This list is for railway lines across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which are now abandoned, closed, dismantled or disused. Within the United Kingdom, examples exist of opened railways which formerly constituted cross-country main trunk lines as well as many more which served more local, or exclusively industrial, needs.
Some of the included lines have re-opened, in part or in full, following a period of closure. Such reopenings have taken the form of independent preserved heritage railways, and of expansions to state-backed National Rail and local rapid transit/light rail networks. Many more of these lines have converted to cycleways, footpaths or highways.
| Name of line | Builder(s) | Route (from/to) | Closure date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsbury Railway | Abbotsbury to Upwey | 29 November 1952 | |||
| Alcester–Hatton branch line | Great Western Railway | Alcester to Hatton, via Great Alne | (to passengers) 1951 (to all traffic) | ||
| Aldeburgh branch line | Great Eastern Railway (LNER) | Saxmundham to Aldeburgh via Leiston and Thorpeness | Part of the branch still open (freight only) | ||
| Aldridge–Brownhills branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Aldridge to Chasewater, via Brownhills | (to passengers) 1962 (to all traffic) | Part of the Line, (north of Brownhills) now preserved as the Chasewater Railway. | |
| Allhallows-on-Sea to Stoke Junction | SR | Stoke Junction to Allhallows | Southern branch off the Hoo branch line (off the North Kent Line) (opened 14 May 1932) | ||
| Alnmouth–Alnwick branch line | York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway YN&BR<br>(LNER) | to | (to all traffic) | Most of the former branch now being restored from a resited Alnwick terminus, as the Aln Valley Railway. | |
| Ambergate–Pye Bridge line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Pye Bridge to Ambergate, (via Butterley) | A 3 Mile section of the line, now preserved forming the Midland Railway – Butterley. | ||
| Amesbury and Military Camp Light Railway | LSWR | Grately to Bulford Camp | 1963 | ||
| Ardsley to Laisterdyke line | Great Northern Railway (LNER) | Laisterdyke to Ardsley, via Dudley Hill and Morley | (to passengers) 13 March 1968 (to freight) 1981 (to all traffic) | Opened by the Leeds, Bradford & Halifax Joint Rly before taken over by the GNR in 1865 | |
| Ashbourne line | London & North Western Railway (LMS) | Uttoxeter and Ashbourne to Buxton line | 30 October 1954 (to regular passenger traffic) October 1967 (to freight traffic). | Most of the line now survives as a walk/cycle path called the Tissington Trail | |
| Ashover Light Railway | Clay Cross Company | Clay Cross to Ashover | 14 September 1936 (to passengers)31 March 1950 (to all traffic) | ||
| Axholme Joint Railway | Goole to Haxey | 15 July 1933 (to passengers)5 April 1965 (to all traffic) | |||
| Axminster-Lyme Regis branch line | London and South Western Railway (Southern Railway) | Axminster to Lyme Regis via Combpyne | (to all traffic) | ||
| Bacup branch line | Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (LMS) | Stubbins Junction to Bacup, via Rawtenstall, Clough Fold and Stacksteads | (to regular traffic) 1972 (to all traffic) | Part of the former branch (through Stubbins Junction to Rawtenstall, via Irwell Vale), now preserved as part of the East Lancashire Railway. | |
| Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway | Great Western Railway | Cheltenham to Banbury | |||
| Banbury to Verney Junction branch line | Buckinghamshire Railway (GWR) | Banbury to Verney Junction (Where it joined the Varsity Line) | Freight services lasted until June 1966 | ||
| Bank Top Colliery Line | North Staffordshire Railway (LMS) | Blythe Bridge to Bank Top | Portion of the Line, now preserved as the Foxfield Railway. Mostly a Colliery Line, throughout its heyday. | ||
| Barnard Castle to Middleton-in-Teesdale branch line | Tees Valley Railway (LNER) | to | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | ||
| Barnsley Coal Railway | Stairfoot Junction to Nostell | 1930 (to passengers)1961 (to all traffic) | |||
| Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway | London and South Western Railway (SR) | Basingstoke to Alton | (to passengers) 19?? (to freight) | ||
| Batley-Beeston Line | Great Northern Railway (LNER) | Beeston Junction to Batley, via Tingley and Woodkirk | (to passengers) 1964 (to all traffic) | Some parts of the Line still exist... Tingley Viaduct (still stands), as do both Tingley and Woodkirk train station sites (both of whom long overgrown), and Soothill Tunnel. Tingley railway station, was also A Junction station on both the Loop Line, and the Ardsley to Laisterdyke line. | |
| Bawtry to Haxey railway line | GNR | Bawtry to Haxey | 1 April 1965 | ||
| Bedford–Hitchin line | Midland Railway | Bedford to Hitchin | 30 Dec 1961 (to passengers)1964 (to freight) | ||
| Bedford–Northampton line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Bedford to Northampton | (to passengers) 1981 (to all traffic) | ||
| Benwick Goods Railway | Great Eastern Railway (LNER) | (to all traffic) | |||
| Bexhill West branch line | SER | Crowhurst to Bexhill West | 15 June 1964 | ||
| Billingham-on-Tees to Port Clarence branch line | Clarence Railway/ NER (LNER) | to /Seal Sands Power Station, via and | (to passengers, east of Haverton Hill) (to regular passengers, west of Haverton Hill) (to all passengers) (to goods) | The line remains open to freight traffic from the chemical and biochemical processing plant cluster around Haverton Hill and Seal Sands | |
| Birkenhead Dock Branch | LMS | Rock Ferry to Bidston Dock, via Mollington Street and Canning Street | 16 February 1985 (to passenger traffic) 1987 (to regular goods) 2008 (to all traffic) | Entire branch line still extant, but disused | |
| Birkenhead Railway | Hooton to West Kirkby | 17 September 1956 (to passengers)May 1962 (to all traffic) | |||
| Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level Line | GWR | Birmingham to Wolverhampton | 1972 (to passengers)August 1992 (to all traffic) | Part reopened as part of the Jewellery Line. Part reopened as part of the West Midlands Metro | |
| Bishops Castle Railway | Craven Arms to Bishops Castle | 1935 | |||
| Bishop's Stortford–Braintree branch line | Bishop's Stortford to Braintree | 3 March 1952 (to passengers)17 February 1972 (to all traffic) | |||
| Blenheim and Woodstock branch line | Private (absorbed by GWR) | Kidlington to Woodstock | March 1954 | ||
| Blyth and Tyne Railway | B&TR/NER (LNER) | A former network of primarily colliery lines in south east Northumberland and North Tyneside | (to passengers, north of and Monkseaton) 1971-1983 (in stages, to all traffic on North Tyneside Loop) | Some of the former B&TR constituted part of the North Tyneside Loop which was officially incorporated into the Tyne and Wear Metro on . Much of the northern section of the network remains open for freight traffic serving the Port of Blyth and Lynemouth Power Station; as of July 2020, there is an active project seeking to reintroduce a to passenger service using much of this surviving freight network. A section of B&TR's original main line was reopened during the 1970s as a test track for the Tyne and Wear Metro rolling stock and is now largely preserved (between Percy Main and) as the North Tyneside Steam Railway. | |
| Bolton and Leigh Railway | Kenyon Junction to Bolton | 29 March 1954 (to passengers)1969 (to all traffic) | |||
| Bordon Light Railway | Bentley to Bordon | 16 September 1957 (to passengers)4 April 1966 (to all traffic) | |||
| Brampton Railway | 28 March 1953 (to all traffic) | ||||
| Brentford branch line | Great Western Railway | Southall to Brentford Dock | (to passengers) December 1970 (to regular freight) | Part of the Line still extant | |
| Brightlingsea branch line | Tendring Hundred Railway | Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea | |||
| Brill Tramway | Brill to Quainton Road | 30 November 1935 | |||
| Bristol and North Somerset Railway | Great Western Railway | Frome to Bristol | -9 (to passengers) 1963 (to all traffic) | ||
| Bristol and South Wales Union Railway | Bristol to Portskewett | 23 November 1964 | |||
| Bristol Port Railway and Pier | Hotwells to Avonmouth | 1922 (Hotwells branch) | Portions of the line remain in use as part of the Severn Beach line | ||
| Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway | GWR/ LSWR (Southern Railway) | Bodmin Road to Wadebridge (via Bodmin General, Boscarne Junction and Grogley) | (to passengers) 197? (to freight) 1983 (to all traffic) | 6-mile stretch of the line now preserved, as the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. | |
| Botley to Bishops Waltham branch line | LSWR | Botley to Bishops Waltham | |||
| Bourn and Essendine Railway | GNR | Bourne to Essendine | 18 June 1951 | ||
| Bourne and Sleaford Railway | GNR | Bourne to Sleaford | 22 September 1930 (to passengers)2 April 1965 (all traffic) | ||
| Bridport Railway | GWR | Maiden Newton to Bridport | 22 September 1930 (to passengers)1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Buckinghamshire Junction Railway | 8 Nov 1965 | ||||
| South Eastern Railway (SR) | Rochester Bridge Junction to Chatham Central | SER branch from North Kent Line to rival LCDR's Chatham Main Line – closed with advent of SECR circa 1890s | |||
| Bumble Hole line | GWR | Old Hill to Blowers Green | 1964 (to passengers)January 1968 (to all traffic) | ||
| Buntingford branch line | GER | St Margarets to Buntingford | 14 November 1964 (to passengers)17 September 1965 (to goods) | ||
| Cambridge and St Ives branch line | Cambridge to St Ives | 5 October 1970 (to passengers)May 1992 (to all traffic) | Forms part of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway | ||
| Cambridge to Mildenhall line | GER | Cambridge to Mildenhall | |||
| Camerton branch line | Great Western Railway | Limpley Stoke to Hallatrow | (to passengers) 15 February 1951 (to all traffic) | ||
| Canterbury and Whitstable Railway (SR) | Whitstable Harbour to Canterbury North Lane | -1953 | known as the "Crab and Winkle Line" – 1830–1952 | ||
| Cargo Fleet to Eston branch line | Cleveland Railway/ NER (LNER) | to | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | The line followed the northern section of the earlier Cleveland Railway mineral line which had originally continued south to Guisborough and via a number of inclines but this section was dismantled in 1873. The line paralleled an earlier branch which ran to the east of the settlement of Eston (known as the Eston Mines branch) and which carried an intermittent passenger service during the 19th Century. | |
| Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway | Carlisle to Silloth | 1932 (to passengers)1964 (to all traffic) | |||
| Castleford–Garforth line | NER | Castleford to Garforth | January 1951 (to passengers)6 June 1998 (to all traffic) | ||
| Castle Donington Line | Midland Railway | 21 September 1930 (to passengers) | Regular passenger service withdrawn and stations closed in 1930. Line remains open to freight and is occasionally used for diverted passenger services | ||
| Castle Eden Railway | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | to, via | (to passengers) (to goods) 1968 (to all traffic) | Stopping passenger services only ever ran over the line north of Junction, south of which they used the Stillington line to reach Stockton. The southern section of the line was electrified as part of the NER's 1914 to Newport electrification project but was subsequently de-electrified by the LNER in 1935. Most of the route reused as the Castle Eden Walkway. | |
| Cawood, Wistow and Selby Light Railway | Cawood to Selby | 1 January 1930 (to passengers)23 May 1960 (to all traffic) | |||
| Castleton to Bolton Line | Lancashire & Yorkshire Rly | Bolton to Castleton, via Darcy lever, Bradley Fold and Broadfield | (to all traffic) | Four mile stretch of track (between Bury and Heywood) now preserved as part of the East Lancashire Railway. | |
| Maryport and Carlisle Railway (Bolton/Mealsgate Loop) | LMS | Maryport to Carlisle, via Baggrow and High Blaithwaite | (to passengers) 1952 (to all traffic) | ||
| Chard branch line | Bristol & Exeter Rly/LSWR (Joint) | Chard Junction to Taunton, via Donyatt, Hatch and Thornfalcon | (to passengers) 6 July 1964 (to goods) 3 October 1966 (to all traffic) | ||
| Charnwood Forest Railway | Coalville to Loughborough | 13 April 1931 (to passengers)12 December 1963 (to all traffic) | |||
| Cheadle branch line | Cresswell to Cheadle | 17 June 1963 (to passengers)1989 (to all traffic) | |||
| Cheddar Valley line | Great Western Rly | Witham Friary to Yatton, via Cranmore, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Lodge Hill and Congresbury | (to passengers) 1971 (to goods) 1985 (to all traffic) | A 2-mile stretch of the line now preserved, as the East Somerset Railway. | |
| Chester and Birkenhead Railway | C&BR/ Birkenhead Railway (London & North Western Railway and Great Western Railway Joint Line) (LMS/GWR) | to /Monks Ferry/Woodside, via,,,,,, and | 5 November 1967 (to all traffic, north of Rock Ferry) | Originally terminated at Birkenhead Grange Lane in 1840–1844, before being diverted to new termini at Monks Ferry (until 1878) and Woodside (until 1967). Constituted the most northerly section of the GWR to Birkenhead (for Liverpool) main line. Line remains open south of Rock Ferry as part of the Chester branch of Merseyrail's Wirral line. | |
| Chester and Connah's Quay Railway | Chester to Shotton | 1968 (to passengers)1992 (to all traffic) | |||
| Chester Northgate to Hawarden Bridge line | MSLR (LNER) | to via and | (to passengers) 199? (to all traffic) | The line was closed to all traffic during 20 April 1984 to 31 August 1986 but reopened again for goods until the early 1990s. | |
| Chevington to Amble branch line | YN&BR (LNER) | to | (to passengers) (to goods) (to all traffic) | Though the branch opened for mineral traffic to Warkworth Harbour (Amble) in 1849, passenger services were not introduced until 1879. | |
| Chippenham and Calne line | Great Western Railway | Chippenham to Calne | |||
| Churnet Valley line | North Staffordshire Railway (LMS) | North Rode (via Leek, Cheddleton and Oakamoor) to Uttoxeter | (to passengers) 3 July 1970 (to freight traffic) 1988 (to all traffic) | Part of the line (based at Rudyard) re-laid to Gauge, forming the Leek and Rudyard Railway. Also, the line between Leekbrook Junction and Oakamoor Sand Sidings now preserved, as the Churnet Valley Railway. | |
| Clayton West branch line | L&YR (LMS) | Shepley Junction to Clayton West (via Skelmanthorpe) | (to all traffic) | A Stretch of the branch, re-laid to 15-inch Gauge as the Kirklees Light Railway. | |
| Cleator and Workington Junction Railway | London and North Western Railway (LMS) | Workington to Cleator Moor | 196? (to passengers) 1992 (to all traffic) | ||
| Clevedon branch line | Bristol and Exeter Railway | Yatton to Clevedon | 3 October 1966 | ||
| Clowne Branch | MR | Creswell to Staveley | 5 July 1954 (to passengers)20 July 2013 (to all traffic) | ||
| Coalport branch line | LNWR | Hadley to Coalport | 1952 (to passengers)6 July 1964 (to all traffic) | ||
| Cockermouth and Workington Railway | LNWR (LMS) | Workington to Cockermouth | 196? | ||
| Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway | LNWR (LMS) | Penrith to Cockermouth (via Blencow, Troutbeck, Keswick and Bassenthwaite) | Most of the line, still remains, but now survives as a path | ||
| Coley branch line | Great Western Railway (GWR) | Southcote Junction to Reading Central goods depot | Used in part as a walking route, and in part by the A33 road | ||
| Colne Valley and Halstead Railway | CV&HR | Chappel & Wakes Colne to Haverhill | (to passengers) April 1965 (to all traffic) | Opened in stages from 1860 to 1863. In 1865, the GER opened a spur to Haverhill North and the LNER closed Haverhill South to passengers in 1924. Part of the route, now survives as the preserved Colne Valley Railway and the East Anglian Railway Museum is located at Chappel and Wakes Colne Station. | |
| Coniston Railway | Foxfield to Coniston | 6 October 1958 (to passengers)30 April 1962 (to all traffic) | |||
| Cornhill Branch | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | to | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | Passenger services were temporarily restored during World War II to serve RAF Milfield. Destruction of a bridge during a storm in August 1948 closed the to section before the remainder of the line, splitting it in two. The remaining Alnwick to Ilderton and Coldstream to Wooler sections closed on and, respectively. | |
| Corringham Light Railway | Kynoch | Thames Haven to Corringham via Kynochtown (now Coryton) | Built under the 1896 Light Railways Act to link Kynoch's explosives factory to the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway at Thames Haven and to Corringham. Corringham section closed 1952, remainder in upgraded form serves Coryton Refinery. (1900/1-1952). | ||
| Cranleigh line | Horsham & Guildford Direct Railway | Horsham to Guildford via Cranleigh | |||
| Cranwell branch | GNR | Sleaford to Cranwell | November 1926 (to passengers)August 1956 (to all traffic) | ||
| Cromford and High Peak Railway | |||||
| Cross Gates–Wetherby line | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | Cross Gates to Wetherby via Scholes, Thorner, Bardsey and Collingham Bridge | -65 | ||
| Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway | London, Chatham, and Dover Railway (LCDR) | Nunhead to Crystal Palace | 20 September 1954 | ||
| Cuckoo Line | LB&SCR | Polegate to Tunbridge Wells via Eridge | 1965 | ||
| Culm Valley Light Railway | GWR | Tiverton Junction to Hemyock | 1963 | ||
| Darlington and Barnard Castle Railway | Darlington and Barnard Castle Railway (LNER) | to | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | ||
| Dauntsey–Malmesbury branch line | Great Western Railway | Dauntsey to Malmesbury | |||
| Dearne Valley Railway | Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway | Brierley to Doncaster | 10 September 1951 | ||
| Deerness Valley branch line | North Eastern Rly | to Crook, via and Waterhouses | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | Though line opened to serve collieries in 1858, a passenger services was not introduced until 1877 and only ever operated east of Waterhouses. | |
| Delph Donkey | LNWR | Delph to Oldham | April 1955 (to passengers)November 1963 (to all traffic) | ||
| Derbyshire and Staffordshire extension | Great Northern Railway | 1964 (to passengers)1968 (to freight) | |||
| Derwent Branch | Maryport and Carlisle Railway | Bullgill to Brigham | 29 April 1935 | ||
| Derwent Valley Railway | North Eastern Rly | to, via ,,, and | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | ||
| Derwent Valley Light Railway | North Eastern Railway | York to Selby, via Layerthorpe, Dunnington and Wheldrake | (to all traffic) | A short section of the line at the Yorkshire Museum of Farming is now preserved as a heritage railway (of the same name). | |
| Devizes branch line | Great Western Railway | Patney & Chirton to Holt Junction, via Devizes and Bromham | (to all traffic) | ||
| Devon and Cornwall Railway | LSWR | Exeter to Plymouth | Opened in 1862. Closed between Meldon Junction and Bere Alston. Remainder of line still in use, mostly as a freight line.[1] Part of the Line (between Okehampton and Yeoford) now preserved as the Dartmoor Railway. | ||
| Devon and Somerset Railway | GWR | Taunton to Barnstaple, via Dulverton, South Molton and Swimbridge | |||
| Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway | DN&SR | Didcot to Shawford Junction | |||
| Doe Lea branch line | Midland Railway | 1930 | |||
| Dover Marine or Dover Western Docks | For boat trains from Chatham Main Line / SER Main Line | ||||
| Downham and Stoke Ferry Railway | GER | Downham to Stoke Ferry | 22 September 1930 (to passengers)1982 (to all traffic) | ||
| Driffield to Malton line | North Eastern Railway | Malton to Driffield, via Wharram, Burdale and Wetwang | (to all traffic) | Part of the line is being rebuilt as the heritage Yorkshire Wolds Railway. | |
| Duffield–Wirksworth branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Duffield to Wirksworth (via Hazelwood, Shottle and Iridgehay) | (to passengers) 196? (to goods) 1989 (to all traffic) | Entire branch line now preserved as the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. | |
| Dungeness branch line | South Eastern Railway | Appledore Junction to Dungeness, via, Lydd Town | (to passengers) | Part of the line still open to serve Dungeness Power Station | |
| Dunstable Branch Lines | London and North Western Railway (LNWR)/Hertford, Luton and Dunstable Railway | Leighton Buzzard to Welwyn via Dunstable | 26 April 1965 (to passengers)1990 (to goods) | Track between Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable removed shortly after passenger services withdrawn.Line between Dunstable and the Midland Main Line (at Luton) remained open until 1990.Luton to Dunstable Busway uses the old trackbed. | |
| Durham to Bishop Auckland Line | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | to, via and | (to passengers) (to goods) 1968 (to all traffic) | ||
| Durham to Sunderland line | Durham and Sunderland Railway/ NER (LNER) | / to, via,, and | (to passengers, west of Pittington) (to passengers, east of Pittington) (to all traffic, west of Pittington) (to all traffic, west of Hetton) (to all traffic, west of Murton) 1991 (to all traffic, east of Murton) | The line originally terminated outside of the City of Durham at Shincliffe Town station but the section between there and closed on when the route into Durham Elvet opened. Partially converted to footpath (part of the Hart to Haswell Walkway, east of Murton). | |
| Dursley branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Coaley Junction to Dursley | (to passengers) 1968 (to freight) 1970 (to all traffic) | ||
| Easingwold Railway | Alne to Easingwold | 29 November 1948 (to passengers)30 December 1957 (to all traffic) | |||
| East and West Yorkshire Union Railway | Stourton to Lofthouse | 1 October 1904 (to passengers)3 October 1966 (to all traffic) | |||
| East Kent Light Rlys | A series of lines built under the 1896 Light Railways Act from 1911 to 1917 around the East Kent Coalfield. Closed with decline of coalfield. Part of the line, between (Shepherdswell and Eythorne) now preserved as the East Kent Railway. | ||||
| East Lincolnshire line | Great Northern Railway (LNER) | Boston to Grimsby, (via Firsby, Louth and Ludborough) | (to passengers) 1980 (to all traffic) | A Section of the Line, now preserved forming the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway. Whilst other part of the line from Boston to Skegness remains open (as part of the national network). | |
| Eden Valley line | Stockton and Darlington Railway (LNER) | Penrith to Kirkby Stephen (via Temple Sowerby and Warcop) | /63 | Part of the line, now survives (between Appleby East and Warcop) as the preserved Eden Valley Railway. | |
| Elham Valley line | SER | Canterbury West to Folkestone West, via Bishopsbourne and Elham | Opened in 1890 by SER, lasted until 1947. Branch Line ran for 16 miles | ||
| Elsenham & Thaxted Light Railway | Elsenham & Thaxted Light Railway | Elsenham to Thaxted | (to passengers) 1 June 1953 (to all traffic) | Last rail line built in Essex (1913), until the construction of Stansted Airport railway station (1991) | |
| Ely and St Ives Railway | GER | Ely to St Ives | 2 February 1931 (to passengers)5 October 1964 (to all traffic) | ||
| Eryholme–Richmond branch line | Y&NR | Eryholme to Richmond | Opened in 1846. Catterick sub-branch constructed during WWI | ||
| Exe Valley Line | GWR | Dulverton to Exeter St David's, via Tiverton and Cadeleigh | |||
| Eye Branch | Mellis to Eye | 2 February 1931 (to passengers)13 July 1964 (to all traffic) | |||
| Fairford branch line | Oxford, Witney and Fairford Railway (GWR) | Yarnton to Fairford, via Witney | (to passengers) 2 November 1970 (to all traffic) | ||
| Fairlop Loop | Great Eastern Railway | Woodford to Ilford | Woodford to Newbury Park was transferred to London Underground Central line in 1947–8, but Ilford and Seven Kings to Newbury Park connections removed by 1956. Freight trains on remaining section operated by BR until 1965 | ||
| Fallowfield Loop | Great Central Rly (LNER) | Manchester Central to Fairfield, via Fallowfield | -8 (to all traffic) | ||
| Fareham–Gosport Line | LSWR | Fareham to Gosport | 6 June 1953 (to passengers)6 January 1969 (to all traffic) | ||
| Fawley branch line | Southern Railway | Totton to Fawley, via Hythe | (to passengers) 1 September 2016 (to all traffic) | Part of the line, still extant as far as Marchwood Goods traffic continued onto Fawley Refinery until 2016. | |
| Ferryhill to Bishop Auckland line | Clarence Railway/ NER (LNER) | to, via and | (to passengers, west of Spennymoor) (to passengers, east of Spennymoor) (to all traffic, west of Spennymoor) (to all traffic, east of Spennymoor) | As originally built, this line continued west from Byers Green towards Billy Row via the West Durham Railway and intermittent passenger services operated over the line to during the mid 19th Century. A more permanent passenger service was later introduced when the NER diverted the line's western terminus to Bishop Auckland in 1885. | |
| Filey (Butlins Triangle) branch line | London & North Eastern Railway | Hunmanby to Filey, via Filey Holiday Camp | former station site, still standing/clearly visible, though disused and overgrown | ||
| Fleetwood branch line | Preston and Wyre Joint Railway | to, via and | (to passengers) 1999 (to all traffic) | Most of the branch line, still remains in place (with the track also intact), but currently disused, The line is currently being restored as a Heritage Railway. | |
| Folkestone Harbour branch line | South Eastern Railway (England) | to | (to regular services) 2009 (to Venice Simplon Orient Express service) 2014 (line fully closed) | Railway up to Harbour viaduct intact, however is very overgrown. Viaduct to Harbour station railway track was removed in 2016 and is now restored as a public exhibit. | |
| Forest of Dean Railway | Newnham to Whimsey and Drybridge | 3 November 1958 (to passengers)3 August 1967 (to all traffic) | |||
| Foss Islands branch line | York to Foss Islands | 8 July 1988 (to passengers)1989 (to all traffic) | Connected to the Derwent Valley Light Railway at York (Layerthorpe) railway station | ||
| Framlingham branch | Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) | Wickham Market to Framlingham | 1 November 1952 (to passengers)19 April 1965 (to freight) | ||
| Fullerton to Hurstbourne Line | LSWR | Fullerton Junction to Hurstbourne | 6 July 1931 (to passengers)28 May 1956 (to all traffic) | ||
| Garstang and Knot-End Railway | GKER | Garstang to | Opened 1870 to, completed by Knott End Railway in 1908 | ||
| Gilling and Pickering line | NER | Gilling to Pickering | 2 February 1953 (to passengers)1964 (to all traffic) | ||
| Glasson Dock branch line | LNWR | to Glasson Dock | Opened 1883 | ||
| Glazebrook East Junction–Skelton Junction line | Cheshire Lines Committee | Glazebrook to Skelton Junction | 1964 (to passengers)1983 (to freight) | ||
| Gloucester loop line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Barnt Green to Ashchurch, via Alcester and Evesham | –5 (to all traffic) | Part of the line, still extant as far as Redditch. | |
| Gobowen to Welshpool line | Cambrian Railway (GWR) | Gobowen to Welshpool (via Oswestry, Llynclys, Pant, Llanymynech and Pool Quay) | (to passengers) Closed in 1971 (to freight) Closed in 1988 (to all traffic) | Now being restored as a heritage railway (based at both Oswestry and Llynclys). | |
| Golden Valley Railway | Pontrilas to Hay-on-Wye | 15 December 1941 (to passengers)3 June 1957 (to all traffic) | |||
| Grantham and Lincoln line | Great Northern Railway | Grantham to Lincoln via Honington | 1965 | ||
| Grassington branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Skipton to Grassington, via Rylstone and Swinden | (to passengers) 11 August 1969 (to freight) | Still extant, as far as Swinden (freight only) | |
| Gravesend West Line | LCDR | Longfield Halt to Gravesend West | Opened in 1886. Passenger traffic ceased in 1953. | ||
| Great Central and Midland Joint Railway | GCRMR | ||||
| Great Central Main Line | Great Central Railway (LNER) | London (Marylebone) to Sheffield (Victoria) | –69 (in stages) | Parts of the GCR still open between London Marylebone to Verney Junction north of Aylesbury. Two stretches of the former Great Central Main Line now preserved as the Nottingham Heritage Railway (between Ruddington and Loughborough High Level), and as the Great Central Railway (between Loughborough Central and Leicester North). | |
| Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway | Great Northern Rly/ Great Eastern Rly (Jointly) | Drax to Huntingdon, via Haxey Junction, Lincoln and March | |||
| Great Northern and London and North Western Joint Railway | Great Northern Railway/London and North Western Railway | Closed in stages by 1970 | |||
| Great Harwood Line | Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (LMS) | to Burnley via,,, and | 1993 (to all traffic) | Opened in two stages between 1875 and 1877. Known as the North Lancashire Loop Most of the line, now converted to a path | |
| Guisborough to Brotton line | Cleveland Railway/ NER (LNER) | to /, via | (to passengers) 1963 (to all traffic, west of Boosbeck) (to all traffic, east of Boosbeck) | The line followed the eastern section of the earlier Cleveland Railway mineral line which had originally continued north through Guisborough to Eston and Normanby via a number of inclines however this section was dismantled in 1873. Though it bypassed Guisborough station, special working practices were put in place that permitted trains to reverse onto the short branch into the station before continuing over the Middlesbrough to Guisborough line. | |
| Gwinear–Helston branch line | Great Western Railway | Gwinear Road to Helston | Section of the former Branch, now preserved as the Helston Railway. | ||
| Hadleigh Railway | Eastern Union Railway | Bentley to Hadleigh | 29 February 1932 (to passengers)19 April 1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Halesowen Railway | GWRMR | Longbridge to Old Hill | 1919 (to passengers)1964 (to all traffic) | ||
| Hall Farm Curve | Lea Valley lines connected to line with to line. | Potentially being reconstructed by 2019. | |||
| Haltwhistle–Alston branch line | Newcastle & Carlisle Railway (LNER) | to (via, and) | (to all traffic) | The gauge South Tynedale Railway has reopened 5mile of the original line between Alston and Slaggyford. | |
| Hamworthy Freight Branch | Southampton and Dorchester Railway | Hamworthy to Poole Docks | 1896 (to passengers) | ||
| Harrogate to Northallerton line | Leeds Northern Rly Co (NER) | Harrogate to Northallerton, via Ripon and Melmerby | –69 | Formed part of the Leeds-Northallerton Railway | |
| Mid-Suffolk Light Railway | Mid-Suffolk Light Railway (MSLR) | Haughley to Laxfield | Part of the former branch, now preserved as the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway. | ||
| Harborne branch line | LNWR | closed to passenger traffic in 1934 | The trackbed is now the Harborne nature walkway. Part of the line could be reopened. | ||
| Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead | (to regular traffic) 1979–82 (to all traffic) | Known as the Nickey Line, Most of the route, now converted to a Path | |
| Harrogate–Church Fenton line | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | Harrogate to Church Fenton via Wetherby and Tadcaster | –65 | ||
| Hartlepool–Ferryhill line | Hartlepool Dock and Railway Co./ Great North of England, Clarence and Hartlepool Junction Railway/ NER (LNER) | West Hartlepool/Hartlepool to, via,, and | (to passengers) 197? (to all traffic, east of Raisby Hill Quarry) 198? (to all traffic, west of Raisby Hill Quarry) | ||
| Hartlepool–Murton line | Hartlepool Dock and Railway Co./ Durham and Sunderland Railway/ NER (LNER) | West Hartlepool/Hartlepool to, via,,, and | (to passengers) 1966 (to goods) 198? (to all traffic, south of South Hetton Junction) 1991 (to all traffic, north of South Hetton Junction) | The section through Haswell and South Hetton was dismantled when stopping goods traffic was withdrawn in 1966. The remaining sections of the line were maintained to provide mainline connections for the National Coal Board's South Hetton Railway system. Most of the route converted to the Hart to Haswell Walkway | |
| Hatfield and St Albans Railway | Hatfield and St Albans Railway Company/Great Northern Railway (GNR) | Hatfield to St Albans Abbey | 28 September 1951 (to passengers)31 December 1968 (to freight) | ||
| Hawes branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Garsdale (Hawes Junction) to Hawes | (to passenger traffic) ?? April 1964 (to all traffic) | Hawes railway station, now forms part of the "Dales Countryside Museum" An ex-industrial RS&Hawthorne Steam locomotive and a rake of three ex-BR passenger coaches stand alongside the adjacent station platform on display. | |
| Hawkhurst branch line | SER | Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst | Opened in 1892 and ran for a distance of 11 miles. | ||
| Hayfield branch | Midland Railway (LMS) | Hayfield to New Mills | Trackbed of the Line, now forms the Sett Valley Trail. | ||
| Haywards Heath to Horsted Keynes branch line | London, Brighton & South Coast Railway | Horsted Keynes to Haywards Heath, via Ardingly and Copyhold Junction | Portion of the line, (between Horsted Keynes and Ardingly) now owned by the Bluebell Railway. Whilst the other half of the line, still open to locally serve the Aggregate Depot. | ||
| Headcorn to Robertsbridge line | Kent & East Sussex Railway Co/ South Eastern Railway (SR) | Robertsbridge to Headcorn, via Tenterden | (to passengers) 1961 (to freight) 1970–2 (to all traffic) | 1900 to 54/61 – Built under the 1896 Light Railways Act, with a large part of the whole line now closed, 10 mile stretch of track now preserved (between Tenterden and Junction Road) as the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Another section of the Line (based at Robertsbridge), is also preserved. | |
| Henbury Loop Line | Avonmouth to Filton | 1964 (to passengers) | Remains open for freight. Proposal to reopen for passengers | ||
| Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway | Great Western Railway | Gloucester to Hereford via Ross-on-Wye | 196? | ||
| Hertford and Welwyn Junction Railway | Great Northern Railway | Welwyn Garden City to Ware via Cole Green and Hertford Cowbridge | 18 June 1951 (Hertford Cowbridge closed in 1924) | ||
| Hexham–Allendale branch line | Hexham and Allendale Railway (LNER) | to | (to passengers) 20 November 1950 (to all traffic) | ||
| Hexham to Riccarton Junction line | Border Counties Railway NBR (LNER) | to, via, and | (to passengers) (to goods) (to all traffic) | The tracks were dismantled from all but the Reedsmouth to Bellingham section in 1959, which was accessed via the Wansbeck Railway from until 11 November 1963. A very short section of the line (including Saughtree station) now restored (but privately). | |
| Hincaster branch line | Furness Railway (LMS) | Arnside to Hincaster, via Sandside and Heversham | (to passengers) 1966 (to freight) 1972 (to all traffic) | ||
| Higham Ferrers branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Wellingborough to Higham Ferrers (via Rushden) | (to passengers) Closed in 1971 (to all traffic) | A section of the branch now preserved, as part of the Rushden Transport Museum. | |
| Highworth branch line | Great Western Railway | Swindon to Highworth | (to passengers) 1962 (to all traffic) | ||
| Holmfirth branch line | Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (LMS) | Brockholes to Holmfirth, via Thongsbridge | (to passengers) 28 April 1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Honeybourne Line | Great Western Railway | Cheltenham to Stratford-upon-Avon (via Honeybourne) | (to passengers) ?? August 1976 (to all traffic) | A Lengthy Majority of the Line, now preserved as the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway. | |
| Hooton–West Kirby branch | Birkenhead Railway (London & North Western Railway and Great Western Railway Joint Line) (LMS/GWR) | Junction to, via,,,,, and | 17 September 1956 (to passenger traffic) 7 May 1962 (to all traffic) | Almost entire route converted to Wirral Country Park cycle way in 1973. Hadlow Road station restored to 1950s condition (complete with a short length of demonstration track) for use as Country Park visitor centre. | |
| Horbury West Curve | Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (LMS) | Horbury & Ossett station to Crigglestone West Junction, via Canal Sidings | 11 September 1961 (to passenger traffic) 4 February 1991 (to all traffic) | Disused, but still entirely intact throughout | |
| Horncastle branch line | Great Northern Railway | Woodhall Junction to Horncastle | (to passengers) 6 April 1971 (to all traffic) | ||
| Hull and Barnsley Railway | North Eastern Railway | Cudworth to Hull Paragon, via Wrangbrook Junction, Drax Abbey and Little Weighton | 193? (to passengers) 195? (to freight) 197? (to all traffic) | ||
| Hull and Barnsley and Great Central Joint Railway | Aire Junction to Braithwell Junction | September 1970 | |||
| Hull to Holderness branch line | North Eastern Railway | ||||
| Hull to Hornsea branch line | North Eastern Railway | ||||
| Hundred of Hoo Railway | Gravesend to Allhallows | 4 December 1961 (to passengers) | Remains open for freight | ||
| Ilfracombe branch line | LSWR (Southern Railway) | Barnstaple to Ilfracombe, via Wrafton, Braunton and Mortehoe & Woolacombe | (to passengers) 1975 (to all traffic) | ||
| Ingleton to Tebay line | Lancaster and Carlisle Railway (LMS) | Ingleton to | Opened 1861. Tracks lifted 1967. | ||
| Skipton–Ilkley line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Ilkley to Skipton (via Addingham, Bolton Abbey and Embsay) | (to passengers) January 1966 (to all traffic) | 4 Mile stretch of the Line now preserved, as the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. | |
| Kelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway | Kelvedon to Tollesbury Pier | 7 May 1951 (to passengers)28 September 1962 (to all traffic) | |||
| Kemble to Cirencester branch line | Great Western Railway | Kemble to Cirencester | |||
| Kemp Town branch line | LB&SCR/SR/SR | Kemp Town Junction to Kemp Town railway station | |||
| Kettering, Thrapston and Huntingdon Railway | Kettering to Huntingdon | 15 June 1959 (passengers)27 July 1971 (all traffic) | |||
| King's Lynn to Dereham line | Great Eastern Railway (LNER) | Dereham to King's Lynn, via Swaffham | 3 mile section (as far as Middleton Towers) still exists (freight only) | ||
| Kingsbridge branch line | Brent to Kingsbridge | 14 September 1963 | |||
| Kingswear branch line | Great Western Railway | Newton Abbot to Kingswear (via Torquay, Paignton and Churston) | (Paignton-Kingswear section, only) | Part of the line between Newton Abbot and Paignton still open as part of the National Network's Riviera Line 7 mile stretch of track now preserved, (between Paignton and Kingswear) as the Dartmouth Steam Railway. | |
| Kirkburton branch line | London & North Western Railway (LMS) | Deighton to Kirkburton, via Kirkheaton | (to passengers) 5 April 1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Kirkstead and Little Steeping Railway | Great Northern Railway (LNER) | Firsby to Woodhall Junction | |||
| Lambourn Valley Railway | LVR | Newbury to Lambourn | Opened in 1893; part of the Great Western Railway from 1905. | ||
| Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway | Chesterfield and Sheffield to Lincoln | 19 September 1955 | |||
| Lancashire Union Railway | LUR | to St Helens | Opened in 1869; St Helens to Wigan still in use | ||
| Lanchester Valley Railway | North Eastern Railway | to, via | (to passengers) (to goods) (to all traffic) | ||
| Langton Dock Branch | |||||
| Leamington–Rugby line | London and North Western Railway (LMS) | Leamington Spa to Rugby | |||
| Leamside line | Durham Junction Railway/ Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway/ NER (LNER) | and to Pelaw, via,,, and | (to passengers, south of Leamside) (to passengers, north of Leamside) 1991 (to all traffic) | Track still down (although overgrown) Between Pelaw and Washington. | |
| Ledbury and Gloucester Railway | GWR | Ledbury to Gloucester | 1959 (to passengers)1964 (to goods) | ||
| Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway | L&BER | to via Elslack, Thornton-In-Craven, Earby and Foulridge | Opened in 1848. The Shipley-to-Skipton section of the line is still in use. whilst the Skipton-Colne section had now long since closed. | ||
| Leeds New Line | London & North Western Railway (LMS) | Leeds to Huddersfield, via Gomersal, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike and Battyeford | –65 (to regular traffic, in stages) 1980 (to all traffic) | Now converted to a path | |
| Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway | Now converted to a footpath | ||||
| Leek–Waterhouses branch line | North Staffordshire Railway | Leekbrook Junction to Waterhouses, via Bradnop, Ipstones, Winkhill and Cauldon Lowe | (to passengers) 1964 (to goods) 1988 (to all traffic) | Part of the former branch (as far as Ipstones) now preserved, as part of the Churnet Valley Railway | |
| Leen Valley Lines | Great Northern Railway | 14 September 1931 (to passengers) | |||
| Leicester and Swannington Railway | |||||
| Leicester – Rugby Line | Midland Counties Railway | Leicester to Rugby | 1 January 1962 | Remaining part of the Midland Counties Railway survives as part of the Midland Main Line | |
| Leicester Branch | Great Northern and London and North Western Joint Railway | Leicester Belgrave Road to Marefield Junction | 7 December 1953 | ||
| Leominster and Kington Railway | Great Western Railway | Leominster to New Radnor | Small Section of the line, now privately preserved as the Kingfisher Line (at Titley Junction). | ||
| Lewes and East Grinstead Railway | LB&SCR | Lewes to East Grinstead (via Barcombe, Sheffield Park, Horsted Keynes and Kingscote) | An 11 miles of track now preserved, (between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead) as the Bluebell Railway. Whilst the line (north of East Grinstead, itself) forms part of the Oxted line. | ||
| Lincolnshire loop line | Great Northern Railway (LNER) | Gainsborough to Peterborough, via Lincoln, Woodhall Junction, Boston and Spalding | |||
| "Little" North Western Railway | Midland Railway (LMS) | to Morecambe, via,, and | Opened in two stages in 1848 and 1849. Approximately two-thirds of the route (between Lancaster and Caton) is now a combined cyclepath and footpath. Whilst, the remainder of the line from Wennington to Skipton is still in use, (as is the other line in-between Wennington and Carnforth). | ||
| Liverpool Overhead Railway | Seaforth to Dingle | 30 December 1956 | |||
| Liverpool, Southport and Preston Junction Railway | LS&PJR | to | Opened 1887. A short section through in Southport is still in use. | ||
| Long Melford–Bury St Edmunds branch line | GER | Long Melford to Bury St Edmunds | |||
| Lynn and Hunstanton Railway | King's Lynn to Hunstanton | 5 May 1969 | |||
| Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway | MSLR and NSR | Macclesfield to Marple | Re-opened 1985 by Dr. David Bellamy as the Middlewood Way. | ||
| Thirsk and Malton line | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | Thirsk to Malton, via Gilling | |||
| Manchester to Accrington Line | Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (LMS) | Manchester Victoria to Accrington Junction, (via Whitefield, Bury, Ramsbottom and Helmshore) | (to regular passengers) 1972 (to all passengers) 1980 (to coal traffic) 1981 (to all traffic, north of bury) 1991 (to all traffic, south of bury) | An 8-mile Stretch of the Line, now preserved (between Bury Bolton Street and Stubbins Junction) as part of the East Lancashire Railway. Whilst The Bury Line now occupies part of the line between Manchester Victoria and Bury Interchange, as part of the Manchester Metrolink. | |
| Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway | Midland Railway (LMS) | Ambergate to Buxton, (via Matlock, Rowsley, Bakewell and Millers Dale) | (to passengers) 29 June 1968 (to all traffic) | Part of the route, now preserved (between Matlock and Rowsley, via Darley Dale) as Peak Rail. Whilst the route beyond (the south of) Matlock itself to Ambergate Junction remains open as part of the National Network. Also, a section of the line (through Ashwood Dale, between Buxton and the one-time triangular junction) towards the Peak Forest Area still exists | |
| Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway | Altrincham to Manchester London Road | 24 December 1991 | Converted to Manchester Metrolink in 1992 | ||
| Manchester South District Railway | Midland Railway | Cornbrook to Stockport | 2 Jan 1967 (to passengers)1969 (to all traffic) | Reopened as part of the Manchester Metrolink | |
| Manchester and Wigan Railway | Eccles to Wigan | 3 May 1969 | |||
| Mangotsfield and Bath branch line | Midland Railway (LMS/GWR) | Mangotsfield to Bath Green Park (via Bitton) | (to passengers) 1971 (to all traffic) | A 3-mile stretch of the line, now preserved as the Avon Valley Railway. | |
| Mansfield Railway | GCR | Kirkby to Mansfield | 2 January 1956 (to passengers)2003 (to all traffic) | ||
| Margate Sands line | South Eastern Railway (England) | , and | (closed) | Branch line used as a goods depot until 1972. Now redeveloped as an amusement arcade. | |
| Melbourne line | London Midland & Scottish Railway | Derby to Ashby de la Zouch, via Melbourne | |||
| Meltham branch line | Lancashire & Yorkshire Rly | Lockwood to Meltham, via Netherton | (to passengers) 3 April 1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Melmerby-Masham branch line | North Eastern Railway | Melmerby to Masham, via West Tanfield | (to passengers) 1963 (to all traffic) | ||
| Meon Valley line | London & South Western Rly | Fareham to Alton, via Wickham and Droxford | (to passengers) 30 April 1962 (to freight) 1968 (to all traffic) | ||
| Methley Joint Railway | West Yorkshire Railway | 1964 (to passengers)1981 (to all traffic) | |||
| Micklehurst Line | London & North Western Railway (LMS) | Diggle to Staybridge, via Uppermill Friezland and Micklehurst | (to passengers) 15 June 1964 (to Freight) 3 October 1966 (to further traffic) | Constructed because a new line along the east bank of the River Tame was deemed to be more cost-effective than four tracking the existing line on the west bank. | |
| Midhurst Railways | Petersfield to MidhurstPulborough to MidhurstChicester to Midhurst | 1955 (to passengers)1966 (to goods) | |||
| Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway | GNR/ Merger of earlier railways | (to passengers) Closed in 1964 (to all traffic) | Cromer–Sheringham section still extant as part of the nearby Bittern Line 5 mile stretch of track, now preserved as the Heritage North Norfolk Railway. | ||
| Midland and South Western Junction Railway | GWR/ Merger of earlier railways | Cheltenham to Andover | Section of the line, now preserved as the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. | ||
| Middlesbrough to Guisborough branch line | Middlesbrough and Guisborough Railway/ NER (LNER) | to via and | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | East of Morton Junction, the line is still in passenger use as part of the Esk Valley Line. Most of the remainder of the former branch is now a public footpath. | |
| Middleton Junction and Oldham Branch Railway | Manchester & Leeds Railway | Middleton Junction to Oldham | 7 January 1963 | ||
| Middleton line connection via Beza Road | Charles Brandling/The Middleton Railway Trust Ltd. | Hallam and Pontefract line through Beza Road to Moor Road | (Connection line closed, events only) | Line intact however is currently bolted closed, preventing access. Used for special events only. | |
| Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway | Newton Abbot to Moretonhampstead | 28 February 1959 (to passengers)6 April 1964 (to goods) | Section from Heathfield to Newton Abbot remains open to freight | ||
| Muswell Hill Railway | |||||
| Nantwich to Market Drayton line | GWR | Market Drayton to Nantwich, via Adderley, Coxbank and Audlem | (to passengers) 1967 (to freight) 1970 (to all traffic) | ||
| Newmarket and Chesterford Railway | Newmarket and Chesterford Railway Company (N&CR) | Great Chesterford to Newmarket | ? | One of the first railway closures in British history | |
| Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway | GERMGNJ | North Walsham to Cromer | |||
| Northallerton to Hawes line | Northallerton to Hawes (via Leeming Bar, Leyburn and Aysgarth) | (to passengers) Closed in 1992 (to all traffic) | A 22-mile stretch of the line now preserved, as the Wensleydale Railway. | ||
| Northampton–Market Harborough line | London and North Western Railway (LMS) | Northampton to Market Harborough | (to all traffic) | A stretch of the line, now preserved as the Northampton and Lamport Railway. | |
| North Cornwall Railway | LSWR | Halwill Junction to Padstow (via Launceston, Camelford and Wadebridge) | 2 miles of track re-laid to narrow gauge, as the Launceston Steam Railway. | ||
| North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway | North Devon Railway (LSWR) | Torrington to Halwell Junction (via Meeth and Hatherleigh) | /65 (to passengers) 1978 (to freight) 1982 (to all traffic) | Small section (based at Torrington) now being restored as the Tarka Valley Railway. | |
| North Devon Railway | North Devon Railway (LSWR) | Exeter to Torrington | 1965 (to passengers)1982 (to freight) | Section from Exeter to Barnstaple remains open as the Tarka Line | |
| North Lindsey Light Railway | NLLR | Scunthorpe to Whitton | Short section of the line still open, (freight only) | ||
| North Liverpool Extension Line | |||||
| North Mersey Branch | Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway | Kirkby to Mersey Docks | 1991 | ||
| North Sunderland Railway | North Sunderland Railway (LNER) | to | The line was independently financed and, though operated with North Eastern Railway locomotives from 1902, remained under independent control until 1939 when the LNER took over its management | ||
| North Wylam loop line | Scotswood, Newburn and Wylam Railway (LNER) | to, via | (to passengers) (to all traffic, west of) (to all traffic, east of Newburn) | Partially following the route of the Wylam Waggonway, the line was famed for having passed almost directly in front of George Stephenson's Birthplace | |
| Norton Fitzwarren to Minehead branch line | Great Western Railway | Norton Fitzwarren to Minehead via, Crowcombe-Heathfield, Williton and Blue Anchor | (to all traffic) | Most of the entire branch, now preserved as the West Somerset Railway. | |
| Nottingham Suburban Railway | GNR | Nottingham London Road to Daybrook | 14 September 1931 (to passengers)1 August 1951 (to all traffic) | ||
| Nuneaton to Ashby Junction line | Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway (LNWR/Midland Railway) | Nuneaton Abbey Street to Ashby Junction, via Shackerstone | (to passengers) 1971 (to all traffic) | A 5-mile stretch of track, now preserved as the Battlefield Line. | |
| Okehampton–Bude line | London & South Western Rly | Okehampton to Bude, via Halwill Junction and Holsworthy | |||
| Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway | Guide Bridge to Oldham via Ashton | 4 May 1959 (to passengers)29 January 1968 (to freight) | |||
| Oldham Loop Line | Manchester & Leeds Rly (LMS) | Rochdale to Manchester Victoria, via Oldham and Royton Junction | (to all traffic) | Now converted to light-rail use, as part of the Manchester Metrolink. | |
| Ossett and Batley Branch Line | West Yorkshire Railway | Wakefield to Batley | 1965 | ||
| Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway | Whitchurch to Oswestry via Ellesmere | 18 January 1965 | |||
| Otley and Ilkley Joint Railway | North Eastern Rly/Midland Railway (Joint) | Ilkley to Arthington, via Otley and Pool-in-Wharfedale | (to both passengers and all traffic) | Still extant as the Wharfedale line between Ilkley and Milnerwood Junction. Trackbed to become the Wharfedale Greenway cycle route. | |
| Oxenhope branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Keighley to Oxenhope via Ingrow, Damems, Oakworth and Haworth | Re-opened in 1968 | The Entire branch line is now preserved, as the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. | |
| Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway | Oxford to Wolverhampton via Worcester | 30 July 1962 | Section from Stourbridge to Oxford remains open | ||
| Oxford to Cambridge line(Varsity Line) | 1 January 1968 (passengers) | Section from Bedford to Bletchley still open (as the Marston Vale line)Section from Oxford to Bicester reopened in 1987. Bicester to Bletchley section to be reopened (under construction as of April 2023) as East West Rail. Extension from Bedford to Cambridge planned. | |||
| Palace Gates Line | GER | Palace Gates to Seven Sisters | |||
| Peterborough to Northampton line | LMS | Northampton to Peterborough (East) | (to passengers) 1972 (to all traffic) | A 7-mile stretch of the line, now preserved as the Nene Valley Railway. | |
| Pickle Bridge Line | Lancashire & Yorkshire Rly (LMS) | Cooper Bridge to Norwood Green, via Bailiff Bridge | (to passengers) 1952 (to all traffic) | ||
| Picton–Battersby line | North Yorkshire and Cleveland Railway | Picton to Battersby | 14 June 1954 (to passengers)August 1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Pilmoor, Boroughbridge and Knaresborough Railway | North Eastern Railway | Knaresborough to Pilmoor, via Boroughbridge | 196? | ||
| Plymouth to Yealmpton Branch | GWR | Plymouth to Yealmpton | 6 October 1947 (to passengers)29 February 1960 (to all traffic) | ||
| Ponteland and Darras Hall branch lines | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | South Gosforth to and, via | (to passengers) (to all traffic, west of Ponteland) (to goods) (to all traffic) | Most of the line was reopened as part of the Tyne and Wear Metro, initially to Bank Foot (replacing the original Kenton Bank station) in 1981 and then, via a short branch from the original route, to Airport on | |
| Pontop and Jarrow Railway | Stockton & Darlington Rly (George Stephenson & Co) | Jarrow Staith to Dipton Colliery, via Springwell | (to most traffic) 10 January 1986 (to all traffic) | Primarily cable-hauled, this line almost exclusively served as a colliery railway. A short section of the Line at the site of Springwell Colliery is now preserved as the Bowes Railway. | |
| Portishead Railway | Portishead to Bristol | 1964 | To be reopened December 2024 | ||
| Portland Branch Railway | Weymouth to Isle of Portland | 1952 (to passengers)1965 (to all traffic) | |||
| Potteries Loop Line | |||||
| Preston–Longridge branch line | P&LR | to | Opened 1840 as horse-drawn tramway; converted to steam 1848. Most of track removed in 1967. One mile of track in Preston remains, but disused. | ||
| Princes End branch line | Tipton to Wednesbury | 1916 (to passengers)April 1981 (to all traffic) | |||
| Pudsey loop railway | GNR | Bramley to Laisterdyke via Pudsey | 15 June 1964 | ||
| Queensbury lines | Great Northern Railway/ Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway | Bradford to Halifax, Halifax to Keighley, &<br>Keighley to Bradford, via Queensbury | (to passengers) 1960–5 (to freight)/in-stages 1972–4 (to all traffic) | Part of the route between and has been reused as part of the Great Northern Railway Trail[2] | |
| Ramsgate Town branch line | South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SR) | ||||
| Ringwood line | Southampton and Dorchester Railway | Hamworthy to Brockenhurst | The section between Hamworthy and Wimborne was closed in 1966, and the section between Wimborne and Brockenhurst between 1974 and 1977. | ||
| Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway | Ringwood to Bournemouth | 30 September 1935 | Closed between Ringwood and Christchurch. Remaining section part of SWML | ||
| Ripley branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Derby to Langley Mill, via Ripley | (to passengers) 1957-68 (to regular traffic) 1999 (to all traffic) | ||
| Rishworth branch | Lancashire & Yorkshire Rly | Sowerby Bridge to Rishworth | (to passengers) 19?? (to all traffic) | ||
| Riverside Branch | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | to Percy Main, via, and | (to goods) (to passengers) (to all traffic) | Following withdrawal of passenger services in 1973, line was progressively abandoned from east to west. On the section east of Carville closed, followed by that east of St. Peters in . | |
| Rochdale–Bacup line | Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway | Rochdale to Bacup, via Whitworth and Shawforth | |||
| Rolleston Junction–Mansfield line | MR | Rolleston Junction to Mansfield via Southwell | 12 August 1929 (to passengers between Mansfield and Southwell)16 June 1959 (to passengers between Southwell and Rolleston Junction)17 October 1983 (to all traffic) | ||
| Romney Marsh branch line | Appledore Junction to New Romney, via Lydd Town and Lydd-on-Sea | (to passengers) 1967 (to freight) | |||
| Rosedale Railway | Battersby to Rosedale mines | 11 June 1929 | |||
| Rothbury Branch | Northumberland Central Railway/ North British Railway (LNER) | to, via,, and | (to passengers) (to goods) | ||
| Rugby to Peterborough line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Rugby to Peterborough (East) | |||
| "Rye Harbour Branch" | Branch from Marshlink line at Rye railway station to the town distant Harbour (1854 to 1962) | ||||
| Ryedale line | Pickering to Pilmoor, via Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley and Gilling | ||||
| St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway | |||||
| Saffron Walden Railway | Audley End to Bartlow | ||||
| Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway | |||||
| Sandgate branch line | South Eastern Railway (England) | , to | (Closed) | Now a public footpath, no original track remaining. | |
| Scarborough to Pickering line | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | Seamer to Pickering, via Forge Valley, Wykeham and Thornton-le-Dale | (to passengers) 1963 (to all traffic) | Known as the Forge Valley line | |
| Scarborough to Whitby branch line | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | Scarborough to Whitby, (via Cloughton, Stainton Dale, Ravenscar and Robin Hood's Bay) | (to regular traffic) 31 October 1967 (to all traffic) | Now a combined cycle/footpath route | |
| Seaton branch line | LSWR (Southern Railway) | Seaton Junction to Seaton via Colyton and Colyford | (to all traffic) | A stretch of the former branch, re-laid as the Seaton Tramway. | |
| Selby–Driffield line | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | Selby to Driffield, via Market Weighton | (to passengers) 30 June 1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Selby–Goole line | North Eastern Railway (LNER) | Selby to Goole, via Drax | |||
| Severn and Wye Railway | GWR | Lydney to Lydbrook, (via Whitecroft, Parkend, Speech House Road and Serridge Junction) | 4-mile stretch of the S&WR, now preserved as the Dean Forest Railway. | ||
| Severn Valley Line | West Midland Railway GWR | Shrewsbury to both Hartlebury and to Kidderminster | A 16-mile stretch of the line now preserved as the Severn Valley Railway. | ||
| Sharpness branch line | Severn & Wye Railway (GWR) | Berkeley Road to Severn Bridge, via Sharpness | (to passengers) | Most of the former branch, now being restored as the Vale of Berkeley Railway. | |
| Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway | Retford to Lincoln | ||||
| Sheppey Light Railway | SECR branch off Sheerness line – 1901–1950 – Built under the 1896 Light Railways Act. | ||||
| Shipley Great Northern Railway branch line | GNR | Laisterdyke to Shipley | 2 February 1931 (to passengers)1968 (to all traffic) | ||
| Shipston-on-Stour branch | GWR | Moreton-in-Marsh to Shipston-on-Stour | 8 July 1929 (to passengers)2 May 1960 (to goods) | ||
| Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway | Shrewsbury to Llanymynech and Criggion | 6 November 1933 (to passengers)29 February 1960 (to all traffic) | |||
| Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company | |||||
| Sidmouth line | London & South Western Rly (SR) | Exmouth to Feniton, via 'Budleigh Salterton', Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary | (to all traffic) | ||
| Skelmersdale branch | ELR | to Rainford Junction | Opened 1858; goods service continued to 1963 | ||
| Somerset & Dorset Joint Line | Merger of earlier railways | Opened 1862 as the result of the amalgamation of the Somerset Central Railway and the Dorset Central Railway. Original route ran from Burnham-on-Sea and Bridgwater to Broadstone, continuing over London and South Western lines to Poole and Bournemouth. In 1863 the line from Evercreech Junction to Bath was built. Railway was closed in 1966.[3] A Trio of Three Stretches of the former line are now Preserved, The first (based at Midsomer Norton) is restored and run by the S&DR Heritage Trust, The second (based at Shillingstone) is also (currently under restoration) as the Heritage North Dorset Railway And the Third, (in-between) now forming the Gartell Light Railway. | |||
| Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway | SCLER | Southport to Aintree | Opened 1884. Tracks lifted 1860. Almost all of the route is now a cycle path. | ||
| Southwold Railway | Halesworth to Southwold | 11 April 1929 | |||
| South Devon and Tavistock Railway | GWR | Plymouth to Launceston (via Tavistock) | A 1-mile stretch of the line, now preserved as the Plym Valley Railway. | ||
| South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway | South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway/ Stockton and Darlington Railway (LNER) | to, via,, and | (to passengers, west of Barnard Castle, and all traffic between Hartley Quarry and Barnard Castle) (to passengers, east of Barnard Castle) (to all traffic, west of Kirkby Stephen East) (to all remaining traffic) | A short section of the line at Kirkby Stephen East station is preserved as the Stainmore Railway. | |
| South Shields, Marsden, and Whitburn Colliery Railway | South Shields, Marsden, and Whitburn Colliery Railway (NCB) | to | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | Though built as a colliery line, it also carried a public passenger service between and . Because the line was operated by the Whitburn (and later Harton) Coal Companies, it became the first passenger line in Great Britain to be nationalised due to the nationalisation of the coal industry on preceding that of the railways by 1 year. | |
| South Shields to Stanhope and Wear Valley Junction lines | Stanhope and Tyne Railway/ Stockton and Darlington Railway/ NER (LNER) | /Tyne Dock to via Chichester,,, and . Beyond Rowley, line split between original route to Stanhope and Rookhope via and NER-built deviation to via and . | (to passengers) 1984 (to all traffic, west of Brockley Whins) | Complex history of passenger services commencing and being withdrawn throughout the 19th Century. A more permanent passenger service was introduced by the Stockton & Darlington Railway between Consett and Wear Valley Junction on but was progressively withdrawn north of Tow Law on, north of Crook on and entirely on . This section closed to all traffic in . The North Eastern Railway introduced a (on the Derwent Valley Railway) and Consett to (on the ECML service on . Passenger traffic on this section ended on but mineral traffic remained until 1984. The Brockley Whins to Tyne Dock section remains as a freight line while part of the line through South Shields was reused for the Tyne and Wear Metro. | |
| South Staffordshire line | South Staffordshire Railway | Stourbridge to Walsall | (section between Brierley Hill and Walsall closed) | ||
| South Yorkshire Joint Railway | 2 December 1929 (to passengers) | ||||
| South Yorkshire Junction Railway | Wrangbrook Junction to Denaby | 7 August 1967 | |||
| South Yorkshire lines | South Yorkshire Railway (LNER) | Swinton Junction–Doncaster Doncaster–Barnsley Wombwell–Sheffield | A Part of the SYR Elsecar Colliery line now preserved as the Elsecar Heritage Railway. | ||
| Spen Valley line | Lancashire & Yorkshire Rly (LMS) | Low Moor to Mirfield, via Cleckheaton, Liversedge and Heckmondwike | (to passengers) 31 May 1969 (to all traffic) | Most of the Line, now converted to a Greenway cycle/path | |
| Spilsby branch line | Great Northern Rly | Firsby to Spilsby | (to passengers) 1958 (to all traffic) | ||
| Sprat and Winkle Line | LSWR | Andover to Redbridge | 1967 | ||
| Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway | (passenger), 5 March 1951 (through access) | ||||
| Staines West branch line | Great Western Railway (GWR) | West Drayton to Staines (West) | –5 (to passengers) 1981 (to freight) | The line is still extant, but only as far as Colnbrook, (but disused) | |
| Stainland branch | L&YR | Greetland to Stainland | 1929 (to passengers)1959 (to all traffic) | ||
| Stamford and Essendine Railway | Essendine to Wansford via Stamford | Stamford to Wansford closed to all traffic 29 June 1929Essendine to Stamford closed to passengers 15 June 1959, freight 4 March 1963 | |||
| Stanmore branch line | London and North Western Railway (LNWR) | Harrow to Stanmore | 5 October 1964 | ||
| Stockport, Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway | Stockport Portwood to Altrincham | 1967 (to passengers) | Portions remain in service for freight and as part of Manchester Metrolink | ||
| Stockport and Woodley Junction Railway | Stockport Portwood to Woodley | ||||
| Stoke-on-Trent to Market Drayton line | North Staffordshire Railway (LMS) | Stoke-on-Trent to Market Drayton via, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Silverdale and Pipe Gate | (to passengers) 1966/67 (to freight) 1998 (to all traffic) | Most of the former line, still in existence, but completely disused | |
| Stoke-on-Trent to Leek line | North Staffordshire Railway (LMS) | Stoke-on-Trent to Leek | 196? (to passengers) 1988 (to freight) | Could be re-opened as a commuter route (to put Leek back on the national network). | |
| Stonebridge Railway | BDJR | Hampton to Whitacre Junction | First Main-line to be singled in 1840 | ||
| Stonehouse and Nailsworth Railway | Midland Railway | Stonehouse to Nailsworth | 1947 (to passengers)1966 (to all traffic) | ||
| Stour Valley Railway | Shelford to Marks Tey | Eastern end remains open as the Gainsborough line | |||
| Southsea Railway | |||||
| Steyning Line | LB&SCR | Horsham to Shoreham-by-Sea | Trackbed is now part of Downs Link footpath | ||
| Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway | Midland Railway | Broom Junction to Bedford, via Fenny Compton and Towcester | (to passengers) 3 February 1964 (to all traffic) | ||
| Sunderland–Penshaw line | YN&BR (LNER) | to, via Pallion, Hylton and | (to passengers) (to all traffic, west of Hylton) (to all traffic, west of Pallion) (to all traffic, east of Pallion) | Most of the line was reopened as part of 2002 South Hylton extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro, although a slight deviation from the original course was required at Pallion | |
| Sutton Park line | Midland Railway | Water Orton to Walsall | 18 January 1965 (to passengers) | Remains open for freight | |
| Tanfield Lea Colliery branch line | Built in 1725 | Gateshead Junction to Tanfield Lea Colliery | –70 (to all traffic, in stages) | Built as a wooden-wagonway/colliery line. A Stretch of the former Colliery Line, now preserved as the Tanfield Railway. | |
| LBSCR link between Oxted line and SER's Hastings line at Tunbridge Wells | |||||
| Teign Valley line | Heathfield to Exeter | June 1958 (to passengers)1967 (to all traffic) | |||
| Tenbury and Bewdley Railway | Great Western Rly | Bewdley to Wooferton, via Tenbury | 196? | Whilst the entire line is now a footpath, Bewdley station is now on the Severn Valley Railway. | |
| Teston Crossing Halt line | South Eastern and Chatham Railway | Teston and West Farleigh | (closed) | Was situated on what is now the Medway Valley Line. | |
| Tetbury branch line | Great Western Railway | Kemble to Tetbury, via Rodmarton and Culkerton | |||
| Tewkesbury line | Midland Railway (LMS/GWR) | Great Malvern to Ashchurch, via Tewksbury | (to passengers) 1963 (to freight) | ||
| Thetford to Bury St Edmunds line | GER | Bury St Edmunds to Thetford | (to passengers) 27 June 1960 (to all traffic) | ||
| Thetford to Swaffham branch line | Great Eastern Railway (LNER) | Thetford to Swaffham, via Watton and Roudham Junction | |||
| Three Bridges–Tunbridge Wells line | Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells | 1 January 1967 | |||
| Totnes–Ashburton branch line | BT&SDR (GWR) | Totnes to Ashburton (via Staverton and Buckfastleigh) | (to passengers) 1962 (to goods) | A 7-mile stretch of the branch, now preserved as the South Devon Railway. | |
| Truro and Newquay Railway | GWR | Truro to Newquay | 1963 | ||
| Tunbridge Wells to Eridge Line | LB&SCR/SR | Eridge to Tunbridge Wells (via Groombridge) | 5-mile stretch of track, now preserved as the Spa Valley Railway. | ||
| Turnchapel Branch | LSWR | Plymouth to Turnchapel | 10 September 1951 (to passengers)30 October 1961 (to goods) | ||
| Tweedmouth to Kelso line | YN&BR (LNER) | to, via, and | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | A cross-border line which made an end-on connection with the North British Railway's line to at Kelso | |
| Ulverston–Lakeside branch line | Furness Railway (LMS) | Ulverston to Lakeside (via Greenodd and Haverthwaite) | A 3-mile stretch of the branch, now preserved as the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. | ||
| Uffington–Faringdon branch line | Great Western Rly | Uffington to Faringdon | |||
| Uppingham branch line | London & North Western Rly | Seaton (Rutland) to Uppingham | Opened 1894 | ||
| Uxbridge branch line | Great Western Railway | ||||
| Victoria Dock branch line | Y&NMR to Victoria Dock | 1964 (to passengers)1968 (to all traffic) | |||
| Wallingford branch line | Great Western Railway | Cholsey to Wallingford | (to passengers) 1981 (to all traffic) | Most of the Entire branch now preserved as the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway (aka, The Bunk Line). | |
| Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway | Warrington to Timperley Junction | 10 September 1962 (to passengers)7 July 1985 (to all traffic) | |||
| Watlington branch line | Great Western Railway | Princes Risborough to Watlington, via Chinnor and Aston Rowant | (to passengers) 1989 (to all traffic) | A 4-mile stretch of the branch now preserved, as the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. The rest of the former branch towards Watlington (via Aston Rowant) still extant. | |
| Wansbeck Valley line | Wansbeck Railway/ NBR (LNER) | to, via | (to passengers) (to all traffic) | ||
| Wantage Tramway | Wantage to Wantage Road | 1 August 1925 (to passengers)22 December 1945 (to all traffic) | |||
| Wareham–Swanage branch line | LSWR | Wareham to Swanage (via Corfe Castle) | Most of the Entire branch line, now preserved as the Swanage Railway (aka, The Purbeck Line). | ||
| Watford and Rickmansworth Railway | |||||
| Waveney Valley line | Great Eastern Railway | Tivetshall to Beccles | Passenger services withdrawn 3 January 1953 | ||
| Wealden Line | LB&SCR | Lewes to South Croydon, via Uckfield, Eridge and Hurst Green | (to all traffic) | The line northwards, and as far south as) Uckfield (to South Croydon, via Eridge and Hurst Green) remains open. Part of the line (between Isfield and Little Horsted) now preserved as the Lavender Line. | |
| Wearhead branch line | Bishop Auckland & Weardale Railway/ Frosterley & Stanhope Railway/ Stockton & Darlington Railway/ NER (LNER) | to (via, and) | (to passengers) 1993 (to all traffic) | The line east of is now preserved as the Weardale Railway. | |
| Weedon–Marton Junction line | LNWR | Weedon Bec to Marton Junction. | Opened 1888-95 | ||
| Wellington–Craven Arms line | GWR (formation of three earlier companies) | Wellington to Craven Arms via Horsehay & Dawley, Lightmoor Junction, Buildwas, Much Wenlock and Rushbury | 196? (to passengers) 19?? (to all traffic) | Section of the Line, now preserved as the Telford Steam Railway. | |
| Wellington to Market Drayton line | Market Drayton to Wellington, via Peplow and Crudgington | (to passengers) 1967 (to freight) | |||
| Wellington to Stafford Line | SUR&CC | Stafford to Wellington via Newport | 7 September 1964 (to passengers)22 November 1969 (to all traffic) | ||
| West Croydon to Wimbledon Line | West Croydon to Wimbledon via Mitcham Junction | Only bits of the line remain. The Croydon Tramlink now runs in its place. This line in the last few years of service ran Class 456s in Network South East livery. | |||
| West Lancashire line | WLR | to | |||
| West Norfolk line | Great Eastern Railway (LNER) | Heacham to Wells-next-the-Sea, via Burnham Market | (to passengers) 1954 (to all traffic) | ||
| Westerham Valley branch line | SER | Dunton Green to Westerham | off SER Main Line, see Westerham and Brasted | ||
| Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway | |||||
| Weymouth Harbour Tramway | (to all traffic) | ||||
| Whitby and Pickering Railway | NER | Malton to Whitby (via Marishes Road, Pickering, Grosmont and Sleights) | A Lengthy Majority of the Line now preserved as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. | ||
| Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway | Middlesbrough to Whitby, via Redcar, Salturn-by-the-Sea, Loftus, Staithes, Kettlewell and Sandsend. | (to passengers) 1961 (to goods) | Part of the line (between Saltburn and Boulby near Staithes) still open (freight only), Resurrected in 1974 to serve the nearby Boulby Potash Mine. | ||
| Whitchurch and Tattenhall Railway | LNWR | Whitchurch to Chester | 1957 (to passengers)January 1964 (to all traffic) | ||
| Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway | LNWR/Furness Railway | (to regular traffic) 1964 (to all traffic) | |||
| Wigan Junction Railways | Glazebrook to Wigan | 1964 (to passengers) | |||
| Winchester to Brookwood line | LSWR (Alton, Alresford and Winchester Railway) | Winchester to Brookwood (via Itchen Abbas, Alresford, Ropley, Alton and Farnham) | A 10-mile stretch of the line now preserved as the Mid Hants Railway (aka, The Watercress Line). Whilst the rest of the line, (north of Alton) is now the present day local-commuter Alton Line, respectively. | ||
| Wisbech branch line | GER | to (via) | (to passengers) 2001 (to all traffic) | South of Wisbech, much of the former branch still extant. The line has been proposed for reopening (south of Wisbech), both as the heritage Bramley Line and as a National Rail commuter line. | |
| Witham to Maldon branch line | Maldon, Witham & Braintree Railway | Witham to Maldon | |||
| Wolverhampton and Walsall Railway | Midland Railway | Wolverhampton to Walsall | 5 January 1931 | ||
| Wombourne branch line | Oxley Junction to Brettell Lane | 1932 (to passengers)25 June 1965 (to goods) | |||
| Woodford–Ongar tube line | Central London Railway/ Eastern Counties Railway (LNER) | Woodford to Ongar via Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Debden, Theydon Bois and Epping | (Ongar section, only) | Woodford to Epping section of the line still open (as part of the London Underground's) Central line service, Whilst the section beyond is now preserved as the Epping Ongar Railway. | |
| Woodhead line | to /Wath marshalling yard, via and | (to passengers, east of Hadfield) (to all traffic, Hadfield—) | The line east of Hadfield (including the branch), as well as short section at Penistone, continue to be used by passenger services as parts of the Glossop and Penistone lines. A further section of line remains open to freight traffic from Stocksbridge steel works, near Deepcar, to Nunnery Junction (where it meets the Sheffield–Lincoln line). Proposals have been made to reintroduce passenger services to south of Deepcar as well as, to aa lesser extent, the rest of the line. | ||
| Woodside and South Croydon Railway | LBSCR | Sanderstead to Elmers End | Also known as the "Back Garden Railway"; | ||
| Worcester, Bromyard and Leominster Railway | Worcester to Leominster via Bromyard | 1965 | |||
| Wroxham–County School Line | Great Eastern Railway (LNER) | Wroxham to County School | /64 (to passengers) 1981 (to freight) 1982/3 (to all traffic) | 9 mile stretch of the line, re-laid to Gauge, now forming the Bure Valley Railway. Known (throughout its heyday) as the East Norfolk Line. | |
| Wycombe Railway | Maidenhead to Oxford via High Wycombe | ||||
| Wymondham to Wells Branch | Great Eastern Railway (LNER) | to (via,, and | (to regular passengers) 6 October 1969 (to all passengers) 12 September 1984 (to coal traffic) 1989 (to all traffic) | The gauge Wells and Walsingham Light Railway has reopened 4mile of line between resited termini at Wells and Walsingham. The Mid Norfolk Railway has reopened the line south of Dereham and is actively working to preserve all 17.5mile of the line south of . The MNR has long-term ambitions of restoring the line between County School and Fakenham. | |
| Yarmouth–Beccles line | Great Eastern Railway | Beccles to Great Yarmouth, via Haddiscoe | |||
| Yarmouth–Lowestoft line | Great Eastern Railway | Lowestoft to Great Yarmouth, via Hopton-on-Sea and Gorleston-on-Sea | 4 May 1970 (to all traffic, officially) | ||
| Yate-Thornbury branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Yate to Thornbury, via Tytherington | (to passengers) 2013 (to all traffic) | ||
| Yeadon branch line | Midland Railway (LMS) | Guiseley to Yeadon | Mainly a Goods-only branch throughout its existing heyday | ||
| Yeovil–Taunton line | Bristol & Exeter Rly (GWR) | Taunton to Yeovil, via Athelney, Langport and Martlock | (to all traffic) | ||
| York–Beverley line | North Eastern Railway | York to Beverley (via Kiplingcotes, Market Weighton, Pocklington and Stamford Bridge) | (to all traffic) | A group, the Minsters' Rail Campaign, was established in 2001 to promote the re-opening of the line and following the Government's plans announced in 2017 to reinstate lines closed in the 1960s, it has been proposed that the line could reopen.[4] In June 2020, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council submitted a request for funding to cover a feasibility study to investigate reopening the line.[5] |
| Name of line | Builder | Route (from/to) | Closure date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast and County Down Railway | Belfast to Newcastle via Comber and DownpatrickComber to Donaghadee via NewtownardsBallynahinch Junction to Ballynahinch Downpatrick to Ardglass | 1950 | |||
| Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway | London and North Western Railway (LMS) | Dundalk to Newry | 1951 | ||
| Great Northern Railway of Ireland | Portadown to Omagh | 1965 | |||
| Ulster Railway | Great Northern Railway of Ireland | Portadown to Cavan | 1959 |
See also
| Name of line | Builder | Route (from/to) | Closure date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Railway | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Kinnaber Junction to Brechin, via Dubton | 1952–67 (to passengers) 1981 (to all traffic) | 4 mile stretch of the Railway now preserved, as the Caledonian Railway (Brechin). | |
| Aberfeldy branch line | Highland Railway (LMS) | Aberfeldy Junction to Aberfeldy, via Grandtully | 3 May 1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Railway | Longniddry to Gullane | 12 September 1932 (to passengers)15 June 1964 (to all traffic) | Planned route from Gullane to North Berwick never opened | ||
| Alford Valley branch line | Great North of Scotland Railway (LNER) | Kintore to Alford, via Tillyfourie | 1950 (to passengers) 1966 (to all traffic) | A Stretch of the former line (at Alford) now preserved as the Alford Valley Railway | |
| Alyth Branch Line | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Alyth Junction to Alyth (itself), via Meigle and Jordanstone | 2 July 1951 (to passenger traffic) January 1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Arbroath and Forfar Railway | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Arbroath to Forfa | 1967 | ||
| Balerno line | Ravelrig to Slateford via Balerno | 30 October 1943 (to passengers)4 December 1967 (to all traffic) | |||
| Ballachulish branch line | Callander and Oban Railway | Connel Ferry to Ballachulish | 28 March 1966. | The Connel Bridge over Loch Etive is now used by the A828 road | |
| Ballater branch line | GNoSR | Aberdeen to Ballater | 18 July 1966 | A stretch of the former branch, now preserved forming the Royal Deeside Railway. | |
| Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway | GNoSR | Cairnie Junction to Banff, via Tillynaught | 6 July 1964 (to passenger traffic) 6 May 1968 (to all traffic) | ||
| Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Railway | Great North of Scotland Railway (LNER) | Inveramsay to Macduff, via Turriff and Banff Bridge | 1 October 1951 (to passengers) 3 January 1966 (to all traffic) | ||
| Bankfoot Railway | SMJR | Strathord to Bankfoot | 13 April 1931 (to passengers)7 September 1964 (to goods) | ||
| Berwickshire Railway | North British Railway | Reston to St Boswell's via Duns | 10 September 1951 (to passengers)7 November 1966 (to all traffic) | ||
| Boddam Branch | Great North of Scotland Rly | Ellon to Boddam | 1932 (to passengers) 1945 (to freight) 1950 (to all traffic) | ||
| Border Union Railway | North British Railway (LNER) | Carlisle to Hawick, via Newcastleton and Riccarton | 1969 | Part of the Waverley Route in-between | |
| Bothwell Branch | Caledonian Railway | Fallside to Bothwell | 5 June 1950 | ||
| Bridge of Weir Railway | |||||
| Buckie and Portessie Branch | Highland Railway | Keith to Portessie | 9 August 1915 (to passengers)1 April 1944 (to goods) | ||
| Cairnryan Military Railway | |||||
| Callander and Oban Railway | Callander and Oban Railway (LMS) | Callander to Oban | 27 September 1965 | Section between Crianlarich and Oban is still open, accessed via the West Highland Railway. | |
| Campsie Branch | Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway | Lenzie to Lennoxtown | 1964 (to passengers)1966 (to all traffic) | ||
| Carmyllie Railway | Elliot Junction to Carmyllie | 2 December 1929 (to passengers)19 May 1965 (to all traffic) | |||
| Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway | Glasgow and South Western Railway | Castle Douglas to Dumfries | 14 June 1965 | ||
| City of Glasgow Union Railway | Majority of the line is extant. Section between High Street East Junction and Springburn in passenger service as part of the North Clyde Line | ||||
| Corstophine Branch | North British Railway | Haymarket to Corstophine | 1 January 1968 | ||
| Crieff and Comrie Railway | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Crieff to Comrie | 6 July 1964 | ||
| Crieff Junction Railway | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Crieff Junction (Gleneagles) to Crieff | 6 July 1964 | ||
| Crieff and Methven Junction Railway | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Perth to Crieff | 1 October 1951 (to passengers) 11 September 1967 (to all traffic) | ||
| Dalry and North Johnstone Line | |||||
| Darvel and Strathaven Railway | |||||
| Deeside Railway | Aberdeen to Ballater | 28 February 1966 (to passengers)2 January 1967 (to all traffic) | |||
| Denny Branch | Scottish Central Railway | Larbert Junction to Denny | 28 July 1930 | ||
| Devon Valley line | North British Railway | Kinross to Alloa, via Tillicoultry | 1964 (to passengers) 1973 (to all traffic) | ||
| Dolphinton branch (Caledonian Railway) | Caledonian Railway | Carstairs to Dolphinton | 4 June 1945 | ||
| Dolphinton branch (North British Railway) | North British Railway | Leadburn to Dolphinton | 1 April 1933 | ||
| Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Railway | Caledonian Railway | Lockerbie to Dumfries | 18 April 1966 | ||
| Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Dunblane to Callander | 1 November 1965 | ||
| Dundee and Forfar direct line | Caledonian Railway | Dundee to Forfar | 10 January 1955 (to passengers)9 October 1967 (to all traffic) | ||
| Dundee and Newtyle Railway | Scottish Central Railway (LNER) | Dundee West Junction to Alyth Junction, via Lochee, Baldovan, Baldragon, Rosemill, Dronley, Balbeuchly, Auchterhouse, Newtyle, and Ardler Junction | 1955 (to passenger traffic) 1967 (to all traffic) | Most of this Historic Scottish Railway, was certainly remote and quite circuitous en route. | |
| Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway | St Leonards, South Leith to Dalkeith, Musselburgh | Partially reopened as part of the Borders Railway | |||
| Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway | LNER | 196? | |||
| Edinburgh Suburban Line | Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway | 10 September 1962 (to passengers) | Line remains open to freight | ||
| Elvanfoot–Wanlockhead branch line | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Elvanfoot to Wanlockhead (via Leadhills) | 31 December 1938 (to passengers) 195? (to all traffic) | A Section of the former branch, re-laid as Gauge, forming the Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway. | |
| Eyemouth Railway | Burnmouth to Eyemouth | 5 Feb 1962 | |||
| Fife and Kinross Railway | Kinross to Ladybank | 15 June 1964 | |||
| Fife Coast Railway | Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway (LNER) | Thornton Junction to St Andrews, via Leven, Largo, Anstruther and Boarhills | 5 October 1964 (to goods) 6 September 1965 (to passengers) 18 December 1966 (to all traffic) | Most of the FCR, now forms the Fife Coastal Path Section of the FCR (Thornton Junction-Leven) still extant, though long since disused | |
| Findhorn Railway | Kinloss to Findhorn | 31 January 1869 (to passengers)1880 (to goods) | |||
| Fochabers Railway | Orbliston to Fochabers | 14 September 1931 (to passengers)28 March 1966 (to all traffic) | |||
| Formartine and Buchan Railway | Dyce to Fraserburgh and Peterhead | Fraserburgh branch: 4 October 1965 (to passengers), 6 October 1979 (to goods)Peterhead branch: 3 May 1965 (to passengers), 7 September 1970 (to goods) | |||
| Fort George Branch | Highland Railway | Gollanfield to Fort George | 5 April 1943 (to passengers)11 August 1958 (to goods) | ||
| Forth and Clyde Junction Railway | Stirling to Balloch | 1 October 1934 (to passengers)9 April 1965 (to all traffic) | |||
| Fountainhall-Lauder Branch Line | LNER | Fountainhall to Lauder, via Oxton | 1958 | ||
| Fraserburgh branch line | Great North of Scotland Railway (LNER) | Dyce to Fraserburgh, via Ellon and Maud Junction | 1965 (to regular traffic) 6 October 1979 (to all traffic) | ||
| Galashiels to Eskbank line | North British Railway (LNER) | Eskbank to Galashiels, (via Leadburn and Peebles) | 1962 (to passengers) 1967 (to freight) 1971 (to all traffic) | ||
| Galashiels–Selkirk branch line | North British Railway (LNER) | Galashiels to Selkirk | 3 October 1966 | ||
| Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway | Glasgow to Kilmarnock | Majority of the line still extant | |||
| Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway | North British Railway | Shettleston to Hamilton | 1955 (to passengers)1965 (to all traffic) | ||
| Glasgow Central Railway | Newton to Maryhill | Sections between Carmyle and Glasgow Green, Stobcross and Maryhill closed. Remaining portions still extant and in passenger service | |||
| Glenfarg Line | North British Railway | Mawcarse to Bridge of Earn | 15 June 1964 | ||
| Granton Branch | Caledonian Railway | 1965 | |||
| Greenock and Ayrshire Railway | |||||
| Haddington line | North British Railway (LNER) | Longniddry to Haddington | 5 December 1949 (to passengers)30 March 1968 (to all traffic) | ||
| Hopeman Branch | 14 September 1931 (to passengers)7 November 1966 (to goods) | ||||
| Inchture Branch | Dundee and Perth Railway | Inchture Station to Crossgates, Inchture | 1916 | Horse-drawn tramway | |
| Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway | |||||
| Inverness and Perth Junction Railway | Highland Railway (LMS) | Perth to Inverness | 18 October 1965 | Section between Perth and Aviemore is still open as part of the National Network. 10 Mile Stretch of the Line now preserved, as the Strathspey Railway. | |
| Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Railway | Inverurie to Oldmeldrum | 2 November 1931 (to passengers)3 January 1966 (to all traffic) | |||
| Jedburgh branch line | North British Railway (LNER) | Roxburgh Junction to Jedburgh, via Nisbet and Jedfoot | 13 August 1948 (to passengers) 10 August 1964 (to all traffic) | ||
| Keith and Dufftown Railway (GNoSR) | GNoSR | Keith to Elgin, (via Auchindachy, Dufftown and Craigellachie) | 1968 (to passengers) 1984 (to freight) 24 March 1991 (to all traffic) | An 11 Mile Stretch of the line now preserved, as the Keith and Dufftown Railway. | |
| Killin Railway | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Killin Junction to Killin (Loch Tay until 1939) | 27 September 1965 | ||
| Kincardine Line | |||||
| Kirkcaldy District Railway | 6 August 1962 | ||||
| Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway | |||||
| Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway | |||||
| Leslie Railway | Markinch to Leslie | ||||
| Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie Railway | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Comrie to Lochearnhead | 1 October 1951 | ||
| Macmerry and Gillford branch lines | North British Railway (LNER) | 196? | |||
| Maidens and Dunure Railway | |||||
| Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway | 2 April 1966 | ||||
| Montrose and Bervie Railway | Montrose to Bervie | Great North of Scotland Railway (LNER) | 1951 (to passengers) 1966 (to all traffic) | ||
| Morayshire Railway | Morayshire Railway (LNER) | Elgin to Lossiemouth and Elgin to Craigellachie | 28 March 1966 (to passengers) 4 November 1968 (to all traffic) | ||
| Newburgh and North Fife Railway | St Fort to Newburgh | 10 February 1951 (to passengers)10 October 1964 (to all traffic) | |||
| Newport Railway, Scotland | Tay Bridge to Leuchars | 5 May 1969 | |||
| Paisley and Renfrew Railway | |||||
| Peebles Railway | Eskbank to Peebles | 10 September 1962 | |||
| Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Railway | Caledonian Railway (LMS) | Perth to Methven via Methven Junction | 1 October 1951 (to passengers) 11 September 1967 (to all traffic) | ||
| Peterhead branch line | Great North of Scotland Railway | Dyce to Peterhead, via Ellon and Maud Junction | 1965 (to passengers) 1970 (to freight) | ||
| Scottish Midland Junction Railway | Scottish North Eastern Railway (LMS) | Perth to Forfar, via Stanley Junction, Cargill, Coupar Angus, Meigle Junction and Kirriemuir Junction en route. | 1967 (to all traffic) | Perth to Stanley Junction stretch of the line still exists, as part of the Highland Mainline. | |
| Solway Junction Railway | Brayton to Kirtlebridge | 27 April 1931 | |||
| South Alloa Branch | Scottish Central Railway | Alloa Junction to South Alloa | 1 October 1885 (to passengers)1 September 1950 (to goods) | ||
| Slamannan Railway | Causewayend to Arbuckle | 1930 (to passengers)1964 (to all traffic) | |||
| Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway | Causewayend to Bo'ness, via Birkhill | closed 196? | A 5 mile stretch of track now preserved, as the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway. | ||
| South Queensferry Branch | North British Railway | South Queensferry to Ratho | |||
| Stirling and Dunfermline Railway | North British Railway (LNER) | Stirling to Dunfermline via Alloa | 5 October 1968 (to passengers) 1993 (to all traffic) | The section between Stirling and Alloa re-opened to passenger traffic in 2008. | |
| St Boswells–Kelso line | North British Railway (LNER) | St Boswells to Kelso | 1964 (to passengers) 1968 (to freight) | ||
| Strathspey Railway | GNoSR (LNER) | Craigellachie to Boat of Garten | 18 October 1965 (to passengers) 4 November 1968 (to freight) November 1971 (to all traffic) | Boat of Garten Station is now preserved as part of the Strathspey Railway. | |
| Sutherland and Caithness Railway | |||||
| Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway | Caledonian Railway | Symington to Peebles | 1950 (to passengers)1966 (to all traffic) | ||
| Waverley Route | North British Railway (LNER) | Carlisle to Edinburgh via Scotch Dyke, Newcastleton, Whitrope, Hawick, Tweedbank, Galashiels and Eskbank | 4 January 1969 (to passengers) 1971 (to all traffic) | Part of the line, now rebuilt and re-opened (between Edinburgh and Tweedbank), named the Borders Railway, as part of the National Network. Whilst the section of the line (in-between Whitrope and Riccarton Junction) now preserved (and being restored, in stages, by the Waverley Route Heritage Association) as a Heritage Railway. | |
| Wemyss and Buckhaven Railway | Buckhaven to Thornton | 9 January 1955 (to passengers)31 May 1985 (to all traffic) | |||
| Wick and Lybster Railway | |||||
| Wilsontown branch | Caledonian Railway | Auchengray to Wilsontown | 10 September 1951 (to passengers)4 May 1964 (to all traffic) | ||
| Wishaw and Coltness Railway | 1930 |
| Name of line | Builder | Route (from/to) | Closure date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberayron branch line | GWR | Lampeter to Aberayron, via Blaenplwyf and "Felin Fach" | 1951 (to passengers) 1973 (to all traffic) | ||
| Anglesey Central Railway | London & North Western Rly (LMS) | Gaerwen to Amlwch, via Llanerchymedd | 1993 (to all traffic) | ||
| Bala and Festiniog Railway | Great Western Railway | Blaenau Ffestiniog to Bala, via Manod, Llan Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd | 1961 (to passengers) 1998 (to all traffic) | Most of the Track, still intact between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd, (but long since disused) This line is now being looked at with a proposal to restore as the proposed Heritage Bala & Ffestiniog Railway Heritage Trust. | |
| Bangor and Carnarvon Railway | Menai Bridge to Caernarvon | 1972 (to all traffic) | |||
| Bethesda branch line | Great Western Rly | Bangor to Bethesda, via Felin Hen and Tregarth | 1951 (to passengers) 1962 (to all traffic) | ||
| Brecon to Hereford line | Hereford, Hay & Brecon Railway (LMS/GWR) | Brecon to Hereford via Hay-on-Wye | 31 December 1962 (Severed as a through route from Talyllyn Junctions) | ||
| Brecon and Merthyr Railway | Great Western Railway | Merthyr Tydfil to Brecon / Newport to Brecon (Through route fragmented) | 31 December 1962 (to passengers from Newport or Merthyr) 4 May 1964 (to all traffic from Merthyr) | 5 Mile stretch of the line, re-laid as 2 ft gauge, forming the Brecon Mountain Railway. | |
| Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway | London & North Western Railway/GWR | Pontypool to Brynmawr (via Varteg, Blaenavon and Waunavon) | 1941 (to passengers) 1980 (to all traffic) | A 2-mile section of the Railway, now preserved as the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway. | |
| Brymbo branch line | Great Western Railway | Stansty Junction to Brymbo | 1970 (to all traffic) | ||
| Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway | |||||
| Carmarthen–Aberystwyth line | Great Western Railway | Aberystwyth to Carmarthen | 1965 (to passengers) 1973 (to all traffic) | A 4 Mile stretch of the Line, now preserved as the Gwili Railway. | |
| Carnarvonshire Railway | |||||
| Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway | CUMPR | Monmouth to Pontypool | 12 October 1957 | The line never reached Coleford as the GWR bought it.[6] Passenger services were withdrawn in 1955. | |
| Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen Railway | |||||
| Mold and Denbigh Junction Railway | |||||
| Dyserth branch line | London & North Western Railway | Prestatyn to Dyserth | 1973 (to all traffic) | ||
| Ebbw Valley line | Great Western Railway | Cardiff Central to Ebbw Vale | Still Open | ||
| Glyn Valley Tramway | Chirk to Glyn Ceiriog | July 1935 | |||
| Hay-on-Wye to Pontrilas line | Great Western Railway | Hay-on-Wye to Pontrilas, via Clifford, Dorstone and Abbeydore | 1953 (to passengers) 1957 (to all traffic) | ||
| Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway | Great Western and Midland Railways | Brecon (Free Street) to Hereford (Barton), via Talyllyn Junction, Aberllynfi and Hay-on-Wye | 1962 (to all traffic) | ||
| Holywell branch line | London & North Western Railway | Holywell Junction to Holywell Town | 1954-7 (in stages, to all traffic) | ||
| Llandudno branch line | St George's Harbour & Rly Company (LMS) | Llandudno Junction to Llandudno, via Deganwy | Still open | ||
| Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr Railway | Llanelly Railway & Dock Company (GWR) | Llanelly Docks to Swansea via Cynheidre, Tumble, Cross Hands, Ammanford and Pantyffynnon | 1989 (to all traffic) | Most of the railway (of whom still intact), now being restored as the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway | |
| Llanidloes and Newtown Railway | Cambrian Railways | Llanidloes to Newtown | 30 December 1962 | ||
| Llantrisant & Taff Vale Junction Railway | Great Western Railway | 1984 (to all traffic) | |||
| Mawddwy Railway | Great Western Railway | Cemmes Road to Dinas Mawddwy, via Aberangell | 1 July 1952 (to all traffic) | ||
| Maerdy Branch | Great Western Railway | Porth Junction to Mardy Colliery, via Ynshir, Tylorstown and Ferndale. | 13 June 1964 (to passenger traffic) June 1986 (to all traffic) | The Maerdy Heritage Railway, A Preservation Group Aims to Restore A 3 Mile Stretch of this Branch Line, As A Heritage Railway. | |
| Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway | London & North Western Railway | Merthyr (High Street) to Abergavenny Junction | 4 January 1958 (to regular traffic, under BR) 2 November 1959 (to goods traffic) 13 November 1961 (to freight traffic) 4 May 1964 (to all traffic) | ||
| Mid-Wales Railway | Cambrian Railways | Llanidloes to Brecon | 31 December 1962 | ||
| Mold and Denbigh Junction Railway | M&DJR Co | 30 April 1962 (to passengers) 1968 (to freight) 1983-8 (to all traffic) | |||
| Mold Railway | Mold to Chester | 1962 (to passengers)1983 (to all traffic) | |||
| Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company | |||||
| Moss Valley Branch | GWR | Moss Valley Junction to Moss Halt | 1 January 1931 (to passengers)18 August 1983 (to all traffic) | ||
| Neath and Brecon Railway | Great Western Railway | Brecon to Neath | 31 Dec 1962 | Part of the line remains open from Swansea District Line via Jersey Marine South Junction to Onllwyn | |
| Newcastle Emlyn branch line | GWR (Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway) | Pencader to Newcastle Emlyn, via Llandyssul and Henllan | 1965 (to passengers) 1973 (to all traffic) | Part of the former branch re-laid as Narrow Gauge, forming the Teifi Valley Railway. | |
| Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway | London & North Western Railway/GWR | Hereford to Quakers Yard, via Crumlin, Hengoed and Penallta Junction | 9 June 1958 (to goods traffic) | ||
| Newtown to Brecon Line | Mid-Wales Railway GWR | 31 Dec 1962 (Completely closed as a through route north of Talyllyn & Three Cocks Junctions) | |||
| Ogmore and Llynvi Valley lines | Great Western Rly | 1958 to passenger traffic | |||
| Pontcysyllte Branch | GWR | 1931 (to passengers)1968 (to all traffic) | |||
| Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway | Great Western Railway | Swansea to Treherbert, via Aberavon Town and Blaengwynfi | 1962 (to regular traffic) 1983 (to all traffic) | Part of the R&SBR still extant as part of the National Network, Whilst most of the majority of the latter, between Briton Ferry and Treherbert remains completely closed. The section of the line between Pontypridd and Treherbert also still open as the Local-Commuter Rhondda Line. | |
| Ruabon–Barmouth line | Great Western Railway | Ruabon to Barmouth (via Llangollen, Glyndyfrydwy, Corwen, Llandderfel, Bala and Dolgellau) | 1964–5 (to passengers) 1968 (to all traffic) | Two stretches (of the former line) now preserved, as the Llangollen Railway (between Corwen and Llangollen, via Carrog, Glyndyfrydwy and Berwyn), A total of 10miles in length, and the Bala Lake Railway (between Llanuwchllyn and Bala, via Pentrepiod and Llangower), A total of NaNmiles in length. | |
| Swansea and Mumbles Railway | |||||
| Swansea Vale Railway | Swansea to Abercrave, Brynamman | 1965 (to passengers)1983 (to all traffic) | |||
| Tanat Valley Light Railway | Cambrian Railways | 15 September 1951 (to passengers)December 1960 (to all traffic) | |||
| Tondu to Blaengarw line | GWR? | Tondu to Blaengarw (via Brynmenyn, Pontyrhyl and Pontycymmer) | Closed in 1955 (to passengers) 1997 (to freight) | Most of the line now being restored as the Garw Valley Railway. | |
| Vale of Clwyd Railway | |||||
| Vale of Neath Railway | Great Western Railway | Neath to Merthyr Tydfil, via Gelli Tarw Junction and Quakers Yard | Part of the line still exists | ||
| Vale of Rheidol Railway | Cambrian Railways | Privatised in 1989, heritage railway services continued | |||
| Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway | Welshpool to Llanfair | 9 February 1931 (to passengers)5 November 1956 (to freight) | Reopened as heritage railway in 1963 | ||
| Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway | Cambrian Railways (GWR) | Ellesmere to Wrexham, via Overton-on-Dee, Bangor-on-Dee and Hightown | 1962–3 (to all traffic) | ||
| Wrexham and Minera Railway | Great Western Railway | 1970–2 (to all traffic) | |||
| Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway | Great Western Railway | Wrexham to Connah's Quay, via Gwernsyltt, Cefn-y-Bedd, Penyffordd and Buckley Junction | Between Wrexham and Mold, via Llanfynydd en-route | Most of the line (Wrexham to Shotton) still open | |
| Wye Valley line | WVR | Chepstow to Monmouth | 4 January 1964 | Passenger Services were withdrawn on 4 January 1959. Freight trains carrying Limestone to Dayhouse Quarries continued until 1992. |