Branch Line Britain - celebrating Britain's minor railways

London Midland

Class 170 unit at Rugeley Trent Valley January 2009

Aston to Rugeley

Name of Line: The Chase Line

Length of Line:

Train Operating Company: London Midland

Traction used: Class 150 and class 170 DMU's

Stations: Aston, Witton, Perry Barr, Hamstead, Tame Bridge Parkway, Bescot Stadium, Walsall, Bloxwich, Bloxwich North, Landywood, Cannock, Hednesford, Rugeley Town, Rugeley Trent Valley

Description: This popular commuter line goes north west from Birmingham via Walsall to Rugeley. 

History: The line first opened to passengers in 1870, having previously been part of the Cannock Mineral Railway. It then closed to passngers north of Walsall in the Beeching cuts of the 1960's, continuing as a freight only line. It was reopened to passengers between 1989 and 1998.

Journey review

Websites:  Chasewater Railway


Aylesbury Vale Parkway railway station - 17th February 2009

Aylesbury to Aylesbury Vale

Name of Line: The London to Aylesbury line (extension)

Length of Line: 3 miles

Train Operating Company: Chiltern Railways 

Stations: Aylesbury, Aylesbury Vale Parkway

Traction used: Cass 165 DMU's

Description: This brand new route which opened in December 2008 links Aylesbury with the new station of Aylesbury Vale Parkway on the A41 about three miles to the north of the town. It is on a freight-only line to the waste terminal north of Quainton Road station, which belongs to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.

History: This line is on the former Great Central line from London to Nottingham via Rugby.  

Journey review

Website links: Buckinghamshire Railway Centre     You-Tube film


Redditch railway station looking south
 

Barnt Green to Redditch

Name of line: The Cross-City Line  (part of)

Length of Line:

Stations: Barnt Green, Alvechurch, Redditch

Train Operating Company: London Midland

Description: The line leaves the main Cross-Country route from Birmingham to Bristol at Barnt Green at the start of the famous Lickey Incline. It then goes south eastwards for five miles via Alvechurch before terminating at Redditch.

History:

Frequency of Trains: 1/2 hourly

Journey review

Websites:   Photo link


Matlock Railway Station - looking south
 

Belper to Matlock

Name of Line: The Derwent Valley Line / The Matlock Branch

Length of Line: 17 1/4 miles

Trains start at: Derby

Stations: Belper, Ambergate, Cromford, Matlock Bath, Matlock

Train Operating Company: East Midlands Trains

Description: This picturesque branchline follows the valley of the River Derwent as it enters the Peak District of Derbyshire.

History: This route was originally part of the Midland Railway line from Manchester to London St Pancras. 

Journey review

Web links: Photo link   Peak Rail  Ecclesbourne Valley Railway  Midlands Railway Society  Friends of the Derwent Valley Line

Belper.jpg     Matlock 2.jpg    

Belper Station -  station name in stone        Matlock  Railway Station  - looking north


Bidston Railway station sign

 

Bidston to Wrexham 

Name of Line: The Borderlands Line 

Length of Line:

Stations: Bidston, Upton, Heswall, Hawarden Bridge, Hawarden, Buckley, Penyfford, Hope, Caergwrle, Cefn-y-Bedd, Gwersylt, Wrexham General, Wrexham Central

Train Operating Compmany: Arriva Trains Wales

Description: The line leaves the Birkenhead area and moves south through the Wirral Peninsula, before crossing the River Dee to enter  North Wales before arriving in Wrexham.

History

Journey review

Websites:  The Borderlands Line   Wrexham to Bidston Railway  Wrexham to Birkenhead Rail Users' Association


Class 307 EMU at New Brighton railway station 8th April 2009

 

Birkenhead North to New Brighton

Name of Line: The Wirral Line (Northern Section) 

Length of Line:

Stations: Birkenhead North, Wallasey Village, Wallesey Grove Road, New Brighton

Train Operating Company: Merseyrail

Traction Used: Class 307/8 EMUs

Description: This branch line shares its route out of Liverpool and Birkenhead with the Wirral Line to West Kirby. It leaves this line soon after Birkenhead North where it goes north into Wallasey before terminating at New Brighton.

History

Journey review

Websites:

Birkenhead North 2.jpg      New Brighton 2.jpg

Birkenhead North station looking west            New Brighton railway station


Class 332 unit at Lichfield Trent Valley railway station 14/3/09

Birmingham to Lichfield

Name of Line: The Cross City Line

Length of Line:

Train Operating Company: London Midland

Traction used: Class 332 EMU's

Stations: Birmingham New Street, Duddeston, Aston, Gravelly Hill, Erdington, Chester Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks, Butlers Lane, Blake Street, Shenstone, Lichfield City, Lichfield Trent Valley 

Description: This popular commuter line goes north from Birmingham via Sutton Coldfield to Lichfield. 

History: The line originally ran from Birmingham to Derby via Burton-on-Trent. It is still used for freight and as a diversionary line north of Lichfield.

Journey review

Websites:  Chasewater Railway

Birmingham NS 1.jpg         Lichfield 2.jpg   

Lichfield Train at Birmingham New Street       Lichfiled Trent Valley station monument


Clitheroe railway station January 2009


Blackburn to Clitheroe

Name of Line: The Ribble Valley Line

Length of Line: 10 miles

Stations: Blackburn, Ramsgreave & Wilpshire, Langho, Whalley, Clitheroe 

Train Operating Company: Northern

Traction Used: Clas 142 Pacer DMUs

Description: Leaving the Preston to Leeds line at Blackburn the line travels north on the western edge of the Pennines to Clitheroe. The line continues as a freight line to Hellifield on the Leeds to Carlisle line.  

History

Journey review 

Trivia: On summer sundays passenger trains continue on from Clitheroe through to Hellifeld on a service from Blackpool to Carlisle.

Websites: Ribble Valley Rail


Bedford railway station looking south 24/11/07 - Bletchley train on left
 

Bletchley to Bedford

Name of Line: The Marston Vale Line

Length of Line: 16 3/4 miles 

Train Operating Company: London Midland

Stations: Bletchley, Fenny Stratford, Bow Brickell, Woburn Sands, Aspley Guise, Ridgmont, Lidlington, Millbrook, Stewarthy, Kempston Hardwick, Bedford St Johns, Bedford

History: The line was originally opened in 1846 forming the central part of the "Varsity Line" from Oxford to Cambridge. In the Beeching cuts of the 1960's the line east of Bedford was closed in 1967, whilst the line west from Bletchley to Bicester has remained mothballed since 1993. The line was designated a community railway line in 2006.

Description: The line crosses the counties of Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire from south west to north east, passing through the picturesque Marston Vale.

Future Plans: These include extending the service through to Milton Keynes, Bicester/Oxford and Sandy/Cambridge. See East-West rail link below.

Trivia: Kempston Hardwick station on the line once had the reputation as being "the least used station in Britain"!

Timetable

Journey review

Memory

Websites: The Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association    Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership  East-West Rail Link

Lidlington.jpg      Millbrook 1.jpg

1954 scene Lidlington to Ridgmont            Millbrook station in 2004 © Roger Gurney


10.14 Carlisle to Barrow train at Carlisle railway station 16/8/08

Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness

Name of Line: The Cumbrian Coast Line

Length of Line: 85 miles

Train Operating Company: Northern

Stations: Carlisle, Dalston, Wigton, Aspatria, Maryport, Flimby, Workington, Harrington, Parton, Whitehaven, Corckickle, St Bees, Nethertown, Braystones, Sellafield, Seascale, Drigg, Ravenglass For Eskdale, Bootle, Silecroft, Millom, Green Road, Foxfield, Kirkby-in-Furness, Askam, Barrow-in-Furness 

Frequency of Trains: One every one/two hours 

Rolling Stock: Class 156 Super Sprinter 2 car DMUs

Description: This mainly double track line runs through a mixture of both industrial and coastal scenery passing the western edge of the Lake District as well as the large Sellafield Nuclear Power Station.

History: The line as we know it today was the result of several different railways being built in this area during the mid-1800's. The first section opened was the Furness Railway from Kirkby-in-Furness to Barrow-in-Furness in 1844. Then came the Maryport and Carlisle railway which opened the northern stretch from Carlisle to Maryport in 1845. Next was the stretch from Whitehaven to Kirkby-in-Furness opened in 1865. The final link from Maryport to whitehaven was opened in 1866.

Journey review

Website links:  Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway   Sellafield


Merseyrail train at Chester railway station 24/7/09


Chester to Birkenhead & Liverpool

Name of Line: The Wirral Line (Southern branch)

Length of Line:

Stations: Chester, Bache, Capenhurst, Hooton, Eastham Rake, Bromborough, Bromborough Rake, Spital, Port Sunlight, Bebington, Rock Ferry, Green Lane, Birkenhead Central, Hamilton Square, Moorfields, Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Central, James Street

Train Operating Company: Merseyrail

Description: This line runs up the eastern side of the Wirral peninsular from Chester in the south to Birkenhead in the north, before it goes under the River Mersey into Liverpool. 

History

Journey review

Memories


Mouldsworth Railway Station

Chester to Stockport

Name of Line: The Mid-Cheshire Line

Length of Line:

Stations: Chester, Mouldsworth, Delamere, Cuddington, Greenbank, Northwich, Lostock Gralam, Plumley, Knutsford, Mobberley, Ashley, Hale, Altrincham, Navigation Road, Stockport  

Train Operating Company: Northern

Description: This minor line goes eastwards from Chester across Cheshire to the southern outskirts of Manchester, before joining the mainline from Manchster Piccadilly to London at Stockport.

History:

Journey review

Websites: The Mid-Cheshire Line   Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association  


Dovey Junction railway station sign

Dovey Junction to Pwllheli

Name of line: The Cambrian Coast Line

Length of Line:

Stations: Dovey Junction, Penhelig, Aberdovey, Tywyn, Tonfanau, Llwyngwril, Fairbourne, Morfa Mawddach, Barmouth, Llanaber, Talybont, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Llanbedr, Pensarn, Llandanwg, Harlech, Tygwyn, Talsarnau, Llandecwyn, Penrhyndeudraeth,  Minffordd, Porthmadog, Criccieth, Penychain, Abererch, Pwllheli

Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales

Description: A very picturesque railway line which follows the western coastline to Wales, with spectacular views of Snowdonia.

History:

Frequency of Trains: Aprroximately every two hours

Journey review

Websites:


Train from Manchester arrives at Hadfield railway station


Guide Bridge to Glossop & Hadfield

Name of Line: The Hadfield & Glossop Line

Length of Line: 

Stations: Guide Bridge, Flowery Field, Godley, Hattersley, Broadbottom, Dinting, Glossop, Hadfield 

Train Operating Company: Northern

Description: This used to be the main route from Manchester to Sheffield aka the Woodhead Route. Passengers trains stopped running beyond Hadfield in 1969, but freight trains continued until 1982.

History

Journey review

Websites: - Photo site     The Woodhead Site     Translink

Hadfield 3.jpg        glossop 3.jpg

End of the line at Hadfield station                 Lion on the roof of Glossop station


A station sign with a difference

Hamilton Square to West Kirby

Name of Line: The Wirral Line (Northern Section) 

Stations: Hamilton Square, Conway Park, Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead North, Bidston, Leasowe, Moreton, Meols, Manor Road, Hoylake, West Kirby

Train Operating Company: Merseyrail

Description - This electric branch line starts off under the streets of central Liverpool, passes under the river Mersey and emerges in Birkenhead at Hamilton Square, where it leaves the southern branch of the Wirral line which goes on to Chester. It then travels westwards across the northern edge of the Wirral peninsular to terminate at West Kirby across the Dee estuary from North Wales.

History

Journey review


Hatton railway station

Hatton to Stratford-Upon-Avon

Name of line: The Leamington to Stratford Line

Length of Line:

Stations: Hatton, Claverdon, Bearley, Wilmcote, Stratford-upon-Avon

Train Operating Companies: Chiltern Railways 

Description: A short connecting line between Hatton on the Chiltern mainline and Wilmcote on the North Warwickshire Line from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon.

History:

Frequency of Trains: Every two hours from London Marylebone

Journey review

Websites:  


Ellesmere Port railway station looking east

Hooton to Ellesmere Port/Helsby

Name of Line: The Wirral Line (Southern Section) 

Length of Line:

Stations: Hooton, Little Sutton, Overpool, Ellesmere Port, Stanlow & Thornton, Ince & Elton, Helsby

Train Operating Companies: Merseyrail Northern

Description: This branch line shares its route out of Liverpool and Birkenhead with the Wirral Line to Chester. It leaves this line at Hooton where it goes eastwards to Elllesmere Port where Merseyrail trains terminate. There is a limited service operated by Northern Trains on to Helsby which is on the Manchester to Warrington line.

History:

Journey review


Hunts Cross railway station looking east

Hunts Cross to Liverpool Central

Name of Line: The Northern Line (Southern Section) 

Length of Line:

Stations: Hunts Cross, Liverpool South Parkway, Cressington, St Michaels, Brunswick, Liverpool Central

Train Operating Company: Merseyrail

Description: This branch line leaves the Liverpool to Manchester (via Warrington) line at Hunts Cross and runs parallel to the north bank of the river Mersey into the centre of Liverpool.

History:

Journey review


Huyton railway station

 

Huyton to Wigan North Western

Name of Line: The Liverpool to Wigan Line

Length of Line:  miles

Train Operating Company: Northern 

Stations: Huyton, Prescot, Eccleston Park, Thatto Heath, St Helens Central, Garswood, Bryn, Wigan North Western

Description; The line leaves the original Liverpool to Manchester railway line soon after Huyton and goes in a north easterly direction via St Helens to join the West Coast Main Line at Wigan North Western.

History: The line from Huyton to St Helens was originally opened in 1871, with the section from St Helens to Wigan being opened in 1869. 

Journey review

Trivia: This line has been given the go-ahead to be electrified though completion may not be until 2017.


Merseyrail train at Kirkby railway station

Kirkdale to Kirkby

Name of Line: The Northern Line (part of)

Length of Line:

Stations: Kirkdale, Rice Lane, Fazakerley, Kirkby

Train Operating Company: Merseyrail

Description:

History:

Journey review

Websites:


Blackpool South railway station

 

Kirkham & Wesham to Blackpool South

Name of Line: The Fylde Coast Branch Line

Length of Line: 

Stations: Kirkham & Wesham, Moss Side, Lytham, Ansdell & Fairhaven, St Annes-on-the-Sea, Squires Gate, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool South

Train Operating Company: Northern

Description: This branch line leaves the Blackpool North main line at Kirkham & Wesham station and travels round the South Fylde Coast through Lytham St Annes to Blackpool South station.

History

Journey review

Trivia: In August 1935 a typical Saturday saw well over 400 trains arriving and departing from Blackpool's two main stations.


The 14.05 train to Carlisle via Barrow-in-Furness at Lancaster Railway Station 16/8/08

Lancaster to Barrow-in-Furness

Name of Line: The Furness Line

Length of Line: 35 miles

Train Operating Companies: Northern  Trans Pennine Express

Stations: Lancaster, Carnforth, Silverdale, Arnside, Grange-over-Sands, Kents Bank, Cark, Ulverston, Dalton, Roose, Barrow-in-Furness 

Frequency of Trains: One every one/two hours 

Trains start at: Lancaster, Manchester Airport, Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness

Rolling Stock: Class 153 Super Sprinter 2 car DMUs

Description: This double track line runs along the southern edge of the Lake District and over the northern edge of the Morecambe Sands.

Journey review

Website links:


Leeds train at Heysham railway station


Lancaster to Morecambe/Heysham

Name of Line: The Morecambe Branch Line

Length of Line:

Stations: Lancaster, Bare Lane, Morecambe, Heysham 

Train Operating Company: Northern

Description: This short branch line leaves the West Coast Main Line north of Lancaster and travels westwards to Morecambe. Trains going to the port of Heysham reverse at Morecambe station. 

History

Journey review


Merseyrail trains at Southport Railway Station

Liverpool Central to Southport

Name of Line: The Northern Line (part of)

Length of Line:

Stations: Liverpool Central, Moorfields, Sandhills, Bank Hall, Bootle Oriel Road, Bootle New Strand, Waterloo, Blundellsands & Crosby, Hall Road, Hightown, Formby, Freshfield, Ainsdale, Hillside, Birkdale, Southport 

Train Operating Company: Merseyrail

Description:

History:

Journey review

Websites:


Blaenau Ffestiniog railway station 25/7/09

 

Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Festiniog

Name of Line: The Conwy Valley Line

Length of Line:  

Stations: Llandudno Junction, Glan Conwy, Tal-y-Cafn, Dolgarrog, North Llanrwst. Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed, Pont-y-Pant, Dolwyddelan, Roman Bridge, Blaenau Ffestiniog

Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales

Description: The line goes due south from the seaside resort of Llandudno, crossing the North Wales main Line at Llandudno Junction, before following the valley of the River Conwy into the Snowdonian Mountain range to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

History: The line was opened in stages between 1863 and 1881, primarily as a route for the export of slate through the port of Deganwy.

Journey review

Memory - coming soon

Websites: The Conwy Valley Railway   The Conwy Valley Line  Photolink 1  Ffestiniog Railway


Class 150 Unit at Llandudno Railway Station 25/7/09

Llandudno Junction to Llandudno

Name of Line: The Conwy Valley Line

Length of Line:  

Stations: Llandudno Junction, Deganwy, Llandudno

Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales

Description: The line goes north to the seaside resort of Llandudno from the North Wales main Line at Llandudno Junction, along the estuary of the River Conwy 

History: The line was opened in stages between 1863 and 1881, primarily as a route for the export of slate through the port of Deganwy.

Journey review


Worksop train at Nottingham Railway Station

Nottingham to Worksop

Name of line: The Robin Hood line

Length of Line:

Stations: Stations: Nottingham, Bulwell, Hucknall, Newstead, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Sutton ParkwayMansfield, Mansfield Woodhouse,  Shirebrook, Langwith, Nether Langwith, Whaley Thornes, Cresswell, Whitwell, Mansfield

Train Operating company: East Midlands Trains

Description: This existing freight branch line, reopened to passenger traffic in 1998 after being rebuilt bit by bit throughout the 1990's. It connects Nottingham in the south with Worksop in the north passing through some post industrial landscapes and former mining towns. 

History:

Journey review


Nuneaton Train passed by a Wrexham & Shropshire train at Coventry railway station 14/3/09

Nuneaton to Coventry

Name of Line: The Coventry to Nuneaton Line

Length of Line:

Train Operating Company: London Midland 

Stations: Nuneaton, Bermuda Park, Bedworth, Coventry Arena, Coventry

Description: This line goes south east from Nuneaton to Coventry. 

History: After closing to passengers in 1965, this line was reopened to passengers once again in 1987. Two new stations - Bermuda Park and Coventry Arena were opened in 2015. 

Journey review

Websites:

Nuneaton 1.jpg     Coventry 3.jpg

Class 153 Coventry Train at Nuneaton         Welcome to Coventry


Windermere train at Oxenholme railway station

 

Oxenholme to Windermere

Name of Line: The Windermere Branch/ The Lakes Line

Length of Line: 10 miles

Stations: Oxenholme Lake District, Kendal, Burneside, Staveley, Windermere

Description: This branch line leaves the West Coast Main Line at Oxenholme and turns westwards where it passes through the town of Kendal before reaching the eastern edge of the Lake District and Windermere.

Train Operating Company: Trans Pennine Express

Frequency of Trains: one very hour

Rolling Stock: Class 185 Desiro "Pennine" 3 car DMUs

History

Journey review

Trivia: The station of Windermere is actually 1 1/2 miles from Lake Windermere.


Ormskirk railway station - end of Preston section


Preston to Ormskirk

Name of Line: The Ormskirk Branch

Length of Line:

Train Operating Company: Northern

Stations: Preston, Croston, Rufford, Burscough Junction, Ormskirk

Description: This once important route from Scotland to Liverpool is now a minor single track branch line with just 12 trains a day in each direction.   At the moment trains from Preston terminate at Ormskirk as there is a short gap in the line with buffers, so passengers from Preston change here and walk along the platform to the Liverpool side of the buffers and board the waiting Merseyrail train.

History: This line was once the main line from Liverpool Exchange to Preston and Scotland, but in the 1970's the main route to Scotland moved to Liverpool Lime Street to the West Coast Mainline at Wigan.

Journey review

Websites:  Photo link


The famous "bubblecar" at Aylesbury Railway Station

 

Princes Risborough to Aylesbury

Name of Line: The Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line

Length of Line:

Train Operating Company: Chiltern Railways 

Stations: Princes Risborough, Monks Risborough, Little Kimble, Aylesbury

Description: This short branch line goes north east from Princes Risborough through the Buckinghamshire countryside to Aylesbury. 

History

Journey review

Websites: Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway 


Rose Hill railway station

 

Romiley to Rose Hill Marple

Name of Line: The Hope Valley Line (part of) 

Length of Line: 2 miles

Stations: Romiley, Rose Hill Marple

Train Operating Company: Northern

Description: On of the shortest branch lines in Britain which runs off the mainline from Manchester to Sheffield on the western edge of the Pennines.

History: The line was opened originally in 1869 running from Manchester to Macclesfield. The line south of Rose Hill Marple closed in 1970.

Journey review


Colne railway station looking east


Rose Grove to Colne

Name of Line: The East Lancashire Line

Length of Line:

Train Operating Company: Northern 

Stations: Rose Grove, Burnley Barracks, Burnley Central, Brierfield, Nelson, Colne 

Description: This branch Leaves the Preston to Leeds line at Rose Grove near Burnley and travels into the Pennines before terminating at Colne. It originally went through to Skipton. A campaign is aiming to get this gap in the line re-opened.

History

Journey review

Websites: Skipton East Lancs Railway Action Partnership


Ormskirk railway station - end of Merseyrail section

Sandhills to Ormskirk

Name of Line: The Northern Line (part of)

Length of Line:

Stations: Sandhills, Kirkdale, Walton, Orrell Park, Aintree, Old Roan, Maghull, Town Green, Aughton Park, Ormskirk   

Train Operating Company: Merseyrail

Description:

History:

Journey review

Websites:


Aberystwyth train at Shrewsbury railway station 25/7/09

Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth

Name of Line: The Cambrian Line  The Mid Wales Line (part of)

Length of Line:

Train Operating Company: Arriva Trains Wales

Traction used:

Stations:   Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws, Machynlleth, Dovey Junction, Borth, Aberystwyth

Description: 

History:

Journey review


Buxton railway station

 

Stockport to Buxton

Name of Line: The Buxton Line

Length of Line:

Train Operating Company:  Northern

Stations: Stockport, Davenport, Woodsmoor, Hazel Grove, Middlewood, Disley, New Mills Newtown, Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Dove Holes, Buxton

Description - This picturesque line leaves the south eastern Manchester suburbs behind as it climbs up into the foothills of the Pennines, with panoramic views of the Peak District ahead, before arriving in the historical spa town of Buxton which is 1,000 feet above sea level.

History

Journey review


Display sign at Stockport railway station for the rarest train in Britain


Stockport to Stalybridge

Name of Line: The Stockport to Stalybridge Line

Length of Line: 

Train Operating Company: Northern

Stations: Stockport, Reddish South, Denton, Guide Bridge, Stalybridge 

Description: The rarest train journey in the whole of Britain. It leaves Stockport at 9.22 am Fridays only (from December 2009), to terminate at Stalybridge, but doesn't do a return journey.

History

Website links: Friends of Reddish South Station

Journey review


People Mover at Stourbridge Junction railway station June 20th 2009

 

Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town

Name of Line: The Stourbridge Town Branch Line

Length of Line: 3/4 mile

Train Operating Company: London Midland

Stations: Stourbridge Junction, Stourbridge Town

Description: The smallest branch line in existence in Britain today with a length of just 3/4 mile

History: Since May 2009 the Class 153 single units have been replaced with Class 139 Parry People Mover units.

Journey review 1   Journey review 2

Websites:  Photo link  Stourbridge Line Users Group   Parry People Movers


Startford-Upon-Avon railway station

Tyseley to Stratford-upon-Avon

Name of line: The North Warwickshire Line

Length of Line:

Stations: Tyseley, Spring Road, Hall Green, Yardley wood, Shirley, Whitlock's End, Wythall, Earlswood, The Lakes, Wood End, Danzey, Henley-in-Arden, Wootton Wawen, Wilmcote, Stratford-upon-Avon

Train Operating Company: London Midland

Description: This is a picturesque branch line going South East from Birmingham via the Warwickshire countryside to Startford-upon-Avon. Many of the railway stations along the route have been painted in Great Western Railway colours.

History:

Frequency of Trains:  hourly

Journey review

Websites: The Shakespeare Express  Tyseley Locomotive Works     


St Albans Abbey railway station

 

Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey

Name of Line: The Abbey Line

Train Operating Company: London Midland

Stations: Watford Junction, Watford North, Garston, Bricket Wood, How Wood, Park Street, St Albans Abbey

Description: This short branch line runs from the West Coast Mainline at Watford Junction through the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside before terminating in St Albans by the historic Abbey. 

History

Journey review

Memory

Websites: The Abbey Line

Trivia: There are several nudist clubs in and around Bricket Wood


Manchester train at Kirkby railway station 24/4/10

Wigan Wallgate to Kirkby

Name of Line: 

Length of Line:

Stations: Wigan Wallgate, Pemberton, Orrell, Upholland, Rainford, Kirkby

Train Operating Company: Northern

Description: This branch line leaves the Manchester to Southport line just after Wigan Wallgate and gos south westwards towards Liverpool, terminating at Kirkby. Here Merseyrail trains terminate the other side of the buffers.

History:

Journey review