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 London.^[5]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Scotland

Railway lines in Scotland

Scotrail Intercity lines

• Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
• Glasgow-Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
• Glasgow to Aberdeen Line
• Highland Main Line
• Aberdeen-Inverness Line

Glasgow commuter lines

• Argyle Line
• Ayrshire Coast Line
• Carstairs Line
• Cathcart Circle Lines
• Croy Line
• Cumbernauld Line
• Inverclyde Line
• Maryhill Line
• Motherwell-Cumbernauld Line
• North Clyde Line
• Paisley Canal Line
• Shotts Line
• South Western Lines
• Whifflet Line

Edinburgh commuter lines

• Carstairs Line
• Edinburgh-Dunblane line
• Fife Circle Line
• North Berwick Line
• North Clyde Line
• Shotts Line
• Borders Railway

Rural lines and Great Scenic Railways

• Borders Railway
• Far North Line
• Kyle of Lochalsh Line
• West Highland Line
• Glasgow South Western Lines

Wales

Main lines

• North Wales Coast Line
• South Wales Main Line
• Cardiff-Wrexham-Holyhead Main Line
• Welsh Marches Line

Cardiff commuter lines

• Butetown Branch Line
• Cardiff City Line
• Coryton Line
• Ebbw Valley Railway
• Gloucester to Newport Line
• Maesteg Line
• Merthyr Line
• Rhondda Line
• Rhymney Line
• Vale of Glamorgan Line

Rural lines

• Borderlands Line
• Cambrian Line
• Conwy Valley Line
• Heart of Wales Line
• West Wales Line

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

Railway lines in England
Railway lines in the East of England Primary North–South East Coast Main Line Hertford North Stevenage Peterborough Midland Main Line Luton Airport Parkway Luton Bedford West Coast Main Line Watford Junction London–Norwich Great Eastern Main Line Shenfield Chelmsford Witham Marks Tey Colchester Manningtree Ipswich Norwich Secondary Hertford Loop Line Lea Valley Lines London, Tilbury and Southend Line Thameslink Watford DC Line West Anglia Main Line Cambridge Others Abbey Line Birmingham to Peterborough Line Bittern Line Braintree Branch Line Breckland Line Crouch Valley Line East Suffolk Line Ely to Peterborough Line Felixstowe Branch Line Fen Line Gainsborough Line Hertford East Branch Line Hitchin–Cambridge Line Ipswich to Ely Line Marston Vale Line Mayflower Line Peterborough to Lincoln Line Shenfield to Southend Line Sunshine Coast Line Wherry Lines Heritage Colne Valley Railway Epping Ongar Railway Lincolnshire Wolds Railway Mid-Norfolk Railway North Norfolk Railway Mangapps Farm Railway Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Railway lines in the East Midlands Primary Chiltern Main Line Cross Country Route East Coast Main Line Midland Main Line West Coast Main Line Local Birmingham to Peterborough Line Buxton Line Crewe-Derby Line Derwent Valley Line Doncaster to Lincoln Line Glossop Line Ivanhoe Line Northampton Loop Line Nottingham-Grantham Line Nottingham-Lincoln Line Oakham to Kettering Line Poacher Line Robin Hood Line Sheffield to Lincoln Line South Humberside Main Line Freight only Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line Shirebrook to High Marnham Heritage Battlefield Line Chasewater Railway Churnet Valley Railway Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Foxfield Railway Great Central Railway (Leicester) Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Lincolnshire Wolds Railway Midland Railway - Butterley Nene Valley Railway Northampton & Lamport Railway Peak Rail Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway Rutland Railway (Cottesmore) Railway lines in London Main Lines Primary High Speed 1 East Coast Main Line Great Eastern Main Line Great Western Main Line Midland Main Line West Coast Main Line Secondary Chatham Main Line Chiltern Main Line Crossrail (under construction) South Eastern Main Line South Western Main Line West Anglia Main Line Thameslink London, Tilbury and Southend Line Branch Regional Aylesbury Line Bexleyheath Line Caterham Line Dartford Loop Line Epsom Downs Branch Hampton Court Branch Line Hertford Loop Line Lea Valley Lines North Kent Line Oxted Line Shepperton Branch Line Sutton and Mole Valley Lines Tattenham Corner Line Watford DC Line Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Line Intra-London Acton–Northolt Line Bromley North Line Catford Loop Line Chessington Branch Line Chingford Branch Line Crystal Palace Line Dudding Hill Line East London Line Gospel Oak to Barking Line Greenford Branch Line Greenwich Line Hayes Line Hounslow Loop Line Kingston Loop Line North London Line Northern City Line Nunhead to Lewisham Link Romford to Upminster Line South London Line West London Line Disused Addiscombe Line City Widened Lines Croxley Green Line Crystal Palace High Level Branch Line Greenwich Park Branch Line North London Line (City Branch) Palace Gates Line Staines & West Drayton Line Uxbridge (Vine Street) Branch Line Watford to Rickmansworth Line West Croydon to Wimbledon Line Woodside & Sanderstead Line London Transport portal Railway lines in the North East Primary to London East Coast Main Line Others Durham Coast Line Esk Valley Line Tyne Valley Line Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Line Tees Valley Line Heritage Aln Valley Railway Bowes Railway Derwent Valley Light Railway North Tyneside Steam Railway North Yorkshire Moors Railway Tanfield Railway Weardale Railway Wensleydale Railway Railway lines in the North West Primary to London West Coast Main Line Other Inter-regional Buxton line Calder Valley line Chester–Manchester line Crewe–Derby line Glossop line Hope Valley line Huddersfield line Leeds–Morecambe line Mid-Cheshire line Morecambe branch line Ribble Valley line Stafford–Manchester line Tyne Valley line Intra-regional Blackpool branch lines Borderlands Line Crewe–Manchester line Cumbrian Coast line East Lancashire line Ellesmere Port–Warrington line Furness line Kirkby branch line Liverpool–Manchester lines Liverpool–Wigan line Manchester–Preston line Manchester–Southport line Northern Line (Merseyrail) Ormskirk branch line Settle–Carlisle line Stockport–Stalybridge line Styal line Windermere branch line Wirral line Heritage East Lancashire Railway Eden Valley Railway Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Ribble Steam Railway Railway lines in the South East Primary International High Speed 1 (Ashford • Ebbsfleet) National Great Western Main Line (Slough • Maidenhead • Reading • Didcot Parkway) West Coast Main Line (Watford Junction • Milton Keynes Central) Secondary Berks/Bucks/Oxon to London Aylesbury Line Chiltern Main Line Waterloo to Reading Line (and in Surrey) Windsor & Eton Riverside Line (and in Surrey) Crossrail (under construction) (and past London to Essex) Kent to London Bexleyheath Line Chatham Main Line Dartford Loop Line Kent Coast Line Maidstone Line Medway Valley Line North Kent Line Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) Line Sheerness Line South Eastern Main Line Tonbridge Line (and in Surrey) Surrey/Sussex/Hants to London Ascot to Guildford Line Alton Line Arun Valley Line Brighton Main Line Caterham Line Fareham Line Hampton Court Branch Line Hastings Line (and in Kent) Chertsey Branch Line Epsom Downs Branch New Guildford Line Oxted Line (and in Kent) Portsmouth Direct Line Shepperton Branch Line South Western Main Line Sutton and Mole Valley Lines Tattenham Corner Line Thameslink (and past London to Beds/Herts) West of England Main Line Others Cherwell Valley Line Cotswold Line Eastleigh to Romsey Line East Coastway Line (inc Marshlink Line) Henley Branch Line Island Line Lymington Branch Line Marlow Branch Line Marston Vale Line North Downs Line Oxford to Bicester Line Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line Reading to Taunton Line West Coastway Line Wessex Main Line Slough to Windsor & Eton Line Reading to Basingstoke Line Seaford Branch Line Heritage Bluebell Railway Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Cholsey & Wallingford Railway East Kent Railway Isle of Wight Steam Railway Kent and East Sussex Railway Lavender Line Spa Valley Railway Watercress Line Non-passenger/ Defunct Hundred of Hoo Railway Oxfordshire Ironstone Railway Railway lines in the South West Primary Cross Country Route Exeter Bristol Cheltenham Great Western Main Line Exeter Bristol Keynsham Bath Spa Chippenham Swindon (fast services calling points only) Secondary To London South Western Main Line (from Weymouth) Reading to Taunton Line (from Taunton) West of England Main Line (from Exeter) Others Atlantic Coast Line Avocet Line Bristol to Taunton Line Cornish Main Line Cotswold Line Gloucester to Newport Line Golden Valley Line Heart of Wessex Line Henbury Loop Looe Valley Line Lostwithiel to Fowey Maritime Line Portishead Branch Riviera Line Severn Beach Line St Ives Bay Line Tamar Valley Line Tarka Line Wessex Main Line Heritage Avon Valley Railway Bristol Harbour Railway Bodmin and Wenford Railway East Somerset Railway Dartmoor Railway Dartmouth Steam Railway Dean Forest Railway Helston Railway Plym Valley Railway South Devon Railway Swanage Railway Swindon & Cricklade Railway West Somerset Railway Railway lines in the West Midlands Main lines West Coast Main Line Cross Country Route Chiltern Main Line Inter-regional Birmingham to Peterborough Line Crewe to Derby Line Cotswold Line Shrewsbury to Chester Line Stafford to Manchester Line Welsh Marches Line Local Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove Line Birmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster Line Chase Line Coventry to Leamington Line Coventry to Nuneaton Line Cross-City Line Leamington to Stratford Line North Warwickshire Line Northampton Loop Line Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford Line Stone to Colwich Line Stourbridge Town Branch Line Trent Valley Line Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line Freight only Camp Hill Line South Staffordshire Line Sutton Park Line Walsall to Wolverhampton Line Heritage Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Severn Valley Railway Telford Steam Railway Railway lines in Yorkshire and the Humber Primary To London East Coast Main Line Midland Main Line To Exeter Cross Country Route Others Inter-regional Hallam Line Hope Valley Line Leeds to Morecambe Line Doncaster to Lincoln Line Sheffield to Lincoln Line Settle–Carlisle Line Intra-regional Airedale Line Askern Branch Line Barton Line Calder Valley Line Dearne Valley Line Esk Valley Line Harrogate Line Huddersfield Line Leeds-Bradford Lines Leeds-Northallerton Railway Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Line Penistone Line Pontefract Line Selby Diversion Selby Line South Humberside Main Line Swinton to Doncaster Wakefield Line Wharfedale Line Hull to Scarborough York to Scarborough Defunct Barnsley-Doncaster Brockholes-Holmfirth Dearne Valley Railway Gilling and Pickering Harrogate-Church Fenton Hull-Barnsley (Cudworth) Hull and Holderness Hull and Hornsea Knaresborough-York Leeds-Harrogate Malton-Driffield Market Weighton-Driffield Middlesbrough-Guisborough Middlesbrough-Guisborough-Normanby Huddersfield-Bradford Lockwood-Meltham Nunthorpe–Battersby Otley-Ilkley Pilmoor-Knaresborough Queensbury lines Rosedale Railway Scarborough-Whitby Seamer-Pickering Selby-Driffield Selby-Goole Shipley Windhill Line Sowerby Bridge-Rishworth Skipton-Grassington Skipton-Ilkley Thirsk and Malton Line Wetherby-Cross Gates(Leeds) Whiby-Loftus Woodhead Line York-Market Weighton-Beverley York-York (Foss Island) Heritage Derwent Valley Light Railway Elsecar Heritage Railway Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Middleton Railway North Bay Railway North Yorkshire Moors Railway Wensleydale Railway Light Railways Nidd Valley Light Railway North Holderness Light Railway Sand Hutton Light Railway