, Bournemouth, WeymouthEngland: London, South East, South WestMain Line (100mph)
West Coast Main LineLondon, Glasgow with spurs to Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Holyhead and EdinburghEngland: London, North West, South East, West Midlands; Scotland; North WalesHigh Speed Main Line (125mph)

England

London
Most main UK routes terminate in London and there is an extensive suburban network[2][5]

This is a list of routes entirely contained within Greater London.[5]

NameOpenedRegionsElectrified
Acton–Northolt line
(formerly "New North Main Line")		1903Londonn/a
Bromley North Line
(Grove Park to Bromley North)		1878London750 V DC Third rail
Catford Loop Line
(Brixton to Shortlands)		1892London750 V DC Third rail
Chessington branch line
(Raynes Park to Chessington South)		1938–1939London750 V DC Third rail
Chingford branch line
(Clapton to Chingford)		1873London25 kV AC OHLE
Crystal Palace line
(Balham Junction to Beckenham Junction)		1856–1858London750 V DC Third rail
Dudding Hill line
(Acton to Cricklewood)		1875LondonN/A
East London line1869–2010London750 V DC Third rail
Farringdon–Herne Hill line1863–1866London750 V DC Third rail
Gospel Oak to Barking line1894–1868London25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Greenford branch line
(GWML to Greenford)		1903LondonN/A
Greenwich line1836London750 V DC Third rail
Mid-Kent line
(Lewisham to Hayes)		1857–1882London750 V DC Third rail
Hounslow Loop Line
(Barnes Junction to Feltham Junction)		1850London750 V DC Third rail
South London line1886London750 V DC Third rail
Kingston loop line1863–1869London750 V DC Third rail
North London line
(Richmond to Stratford)		1846–1869London25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail
Northern City Line
(Moorgate to Finsbury Park)		1904London25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail
Greenwich Park branch line
(Nunhead to Lewisham)		1929London750 V DC Third rail
Romford–Upminster line1893London25 kV AC OHLE
West London line
(Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction)		1844London25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail

East of England
A number of local lines branch from the main radial routes and closer to London are the outer terminals of the suburban network[2][5]

This is a list of all routes that enter the East of England region.

NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Abbey Line
(Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey)		1858East25 kV AC OHLE
Birmingham–Peterborough line1840–1860East, East Midlands, West MidlandsN/A
Bittern Line
(Sheringham to Norwich)		1874–1877EastN/A
Braintree branch line
(Witham to Braintree)		1848East25 kV AC OHLE
Breckland line
(Cambridge to Norwich)		1845EastN/A
Cambridge line
(Cambridge to ECML)		1851East25 kV AC OHLE
Crouch Valley line
(Wickford to Southminster)		1889East25 kV AC OHLE
East Suffolk line
(Ipswich to Lowestoft)		1854EastN/A
Ely–Peterborough line1847EastN/A
Felixstowe branch line
(Ipswich to Felixstowe)		1877EastN/A
Fen line
(Cambridge to King's Lynn)		1846East25 kV AC OHLE
Gainsborough line
(Marks Tey to Sudbury)		1865EastN/A
Hertford East branch line
(Hertford East to Broxbourne)		1843East25 kV AC OHLE
Hertford loop line
(Stevenage to Alexandra Palace)		1871–1924London, East25 kV AC OHLE
Ipswich–Ely line1846–1851EastN/A
Lea Valley lines1840–1891London, East25 kV AC OHLE
London, Tilbury and Southend line
(Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness)		1854–1888London, East25 kV AC OHLE
Marston Vale line
(Bletchley to Bedford)		1845East, South EastN/A
Mayflower line
(Manningtree to Harwich Town)		1854East25 kV AC OHLE
Peterborough–Lincoln line1848–1882EastN/A
Shenfield–Southend line1892East25 kV AC OHLE
Sunshine Coast Line
(Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze)		1847–1882East25 kV AC OHLE
Watford DC line
(Euston to Watford Junction)		1862–1922London, East750 V DC Third rail
West Anglia Main Line
(Liverpool Street to Cambridge/Stansted Airport)		1840–1990London, East25 kV AC OHLE
Wherry Lines
(Norwich to Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft)		1844–1882EastN/A

South East
The commuter network stretches from London to the coast and there is a connection to France through the Channel Tunnel[2][5]

This is a list of all routes that enter the South East England region.

NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Alton line
(Brookwood to Alton)		1852South East750 V DC Third rail
Arun Valley line
(Three Bridges to Arundel)		1848–1863South East750 V DC Third rail
Ascot–Ash Vale lineSouth East750 V DC Third rail
Ashford to Ramsgate line1846South East750 V DC Third rail
Aylesbury–Princes Risborough line1863South EastN/A
Bexleyheath line
(Lewisham to Dartford)		1895London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Brighton main line1839–1941London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Caterham line
(Purley to Caterham)		1856London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Chatham main line
(London Victoria to Dover Priory)		1858–1926London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Chertsey branch line
(Staines to Weybridge)		1849South East750 V DC Third rail
Cherwell Valley line
(Banbury to Didcot Parkway)		1844–1873South EastN/A
Chiltern Main Line
(Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill)		1852–1910South EastN/A
Cotswold Line
(Oxford to Hereford)		1851–1860South East, South West, West MidlandsN/A
Dartford Loop Line
(Hither Green to Dartford)		1866London, South East750 V DC Third rail
East Coastway line
(Brighton to Hastings)		1846–1871South East750 V DC Third rail
Eastleigh–Fareham line1841South East750 V DC Third rail
Eastleigh–Romsey line1847South EastN/A
Epsom Downs Branch
(Sutton to Epsom Downs)		1865London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Hampton Court branch line
(SWML to Hampton Court)		1849South East750 V DC Third rail
Hastings line
(Tonbridge to Hastings)		1845–1852South East750 V DC Third rail
Henley branch line
(Twyford to Henley-on-Thames)		1857South EastN/A
High Speed 1
(London to Channel Tunnel)		2003–2007London, South East25 kV AC OHLE
Island Line
(Isle of Wight)		1864South East750 V DC Third rail
Kent Coast line
(Minster East Jn to Buckland Jn)		1847South East750 V DC Third rail
London–Aylesbury line1868 and 1899London, East630 V DC Fourth rail (partial)
Lymington branch line
(SWML to Lymington Pier)		1858South East750 V DC Third rail
Maidstone line
(Swanley to Ashford International)		1874–1884South East750 V DC Third rail
Marlow branch line
(Maidenhead to Marlow)		1854South EastN/A
Marshlink line
(Ashford International to Hastings)		1851South EastN/A
Marston Vale line
(Bletchley to Bedford)		1845East, South EastN/A
Medway Valley line
(Strood to SEML)		1844–1856South East750 V DC Third rail
New Guildford line
(Surbiton to Guildford)		1885South East750 V DC Third rail
North Downs Line
(Reading to Redhill)		1849South East750 V DC Third rail (partial)
North Kent Line
(London to Strood)		1846–1849London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Oxford–Bicester line1850South EastN/A
Oxted line
(South Croydon to East Grinstead/Uckfield)		1858–1888London, South East750 V DC Third rail
(Croydon–East Grinstead)
Portsmouth Direct line
(Woking to Portsmouth Harbour)		1845–1858South East750 V DC Third rail
Reading–Basingstoke line1848South EastN/A
Reading–Taunton line1847–1906South East, South WestN/A
Redhill–Tonbridge line1884South East750 V DC Third rail
Seaford branch line
(Lewes to Seaford)		1864South East750 V DC Third rail
Sheerness line
(Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea)		1860South East750 V DC Third rail
Shepperton branch line
(Kingston Loop to Shepperton)		1864–1894London, South East750 V DC Third rail–
Slough–Windsor & Eton line1849South EastN/A
South Eastern main line
(Cannon Street/Charing Cross to Dover Priory)		1842–1871London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Staines–Windsor line1848–1849South East750 V DC Third rail
Sutton and Mole Valley lines1847–1868London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Tattenham Corner line
(Purley to Tattenham Corner)		1897–1901London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Waterloo–Reading line1846–1856London, South East750 V DC Third rail
Wessex Main Line
(Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton Central)		1847–1856South East, South WestN/A
West Coastway line
(Brighton to Southampton Central)		1840–1889South East750 V DC Third rail
West of England line
(Basingstoke to Exeter St David's)		1854–1860South East, South WestN/A

South West
There is a concentration of routes around Bristol and direct connections to Wales, London and other regions[6]

This is a list of all routes that enter the South West England region.

NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Atlantic Coast Line
(Par to Newquay)		1874South WestNA
Avocet Line
(Exeter to Exmouth)		1862South WestNA
Bristol–Exeter line1841–1842South WestNA
Cornish Main Line
(Plymouth to Penzance)		1867South WestNA
Cotswold Line
(Oxford to Hereford)		1851–1860South East, South West, West MidlandsN/A
Exeter–Plymouth line1846–1849South WestNA
Gloucester–Newport line1850South WestNA
Golden Valley line
(Swindon to Cheltenham Spa)		1845South WestNA
Heart of Wessex Line
(Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth)		1857South WestNA
Looe Valley Line
(Liskeard to Looe)		1860–1901South WestNA
Maritime Line
(Truro to Falmouth Docks)		1863South WestNA
Reading–Taunton line1847–1906South East, South West25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Riviera Line
(Exeter St David's to Paignton)		1846–1859South WestNA
Severn Beach line
(Bristol to Severn Beach)		1840–1900South WestNA
South Wales Main Line
(Swindon to Swansea)		1850–1903South West, South WalesNA
St Ives Bay Line
(St Erth to St Ives)		1877South WestNA
Tamar Valley Line
(Plymouth to Gunnislake)		1890–1908South WestNA
Tarka Line
Exeter to Barnstaple)		1851–1854South WestNA
Wessex Main Line
(Bristol to Southampton)		1847–1856South East, South WestN/A
West of England line
(SWML to Exeter)		1854–1860South East, South WestN/A

East Midlands
There are rail links to adjacent regions and direct services to London

This is a list of all routes that enter the East Midlands region.

NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Birmingham–Peterborough line1840–1860East, East Midlands, West MidlandsN/A
Buxton line
(Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton)		1863East Midlands, North West25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Crewe–Derby line1848East Midlands, North West, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Derwent Valley line
(Derby to Matlock)		1839–1849East MidlandsN/A
Doncaster–Lincoln line1849East Midlands, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Glossop line
(Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop/Hadfield)		1844East Midlands, North West25 kV AC OHLE
Ivanhoe line
(part of the Midland Main Line)		1840/1993East MidlandsN/A
Leicester–Burton upon Trent line1832–1849East MidlandsN/A
Northampton loop1881East Midlands, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Nottingham–Grantham line1850East MidlandsN/A
Nottingham–Lincoln line1846East MidlandsN/A
Oakham–Kettering line1879East MidlandsN/A
Poacher Line
(Grantham to Skegness)		1848–1873East MidlandsN/A
Robin Hood Line
(Nottingham to Worksop)		1848 (reopened 1993–1998)East MidlandsN/A
Sheffield–Lincoln line1849East Midlands, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A

West Midlands
There is a concentration of routes around Birmingham and direct connections to London and other regions[3]

This is a list of all routes that enter the West Midlands region.

NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Birmingham–Peterborough line1840–1860East, East Midlands, West MidlandsN/A
Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove Line1840–1879West MidlandsN/A
Birmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster line1852–1867West MidlandsN/A
Chase Line
(Birmingham New Street to Rugeley)		1837–1859
(partly closed 1965,
reopened 1989–1997)		West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Chiltern Main Line
(Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill)		1852–1910London, South East, West MidlandsN/A
Cotswold Line
(Oxford to Hereford)		1851–1860South East, South West, West MidlandsN/A
Coventry–Leamington line1851West MidlandsN/A
Coventry–Nuneaton line1850West MidlandsN/A
Crewe–Derby line1848East Midlands, North West, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Cross-City Line
(Redditch/Bromsgrove to Lichfield)		1837–1876West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Leamington–Stratford line1860West MidlandsN/A
Leicester–Burton upon Trent line1832–1849East Midlands, West MidlandsN/A
Northampton loop1881East Midlands, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
North Warwickshire Line
(Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon)		1908West MidlandsN/A
Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line1837West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Shrewsbury–Chester line1848North West, West MidlandsN/A
Stafford–Manchester line1848–1887North West, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Stone to Colwich Line1849West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Stourbridge Town branch line1879West MidlandsN/A
Trent Valley line
(part of the West Coast Main Line)		1847West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Walsall–Wolverhampton line1837West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Welsh Marches line
(Newport to Shrewsbury)		1852–1858North West, West Midlands,
Mid Wales, South Wales		N/A
Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury line1848–1849West MidlandsN/A

North East
Suburban routes are concentrated around Newcastle with direct connections to Scotland, London and adjacent regions[7]

This is a list of all routes that enter the North East England region.

NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Durham Coast Line
(Newcastle to Middlesbrough)		1833–1905North East1,500 V DC OHLE (partial)
Esk Valley line
(Middlesbrough to Whitby)		1835North East, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Tyne Valley line
(Newcastle to Carlisle)		1834–1837North East, North WestN/A
Northallerton–Eaglescliffe line1852North East, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Tees Valley line
(Bishop Auckland to Saltburn)		1843–1861North EastN/A

North West
There is a significant concentration of routes around urbanised Liverpool and Manchester with the northern part of the region less well served[1][4]

This is a list of all routes that enter the North West England region.

NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Blackpool branch lines
(WCML to Blackpool North/South)		1846–1865North West25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Borderlands line
(Wrexham Central to Bidston)		1887–1896North WestN/A
Buxton line
(Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton)		1863East Midlands, North West25 kV AC OHLE
Calder Valley line
(Blackpool North/Manchester Victoria to Leeds)		North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Chester–Birkenhead line1840North West750 V DC Third Rail
Chester–Warrington line1850North WestN/A
Crewe–Manchester line1841North West25 kV AC OHLE
Cumbrian Coast line
(Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness)		1844–1845North WestN/A
East Lancashire line
(Preston to Colne)		1846–1848North WestN/A
Furness line
(Barrow-in-Furness to Carnforth)		1846–1858North WestN/A
Glossop line
(Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop/Hadfield)		1842–1845East Midlands, North West25 kV AC OHLE
Hooton–Helsby line1863North WestN/A
Hope Valley line
(Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield)		1894North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Huddersfield line
(Manchester Piccadilly/Victoria to Huddersfield)		1849North West, Yorkshire and the HumberPlanned
Kirkby branch line
(Kirkby to Wigan Wallgate)		1848North WestN/A
Leeds–Morecambe line1846–1864North West, Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Liverpool–Manchester lines1830–onwardsNorth West25 kV AC OHLE
Liverpool–Wigan line1869–1871North West25 kV AC OHLE
Manchester–Preston line1838–1841North West25 kV AC OHLE
Manchester–Southport lineNorth WestN/A
Mid-Cheshire line
(Manchester Piccadilly to Chester)		1855–1888North WestN/A
Morecambe branch line
(Lancaster to Morecambe/Heysham Port)		1864North WestN/A
Ormskirk branch line
(Preston to Ormskirk)		1848North West750 V DC Third Rail
Ribble Valley line
(Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe)		1845–1872North WestN/A
Settle–Carlisle line1875North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Stafford–Manchester line1848North West, West Midlands25 kV AC OHLE
Stockport–Stalybridge lineNorth WestN/A
Styal Line
(Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport/Wilmslow)		1909North West25 kV AC OHLE
Tyne Valley line
(Newcastle to Carlisle)		1834–1837North East, North WestN/A
Windermere branch line
(Oxenholme Lake District to Windermere)		1847North WestProposed

Yorkshire and the Humber
There is a concentration of commuter services around Sheffield and Leeds with a number of direct routes to London and other regions[4]

This is a list of all routes that enter the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

NameOpenedRegionsElectrification
Airedale line
(Leeds to Skipton)		1846Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE
Askern branch line
(Knottingley to Doncaster)		1848Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Calder Valley line
(Blackpool North/Manchester Victoria to Leeds)		1840sNorth West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Dearne Valley line
(Sheffield to York)		1839–40Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Doncaster–Lincoln line1849East Midlands, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Esk Valley line
(Middlesbrough to Whitby)		1835–54North East, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Hallam Line
(Sheffield to Leeds)		Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Harrogate line
(Leeds to York)		1848Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Hope Valley line
(Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield)		1894North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Huddersfield line
(Manchester Piccadilly/Victoria to Huddersfield)		1849North West, Yorkshire and the HumberPlanned
Hull to York Line1840Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Leeds–Morecambe line1846–50North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Leeds–Bradford linesYorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Northallerton–Eaglescliffe line1852North East, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Penistone Line
(Huddersfield to Sheffield)		1845–50Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Pontefract line
(Leeds to Goole)		1848Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Selby Line
(Leeds to Hull)		1834Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Settle–Carlisle line1875North West, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Sheffield–Lincoln line1849East Midlands, Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
South Humberside main line
(Doncaster to Cleethorpes)		1848Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
Swinton–Doncaster lineSouth YorkshireN/A
Wakefield line
(Leeds to Sheffield)		Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Wharfedale line
(Leeds to Bradford Forster Square/Ilkley)		1865Yorkshire and the Humber25 kV AC OHLE
Yorkshire Coast Line
(Hull to Scarborough)		1845–46Yorkshire and the HumberN/A
York–Scarborough line1845Yorkshire and the HumberN/A

Scotland
Railway lines in Scotland

Scotrail Intercity lines

Glasgow commuter lines

Edinburgh commuter lines

Rural lines and Great Scenic Railways

Wales

Main lines

Cardiff commuter lines

Rural lines

Lines under construction
NameBetweenOpeningRegionsElectrificationType
CrossrailAbbey Wood and Shenfield to Reading and Heathrow Airport2019London25 kV AC OHLENew Line
East West RailBicester Village and Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central2023South East EnglandNot initiallyReconstruction

References

Note: many maps cited are dead links as of 2016. Current maps are on the National Rail Enquiries - Maps of the UK National Rail Network Web site.[8]

  1. "National Rail Timetable Map" (PDF). Association of Train Operating Companies. 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  2. "London and the South East Rail Services" (PDF). Association of Train Operating Companies. 17 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  3. "Birmingham West Midlands" (PDF). Association of Train Operating Companies. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  4. "Liverpool Leeds Manchester Sheffield" (PDF). Association of Train Operating Companies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  5. "London Connections Rail Services" (PDF). Association of Train Operating Companies. 17 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  6. "Cardiff Bristol" (PDF). Association of Train Operating Companies. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  7. "Newcastle" (PDF). Association of Train Operating Companies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  8. "National Rail Enquiries - Maps of the UK National Rail Network". Nationalrail.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2016.

See also
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