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.

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

England

Railway lines in England and Wales

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	Opened	Regions	Electrified
Acton–Northolt line (formerly "New North Main Line")	1903	London	n/a
Bromley North Line	1878	London	750 V DC Third rail
Catford Loop Line	1892	London	750 V DC Third rail
Chessington branch line	1938–1939	London	750 V DC Third rail
Chingford branch line	1873	London	25 kV AC OHLE
Crystal Palace line	1856–1858	London	750 V DC Third rail
Dudding Hill Line	1875	London	N/A
East London line	1869–2010	London	750 V DC Third rail
Gospel Oak to Barking line	1894–1868	London	25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Greenford branch line	1903	London	N/A
Greenwich line	1836	London	750 V DC Third rail
Hayes Line (formally Mid-Kent Line)	1857–1882	London	750 V DC Third rail
Hounslow Loop Line	1850	London	750 V DC Third rail
South London line	1886	London	750 V DC Third rail
Kingston loop line	1863–1869	London	750 V DC Third rail
North London line	1846–1869	London	25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail
Northern City Line	1904	London	25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail
Nunhead to Lewisham link	1929	London	750 V DC Third rail
Romford–Upminster line	1893	London	25 kV AC OHLE
Sydenham Line[6]	1839	London	750 V DC Third rail
West London line	1844	London	25 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.

Name	Opened	Regions	Electrification
Abbey Line	1858	East	25 kV AC OHLE
Birmingham to Peterborough Line	1840-1860	East, East Midlands, West Midlands	N/A
Bittern Line	1874-1877	East	N/A
Braintree Branch Line	1848	East	25 kV AC OHLE
Breckland Line	1845	East	N/A
Cambridge Line	1851	East	25 kV AC OHLE
Crouch Valley Line	1889	East	25 kV AC OHLE
East Suffolk Line	1854	East	N/A
Ely to Peterborough Line	1847	East	N/A
Felixstowe Branch Line	1877	East	N/A
Fen Line	1846	East	25 kV AC OHLE
Gainsborough Line	1865	East	N/A
Hertford East Branch Line	1843	East	25 kV AC OHLE
Hertford Loop Line	1871—1924	London, East	25 kV AC OHLE
Ipswich to Ely Line	1846-1851	East	N/A
Lea Valley Lines	1840-1891	London, East	25 kV AC OHLE
London, Tilbury and Southend Line	1854-1888	London, East	25 kV AC OHLE
Marston Vale Line	1845	East, South East	N/A
Mayflower Line	1854	East	25 kV AC OHLE
Peterborough to Lincoln Line	1848-1882	East	N/A
Shenfield to Southend Line	1892	East	25 kV AC OHLE
Sunshine Coast Line	1847-1882	East	25 kV AC OHLE
Thameslink	1866-1988	London, East, South East	25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail
Watford DC Line	1862-1922	London, East	750 V DC Third rail
West Anglia Main Line	1840-1990	London, East	25 kV AC OHLE
Wherry Lines	1844-1882	East	N/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.

Name	Opened	Regions	Electrification
Alton Line	1852	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Arun Valley Line	1848-1863	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Ascot to Guildford Line	?	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line	1846	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Bexleyheath Line	1895	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Brighton Main Line	1839-1941	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Caterham Line	1856	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Chatham Main Line	1858-1926	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Cherwell Valley Line	1844-1873	South East	N/A
Chiltern Main Line	1852-1910	South East	N/A
Cotswold Line	1851-1860	South East, South West, West Midlands	N/A
Dartford Loop Line	1866	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
East Coastway Line	1846-1871	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Eastleigh to Fareham line	1841	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Eastleigh to Romsey Line	1847	South East	N/A
Epsom Downs Branch	1865	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Hampton Court Branch Line	1849	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Hastings Line	1845–1852	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Henley Branch Line	1857	South East	N/A
High Speed 1	2003-2007	London, South East	25 kV AC OHLE
Island Line, Isle of Wight	1864	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Kent Coast Line	1847	South East	750 V DC Third rail
London to Aylesbury Line	1868 and 1899	London, East	630 V DC Fourth rail (partial)
Lymington Branch Line	1858	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Maidstone Line	1874-1884	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Marlow Branch Line	1854	South East	N/A
Marshlink Line	1851	South East	N/A
Marston Vale Line	1845	East, South East	N/A
Medway Valley Line	1844-1856	South East	750 V DC Third rail
New Guildford Line	1885	South East	750 V DC Third rail
North Downs Line	1849	South East	750 V DC Third rail (partial)
North Kent Line	1846-1849	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Oxford to Bicester Line	1850	South East	N/A
Oxted Line	1858-1888	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail (Croydon - East Grinstead)
Portsmouth Direct Line	1845-1858	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line	1863	South East	N/A
Reading to Basingstoke Line	1848	South East	N/A
Reading to Taunton Line	1847-1906	South East, South West	N/A
Redhill to Tonbridge Line	1884	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Seaford Branch Line	1864	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Sheerness Line	1860	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Shepperton Branch Line	1864-1894	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Slough to Windsor & Eton Line	1849	South East	N/A
South Eastern Main Line	1842-1871	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
South Western Main Line	1838-1857	London, South East, South West	750 V DC Third rail
Staines to Weybridge Line	1849	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Staines to Windsor Line	1848-1849	South East	750 V DC Third rail
Sutton & Mole Valley Lines	1847-1868	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Tattenham Corner Line	1897-1901	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Thameslink	1866-1988	London, East, South East	25 kV AC OHLE & 750 V DC Third rail
Waterloo to Reading Line	1846-1856	London, South East	750 V DC Third rail
Wessex Main Line	1847-1856	South East, South West	N/A
West Coastway Line	1840-1889	South East	750 V DC Third rail
West of England Main Line	1854-1860	South East, South West	N/A

South West

There is a concentration of routes around Bristol and direct connections to Wales, London and other regions^[7]

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

Name	Opened	Regions	Electrification
Atlantic Coast Line (Par to Newquay)	1874	South West	NA
Avocet Line (Exeter to Exmouth)	1862	South West	NA
Bristol to Exeter Line	1841-1842	South West	NA
Cornish Main Line	1867	South West	NA
Cotswold Line	1851-1860	South East, South West, West Midlands	N/A
Exeter to Plymouth Line	1846-1849	South West	NA
Gloucester to Newport Line	1850	South West	NA
Golden Valley Line (Swindon to Cheltenham)	1845	South West	NA
Heart of Wessex Line (Bristol to Weymouth)	1857	South West	NA
Looe Valley Line (Liskeard to Looe)	1860–1901	South West	NA
Maritime Line (Truro to Falmouth)	1863	South West	NA
Reading to Taunton Line	1847-1906	South East, South West	N/A
Riviera Line (Exeter to Paignton)	1846–1859	South West	NA
Severn Beach Line (Bristol to Severn Beach)	1840-1900	South West	NA
South Wales Main Line (GWML to Swansea)	1950-1903	South West, South Wales	NA
South Western Main Line (London to Weymouth)	1838-1857	London, South East, South West	750 V DC Third rail
St Ives Bay Line (St Erth to St Ives)	1877	South West	NA
Tamar Valley Line (Plymouth to Gunnislake)	1890-1908	South West	NA
Tarka Line (Exeter to Barnstaple)	1851-1854	South West	NA
Wessex Main Line	1847-1856	South East, South West	N/A
West of England Main Line (SWML to Exeter)	1854-1860	South East, South West	N/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.

Name	Opened	Regions	Electrification
Birmingham to Peterborough Line	1840-1860	East, East Midlands, West Midlands	N/A
Buxton Line	1863	East Midlands, North West	25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Chiltern Main Line	1852-1910	London, South East, West Midlands	N/A
Crewe to Derby Line	1848	East Midlands, North West, West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Derwent Valley Line	1839-1849	East Midlands	N/A
Doncaster to Lincoln Line	1849	East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber	N/A
Glossop Line	1844	East Midlands, North West	25 kV AC OHLE
Ivanhoe Line (part of the Midland Main Line)	1840/1993	East Midlands	N/A
Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line	1832-1849	East Midlands	N/A
Northampton Loop Line	1881	East Midlands, West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE
Nottingham-Grantham Line	1850	East Midlands	N/A
Nottingham-Lincoln Line	1846	East Midlands	N/A
Oakham to Kettering Line	1879	East Midlands	N/A
Poacher Line	1848-1873	East Midlands	N/A
Robin Hood Line	1848 (reopened 1993-1998)	East Midlands	N/A
Sheffield to Lincoln Line	1849	East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber	N/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.

Name	Opened	Regions	Electrification
Birmingham to Peterborough Line	1840-1860	East, East Midlands, West Midlands	N/A
Birmingham to Stratford Line	1908	West Midlands	N/A
Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove Line	1940-1879	West Midlands	N/A
Birmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster Line	1852-1867	West Midlands	N/A
Chase Line	1837-1859 (partly closed 1965, reopened 1989-1997)	West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Chiltern Main Line	1852-1910	London, South East, West Midlands	N/A
Cotswold Line	1851-1860	South East, South West, West Midlands	N/A
Coventry to Leamington line	1851	West Midlands	N/A
Coventry to Nuneaton Line	1850	West Midlands	N/A
Crewe to Derby Line	1848	East Midlands, North West, West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE (partial)
Cross-City Line	1837-1876 (1978 single route)	West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE
Leamington to Stratford Line	1860	West Midlands	N/A
Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line	1832-1849	East Midlands, West Midlands	N/A
Northampton Loop Line	1881	East Midlands, West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE
Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford Line	1837	West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE
Shrewsbury to Chester Line	1848	North West, West Midlands	N/A
Stafford-Manchester Line	1848-1887	North West, West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE
Stone to Colwich Line	1849	West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE
Stourbridge Town Branch Line	1879	West Midlands	N/A
Trent Valley Line (part of the West Coast Main Line)	1847	West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE
Walsall-Wolverhampton Line	1837	West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE
Welsh Marches Line	1852-1858	North West, West Midlands, Mid Wales, South Wales	N/A
Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line	1848-1849	West Midlands	N/A

North East

Suburban routes are concentrated around Newcastle with direct connections to Scotland, London and adjacent regions^[8]

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

Name	Opened	Regions	Electrification
Durham Coast Line	1841-1879	North East	N/A
Esk Valley Line	1835	North East, Yorkshire and the Humber	N/A
Tyne Valley Line	1834-1837	North East, North West	N/A
Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Line	1852	North East, Yorkshire and the Humber	N/A
Tees Valley Line	1843-1861	North East	N/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.

Name	Opened	Regions	Electrification	Electrification status
Blackpool Branch Lines	1846-1865	North West	25 kV AC OHLE (partial)	Under Construction
Borderlands Line	1887-1896	North West	N/A	N/A
Buxton Line	1863	East Midlands, North West	25 kV AC OHLE	(partial)
Caldervale Line		North West, Yorkshire and the Humber	N/A	N/A
Chester to Manchester Line	1830-1863	North West	N/A	N/A
Crewe-Manchester Line	1841	North West	25 kV AC OHLE	Live
Cumbrian Coast Line	1844-1845	North West	N/A	N/A
East Lancashire Line	1846-1848	North West	N/A	N/A
Ellesmere Port to Warrington Line	1863	North West	N/A	N/A
Furness Line	1846-1858	North West	N/A	N/A
Glossop Line (Originally part of Woodhead Line)	1842-1845	East Midlands, North West	25 kV AC OHLE	Live
Hope Valley Line	1894	North West, Yorkshire and the Humber	N/A	N/A
Huddersfield Line	1894	North West, Yorkshire and the Humber	N/A	Planned
Kirkby Branch Line	1848	North West	N/A	N/A
Leeds to Morecambe Line	1846-1864	North West, Yorkshire and the Humber	25 kV AC OHLE (partial)	Live
Liverpool to Manchester Lines	1830-onwards	North West	25 kV AC OHLE	Northern Route Live 2015
Liverpool to Wigan Line	1869-1871	North West	25 kV AC OHLE	Live 2015
Manchester to Preston Line	1838-1841	North West	25 kV AC OHLE	Under Construction
Manchester to Southport Line		North West	N/A	N/A
Mid-Cheshire Line	1855-1888	North West	N/A	N/A
Morecambe Branch Line	1864	North West	N/A	N/A
Northern Line (Merseyrail)	1848-1864	North West	750 V DC Third Rail	Live
Ormskirk Branch Line	1848	North West	750 V DC Third Rail	Live
Ribble Valley Line	1845-1872	North West	N/A	N/A
Settle-Carlisle Line	1875	North West, Yorkshire and the Humber	N/A	N/A
Stafford-Manchester Line	1848	North West, West Midlands	25 kV AC OHLE	Live
Stockport to Stalybridge Line		North West	N/A	N/A
Styal Line	1909	North West	25 kV AC OHLE	Live
Tyne Valley Line	1834-1837	North East, North West	N/A	N/A
Windermere Branch Line	1847	North West	N/A	Proposed
Wirral Line	1840-1907	North West	750 V DC Third Rail	Live

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.

Name	Regions
Airedale Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Askern Branch Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Caldervale Line	North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
Dearne Valley Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Doncaster to Lincoln Line	East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
Esk Valley Line	North East, Yorkshire and the Humber
Hallam Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Harrogate Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Hope Valley Line	North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
Huddersfield Line	North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
Hull to York Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Leeds to Morecambe Line	North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
Leeds-Bradford Lines	Yorkshire and the Humber
Leeds-Northallerton Railway	Yorkshire and the Humber
Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Line	North East, Yorkshire and the Humber
Penistone Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Pontefract Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Selby Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Settle-Carlisle Line	North West, Yorkshire and the Humber
Sheffield to Lincoln Line	East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
South Humberside Main Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Swinton to Doncaster Line	South Yorkshire
Wakefield Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Wharfedale Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
Yorkshire Coast Line	Yorkshire and the Humber
York to Scarborough Line	Yorkshire and the Humber

Scotland

Railway lines in Scotland

Wales

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.^[9]

See also

• List of closed railway lines in Great Britain