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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. 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. There is a further concentration of routes around Birmingham in the West Midlands and in the urbanised part of northern England that stretches from Liverpool in the west, via Greater Manchester to Leeds in the east.

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

England

London

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

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 —
London Overground 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

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 —
East West Rail Oxford to Bletchley 2024 South East England Not initially
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

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

Name Route, or previous name Opened Regions Electrified
Atlantic Coast Line Par to Newquay 1874 South West —
Avocet Line Exeter to Exmouth 1862 South West —
Bristol–Exeter line 1841–1842 South West —
Cornish Main Line Plymouth to Penzance 1867 South West —
Cotswold Line Oxford to Hereford 1851–1860 South East, South West, West Midlands —
Dartmoor line Exeter to Okehampton 1851–1871 South West —
Exeter–Plymouth line 1846–1849 South West —
Gloucester–Newport line 1850 South West —
Golden Valley line Swindon to Cheltenham Spa 1845 South West —
Heart of Wessex Line Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth 1857 South West —
Looe Valley Line Liskeard to Looe 1860–1901 South West —
Maritime Line Truro to Falmouth Docks 1863 South West —
Reading–Taunton line 1847–1906 South East, South West OHLE, 25 kV 50 Hz AC (partial)
Riviera Line Exeter St Davids to Paignton 1846–1859 South West —
Severn Beach line Bristol to Severn Beach 1840–1900 South West —
South Wales Main Line Swindon to Swansea 1850–1903 South West, South Wales —
St Ives Bay Line St Erth to St Ives 1877 South West —
Tamar Valley Line Plymouth to Gunnislake 1890–1908 South West —
Tarka Line Exeter to Barnstaple 1851–1854 South West —
Wessex Main Line Bristol to Southampton 1847–1856 South East, South West —
West of England line SWML to Exeter 1854–1860 South East, South West —

Terminus

Name End and major calling points Countries and regions Category
Cross Country Route Bristol, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, York England: East Midlands, South West, Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands High Speed Main Line 125 mph
South Wales Main Line Bristol, Swansea via Cardiff England: South West; Wales: South Main Line (100 mph)

North West England

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

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

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

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.

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)
Northumberland Line Newcastle to Ashington 2024 North East —
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

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

Name Between Opening Regions Electrification
High Speed 2 London Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street c. 2033 South East England 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line
Portishead Railway Bristol Temple Meads to Portishead c. 2027 South West England None

Last updated 24 June 2025. All information and images sourced from the relevant Wikipedia article(s) unless stated otherwise. If any information is incorrect, please let us know by emailing us: [email protected]. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms apply.