List of railway lines in Great Britain
Railway lines in England and Wales, as of 2010
This is a list of railway lines in Great Britain that are currently in operation, split by country and region .
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 .
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]
Name
Route, or previous name
Opened
Regions
Electrified
Acton–Northolt line
formerly "New North Main Line"
1903
London
—
Bromley North Line
Grove Park to Bromley North
1878
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Catford Loop Line
Brixton to Shortlands
1892
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Chessington branch line
Raynes Park to Chessington South
1938–1939
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Chingford branch line
Clapton to Chingford
1873
London
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Crystal Palace line
Balham Junction to Beckenham Junction
1856–1858
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Dudding Hill line
Acton to Cricklewood
1875
London
—
East London line
Highbury & Islington to West Croydon
1869–2010
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Holborn Viaduct–Herne Hill line
1863–1866
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Gospel Oak to Barking line
1894–1868
London
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Greenford branch line
GWML to Greenford
1903
London
—
Greenwich line
North Kent East junction to Charlton Junction
1836
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Mid-Kent line
Lewisham to Hayes
1857–1882
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Hounslow Loop Line
Barnes Junction to Feltham Junction
1850
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
South London line
1886
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Sutton Loop line
Streatham South Junction to Sutton
1864-1929
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Kingston loop line
Twickenham to New Maldon
1863–1869
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
North London line
Richmond to Stratford
1846–1869
London
Northern City Line
Moorgate to Finsbury Park
1904
London
Greenwich Park branch line
Nunhead to Lewisham
1929
London
Third rail , 750 V DC
Romford–Upminster line
1893
London
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
West London line
Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction
1844
London
Terminus
Name
End and major calling points
Countries and regions
Category
Chiltern Main Line
London, High Wycombe , Bicester , Banbury , Leamington Spa , Solihull , Birmingham
England: London, South East, West Midlands
Main Line 100 mph
East Coast Main Line
London, Leeds , York , Newcastle , Edinburgh
England: East, East Midlands, London, North East, Yorkshire and the Humber; Scotland
High Speed Main Line 125 mph
Great Eastern Main Line
London, Ipswich , Norwich
England: East, London
Main Line 100 mph
Great Western Main Line
London, Bristol
England: London, South East, South West
High Speed Main Line 125 mph
High Speed 1
London, Channel Tunnel
England: East, London, South East.
Continental Europe: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany
High Speed Line 186 mph
Midland Main Line
London, Leicester , Nottingham , Sheffield
England: East, East Midlands, London, Yorkshire and the Humber
High Speed Main Line 125 mph
South West Main Line
London, Southampton , Bournemouth , Weymouth
England: London, South East, South West
Main Line 100 mph
West Coast Main Line
London, Glasgow with spurs to Birmingham , Liverpool , Manchester , Holyhead and Edinburgh
England: London, North West, South East, West Midlands; Scotland; North Wales
High Speed Main Line 125 mph
South East England
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.
Name
Route, or previous name
Opened
Regions
Electrified
Alton line
Brookwood to Alton
1852
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Arun Valley line
Three Bridges to Arundel
1848–1863
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Ascot–Ash Vale line
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Ashford to Ramsgate line
1846
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Aylesbury–Princes Risborough line
1863
South East
—
Bexleyheath line
Lewisham to Dartford
1895
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Brighton Main Line
1839–1941
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Caterham line
Purley to Caterham
1856
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Chatham Main Line
London Victoria to Dover Priory
1858–1926
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Chertsey branch line
Staines to Weybridge
1849
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Cherwell Valley line
Banbury to Didcot Parkway
1844–1873
South East
—
Chiltern Main Line
Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill
1852–1910
London, South East, West Midlands
—
Cotswold Line
Oxford to Hereford
1851–1860
South East, South West, West Midlands
—
Dartford Loop Line
Hither Green to Dartford
1866
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
East Coastway line
Brighton to Hastings
1846–1871
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Eastleigh–Fareham line
1841
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Eastleigh–Romsey line
1847
South East
—
Elizabeth line
Heathrow Terminal 4 , Heathrow Terminal 5 and Reading to Abbey Wood and Shenfield
2022
East, London, South East
25 kV 50 Hz AC
Epsom Downs Branch
Sutton to Epsom Downs
1865
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Hampton Court branch line
SWML to Hampton Court
1849
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Hastings line
Tonbridge to Hastings
1845–1852
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Henley branch line
Twyford to Henley-on-Thames
1857
South East
—
High Speed 1
London to Channel Tunnel
2003–2007
London, South East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Island Line
Isle of Wight
1864
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Kent Coast line
Minster East Jn to Buckland Jn
1847
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
London–Aylesbury line
1868 and 1899
London, East
Fourth rail , 750 V DC (partial)
Lymington branch line
SWML to Lymington Pier
1858
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Maidstone line
Swanley to Ashford International
1874–1884
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Marlow branch line
Maidenhead to Marlow
1854
South East
—
Marshlink line
Ashford International to Hastings
1851
South East
—
Marston Vale line
Bletchley to Bedford
1845
East, South East
—
Medway Valley line
Strood to SEML
1844–1856
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
New Guildford line
Surbiton to Guildford
1885
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
North Downs Line
Reading to Redhill
1849
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC (partial)
North Kent Line
London to Strood
1846–1849
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Oxford–Bicester line
1850
South East
—
Oxted line
South Croydon to East Grinstead or Uckfield
1858–1888
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC (Croydon–East Grinstead)
Portsmouth Direct line
Woking to Portsmouth Harbour
1845–1858
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Portsmouth line
1847–1868
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Reading–Basingstoke line
1848
South East
—
Reading–Taunton line
1847–1906
South East, South West
—
Redhill–Tonbridge line
1884
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Seaford branch line
Lewes to Seaford
1864
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Sheerness line
Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea
1860
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Shepperton branch line
Kingston Loop to Shepperton
1864–1894
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Slough–Windsor & Eton line
1849
South East
—
South Eastern Main Line
Cannon Street or Charing Cross to Dover Priory
1842–1871
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Staines–Windsor line
1848–1849
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Sutton and Mole Valley lines
1847–1868
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Tattenham Corner line
Purley to Tattenham Corner
1897–1901
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Waterloo–Reading line
1846–1856
London, South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
Wessex Main Line
Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton Central
1847–1856
South East, South West
—
West Coastway line
Brighton to Southampton Central
1840–1889
South East
Third rail , 750 V DC
West of England line
Basingstoke to Exeter St Davids
1854–1860
South East, South West
—
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.
Terminus
North West England
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.
Name
Route, or previous name
Opened
Regions
Electrified
Blackpool branch lines
WCML to Blackpool North or South
1846–1865
North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Borderlands line
Wrexham Central to Bidston
1887–1896
North West
—
Buxton line
Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton
1863
East Midlands, North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Calder Valley line
Blackpool North or Manchester Victoria to Leeds
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Chester–Birkenhead line
1840
North West
Third rail , 750 V DC
Chester–Warrington line
1850
North West
—
Crewe–Liverpool line
North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Crewe–Manchester line
1841
North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Cumbrian Coast line
Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness
1844–1845
North West
—
East Lancashire line
Preston to Colne
1846–1848
North West
—
Furness line
Barrow-in-Furness to Carnforth
1846–1858
North West
—
Glossop line
Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop or Hadfield
1842–1845
East Midlands, North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Hooton–Helsby line
1863
North West
—
Hope Valley line
Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield
1894
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Huddersfield line
Manchester Piccadilly or Victoria to Huddersfield
1849
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
Planned
Kirkby branch line
Kirkby to Wigan Wallgate
1848
North West
—
Leeds–Morecambe line
1846–1864
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Liverpool–Manchester lines
1830 onwards
North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Liverpool–Wigan line
1869–1871
North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Manchester–Preston line
1838–1841
North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Manchester–Southport line
North West
—
Mid-Cheshire line
Manchester Piccadilly to Chester
1855–1888
North West
—
Morecambe branch line
Lancaster to Morecambe or Heysham Port
1864
North West
—
Ormskirk branch line
Preston to Ormskirk
1848
North West
—
Ribble Valley line
Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe
1845–1872
North West
—
Settle–Carlisle line
1875
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Stafford–Manchester line
1848
North West, West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Stockport–Stalybridge line
North West
—
Styal Line
Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport or Wilmslow
1909
North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Tyne Valley line
Newcastle to Carlisle
1834–1837
North East, North West
—
Windermere branch line
Oxenholme Lake District to Windermere
1847
North West
Proposed
Wirral line
Chester, West Kirby, Elsemere, and New Brighton to Liverpool
North West
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.
Name
Route, or previous name
Opened
Regions
Electrified
Birmingham to Peterborough line
1840–1860
East, East Midlands, West Midlands
—
Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove Line
1840–1879
West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Birmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster line
1852–1867
West Midlands
—
Camp Hill line
1840-1841
West Midlands
—
Chase Line
Birmingham New Street to Walsall and Rugeley
1837–1859 (partly closed 1965, reopened 1989–1997)
West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Chiltern Main Line
Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill
1852–1910
London, South East, West Midlands
—
Cotswold Line
Oxford to Hereford
1851–1860
South East, South West, West Midlands
—
Coventry–Leamington line
1851
West Midlands
—
Coventry–Nuneaton line
1850
West Midlands
—
Crewe–Derby line
1848
East Midlands, North West, West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Cross-City Line
Redditch or Bromsgrove to Lichfield
1837–1876
West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Cross Country Route
1948
East Midlands, North East, Scotland, South West, Wales, West Anglia, & West Midlands
—
Leamington–Stratford line
1860
West Midlands
—
Leicester–Burton upon Trent line
1832–1849
East Midlands, West Midlands
—
Northampton loop
1881
East Midlands, West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
North Warwickshire Line
Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon
1908
West Midlands
—
Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line
1837
West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Shrewsbury–Chester line
1848
North West, West Midlands
—
Stafford–Manchester line
1848–1887
North West, West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Stone to Colwich Line
1849
West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Stourbridge Town branch line
1879
West Midlands
—
Sutton Park line
Walsall to Castle Bromwich and Water Orton
1879
West Midlands
—
Trent Valley line
part of the West Coast Main Line
1847
West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Walsall–Wolverhampton line
1837
West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Welsh Marches line
Newport to Shrewsbury
1852–1858
North West West Midlands Mid Wales South Wales
—
Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury line
1848–1849
West Midlands
—
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.
Name
Route, or previous name
Opened
Regions
Electrified
Abbey Line
Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey
1858
East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Birmingham–Peterborough line
1840–1860
East, East Midlands, West Midlands
—
Bittern Line
Sheringham to Norwich
1874–1877
East
—
Braintree branch line
Witham to Braintree
1848
East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Breckland line
Cambridge to Norwich
1845
East
—
Cambridge line
Cambridge to ECML
1851
East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Crouch Valley line
Wickford to Southminster
1889
East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
East Suffolk line
Ipswich to Lowestoft
1854
East
—
Ely–Peterborough line
1847
East
—
Felixstowe branch line
Ipswich to Felixstowe
1877
East
—
Fen line
Cambridge to King's Lynn
1846
East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Gainsborough line
Marks Tey to Sudbury
1865
East
—
Great Northern Route
London Moorgate to King's Lynn
London, East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Hertford East branch line
Hertford East to Broxbourne
1843
East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Hertford loop line
Stevenage to Alexandra Palace
1871–1924
London, East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Ipswich–Ely line
1846–1851
East
—
Lea Valley lines
1840–1891
London, East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
London, Tilbury and Southend line
Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness
1854–1888
London, East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Marston Vale line
Bletchley to Bedford
1845
East, South East
—
Mayflower line
Manningtree to Harwich Town
1854
East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Peterborough–Lincoln line
1848–1882
East
—
Shenfield–Southend line
1892
East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Sunshine Coast Line
Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze
1847–1882
East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Watford DC line
Euston to Watford Junction
1862–1922
London, East
Third rail , 750 V DC
West Anglia Main Line
Liverpool Street to Cambridge or Stansted Airport
1840–1990
London, East
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Wherry Lines
Norwich to Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft
1844–1882
East
—
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.
Name
Route, or previous name
Opened
Regions
Electrified
Barton line
Barton-on-Humber to Cleethorpes
1848
East Midlands
—
Birmingham–Peterborough line
1840–1860
East, East Midlands, West Midlands
—
Buxton line
Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton
1863
East Midlands, North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Crewe–Derby line
1848
East Midlands, North West, West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Derwent Valley line
Derby to Matlock
1839–1849
East Midlands
—
Doncaster–Lincoln line
1849
East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Glossop line
Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop or Hadfield
1844
East Midlands, North West
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Ivanhoe line
part of the Midland Main Line
1840 or 1993
East Midlands
—
Leicester–Burton upon Trent line
1832–1849
East Midlands
—
Northampton loop
1881
East Midlands, West Midlands
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Nottingham–Grantham line
1850
East Midlands
—
Nottingham–Lincoln line
1846
East Midlands
—
Oakham–Kettering line
1879
East Midlands
—
Poacher Line
Grantham to Skegness
1848–1873
East Midlands
—
Robin Hood Line
Nottingham to Worksop
1848 (reopened 1993–1998)
East Midlands
—
Sheffield–Lincoln line
1849
East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Erewash Valley Line
1844–1862
East Midlands
—
Yorkshire and North East
There is a concentration of commuter services around Newcastle, Sheffield and Leeds with a number of direct routes to London, Scotland and other regions.
[ 7] [ 4]
This is a list of all routes that enter the Yorkshire and the Humber and North East England regions.
Name
Route, or previous name
Opened
Regions
Electrified
Durham Coast Line
Newcastle to Middlesbrough
1833–1905
North East
Overhead line , 1,500 V DC (partial)
Esk Valley line
Middlesbrough to Whitby
1835–54
North East, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Tyne Valley line
Newcastle to Carlisle
1834–1837
North East, North West
—
Northallerton–Eaglescliffe line
1852
North East, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Tees Valley line
Bishop Auckland to Saltburn
1825–1887
North East
—
Airedale line
Leeds to Skipton
1846
Yorkshire and the Humber
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Askern branch line
Knottingley to Doncaster
1848
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Calder Valley line
Blackpool North or Manchester Victoria to Leeds
1840s
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Dearne Valley line
Sheffield to York
1839–40
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Doncaster–Lincoln line
1849
East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Hallam Line
Sheffield to Leeds
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Harrogate line
Leeds to York
1848
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Hope Valley line
Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield
1894
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Huddersfield line
Manchester Piccadilly or Victoria to Huddersfield
1849
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
Planned
Hull to York Line
1840
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Leeds–Morecambe line
1846–50
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Leeds–Bradford lines
Yorkshire and the Humber
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Penistone Line
Huddersfield to Sheffield
1845–50
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Pontefract line
Leeds to Goole
1848
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Selby Line
Leeds to Hull
1834
Yorkshire and the Humber
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Settle–Carlisle line
1875
North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Sheffield–Lincoln line
1849
East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
—
South Humberside Main Line
Doncaster to Cleethorpes
1848
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
Swinton–Doncaster line
South Yorkshire
—
Wakefield line
Leeds to Sheffield
Yorkshire and the Humber
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Wharfedale line
Leeds to Bradford Forster Square or Ilkley
1865
Yorkshire and the Humber
OHLE , 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Hull–Scarborough line
Hull to Scarborough
1845–46
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
York–Scarborough line
1845
Yorkshire and the Humber
—
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
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]
See also
Cross-border lines and services ScotRail intercity linesGlasgow commuter lines Edinburgh commuter lines Rural lines and Great Scenic Railways Current projects Completed projects Heritage railways
Railway lines in England
Primary
North–South London–Norwich
Secondary Others Heritage
Primary Local Freight only Heritage
Primary
Other
Inter–regional Local Light rail
Freight-only Defunct Heritage
Primary to London Other
Inter-regional Intra-regional
Heritage
Primary
Secondary
Berks/Bucks/Oxon to London Kent to London Surrey/Sussex/Hants to London Others
Non-passenger Heritage
Main lines Inter-regional Local Freight only Heritage
Primary
Others
Inter-regional Intra-regional
Defunct Heritage Light railways