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Railway Lines (Closure)

Volume 809: debated on Friday 22 January 1971

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the railway lines closed since 1959, with the mileage involved in each case and the date of closure.

Date of ClosurePassenger Route Mileage Closed
Harrogate-Crossgates via Wetherby6. 1.6427½
Church Fenton-Wetherby
Middlesbrough-Guisborough2. 3.644
Kidsgrove-Etruria2. 3.64
Stoke-on-Trent-Silverdale2. 3.64
Kemble-Cirencester6. 4.6411½
Kemble-Tetbury
Porth-Maerdy15. 6.64
Cardiff General-Cardiff Clarence Road16. 3.64¾
Barry-Bridgend15. 6.6419
Abercynon-Aberdare16. 3.64
Caerphilly-Senghenydd15. 6.64
Sheringham-Melton Constable6. 4.6411½
Swansea High Street-Milford Haven/Neyland (part closure—Neyland branch only)15. 6.641
Selby-Goole15. 6.64
Carlisle-Silloth7. 9.6420¾
Sunderland-Durham-Bishop Auckland4. 5.6423
Sunderland-West Hartlepool4. 5.64
Swaffham-Thetford15. 6.6418½
Salisbury-Fordingbridge-Bournemouth4. 5.6440¼
Brookenhurst-Ringwood-Bournemouth
Taunton-Yeovil Pen Mill15. 6.6420
Langholm-Riddings Junction-Carlisle15. 6.647
Ayr-Dalmellington6. 4.6411
Kilmarnock-Darvel6. 4.64
Elgin-Lossiemouth6. 4.64
Craigendoran-Arrochar15. 6.6411½
Fraserburgh-St. Combs3. 5.655
St. Boswells-Berwick-upon-Tweed15. 6.6433¾
Kilmarnock-Ardrossan6. 4.64
Wivenhoe-Brightlingsea15. 6.645
Dereham-Wells-next-the-Sea5.10.6421½
Northampton Castle-Peterborough4. 5.6437¾
Northampton Castle-Wellingborough Midland Road
Leeds-Pudsey-Bradford Exchange15. 6.643
Crowhurst-Bexhill West15. 6.64
Walsall-Dudley6. 7.64
Swan Village-Dudley15. 6.647
Dudley-Old Hill
Banbury-Woodford Halse (withdrawal of local service)15. 6.64
Worcester-Bromyard7. 9.6410¾
Stirling-Perth15. 6.6414
Southport Chapel Street-Preston7. 9.6416
Southport Chapel Street-Crossens
Audley End-Bartlow7. 9.64
Gleneagles-Crieff-Comrie6. 7.6414¾
Banff-Tillynaught6. 7.646
Edinburgh Princes Street-Kingsknowe (withdrawal of local service)6. 7.64
Stafford-Wellington7. 9.6418¾
Wellington-Shrewsbury
Wolverton-Newport Pagnell7. 9.644
Bradford Exchange-Wakefield via Batley7. 9.6415
North Walsham-Mundesley-on-Sea5.10.64
Derby Friargate-Nottingham Victoria7. 9.6417¾
Edinburgh-Musselburgh7. 9.64
Glasgow Queen Street-Kirkintilloch7. 9.64
Gloucester-Hereford2.11.6430
Bristol Temple Meads-Portishead7. 9.64
Dumfries-Stranraer14. 6.6567½
Romsey-Andover7. 9.6415
Manchester Victoria-Middleton7. 9.641
Wigan Central-Glazebrook2.11.6412¾
Coatbridge-Dumbarton5.10.6424½

The full information requested is not readily available. The following details relate to the closure of lines to passenger trains from 6th January, 1964 to 31st December, 1970:

Date of Closure

Passenger Route Mileage Closed

Buckingham-Bletchley7. 9.64
Aberdeen-Fraserburgh4.10.6540¾
Maud-Peterhead3. 5.6513¼
Lanark-Muirkirk5.10.6420
Newcastle-Newbiggin2.11.6419½
Newsham-Blyth
Monkseaton-Blyth-Newbiggin
Leicester London Road-Burton-on-Trent7. 9.6429¼
Hull-Hornsea19.10.6415½
Hull-Withernsea19.10.6418¼
Witham-Maldon East7. 9.64
Berkeley Road-Lydney Town2.11.643
Harrow and Wealdstone Belmont5.10.64
Tiverton-Tiverton Junction5.10.644
Widnes Loop5.10.64
Leeds Central-Castleford-Pontefract2.11.647
Manchester Exchange-Tyldesley-Wigan North Western (withdrawal of local service)2.11.64
Leek-Uttoxeter4. 1.6514¾
Bristol Temple Meads-Avonmouth Dock23.11.64
Bristol Temple Meads-Patchway-Pilning
Bristol Temple Meads-Clifton Down-Pilning
Nottingham Midland-Worksop12.10.6432
Bristol Temple Meads-Gloucester Eastgate4. 1.65
Gloucester Eastgate-Worcester Shrub Hill
(Withdrawal of local service)
Aberdeen-Inverurie (withdrawal of local service)7.12.64
Aviemore-Inverness-Elgin (withdrawal of local service)3. 5.65
Glasgow Central-Carlisle (withdrawal of local service)4. 1.65
Ruabon-Barmouth18. 1.6554½
Bala-Bala Junction
Whitechurch-Welshpool18. 1.6534
Llanfyllin-Llanmynech18. 1.65
Caernarvon-Afon Wen (Consent refused to Bangor-Caernarvon)7.12.6418¾
Bangor-Amlwch7.12.6417¾
Ballinluig-Aberfeldy3. 5.65
Darlington-Barnard Castle-Middleton-in-Teesdale30.11.6425¼
Carmarthen-Aberystwyth22. 2.6556¼
Glazebrook-Stockport (Tiviot Dale)30.11.6411¾
Walsall-Rugeley (Trent Valley)18. 1.6515¼
Birmingham New Street-Walsall via Penns18. 1.6512¼
Wolverhampton High Level-Burton-on-Trent4. 1.6523½
Nuneaton-Coventry-Leamington Spa Avenue18. 1.6514½
Lostwithiel-Fowey4. 1.65
Leeds City/Bradford-Ilkley-Skipton22. 3.6517½
Leeds City-Shipley-Bradford
Leeds City/Bradford-Keighley-Skipton
(Part withdrawal of local services—part closure of line)
West Drayton and Yiewsley-Staines West29. 3.65
St. Margarets-Buntingford16.11.6413½
Taunton-Barnstaple3.10.6644
Malton-Whitby8. 3.6558¾
Whitby-Scarborough
Aviemore-Craigellachie18.10.6533½
Halwill-Torrington1. 3.6520½
Sunderland-South Shields14. 6.65
Southport-Pool Hey Junction via Blowick14. 6.65
Bradford (Exchange)-Mirfield-Huddersfield14. 6.657
Bradford (Exchange)-Halifax-Huddersfield
(Closure of certain intermediate lines)
Dunstable North-Hatfield26. 4.6517¾
Dumfries-Kirkcudbright3. 5.6510¼
Thornton Junction-Dundee (Tay Bridge)6. 9.6528
Barnstaple-Torrington4.10.6514¼
Eridge-Hailsham14. 6.6516
Selby-Driffield14. 6.6531¼
Christ's Hospital-Guildford14. 6.6515½
St. Helen's Shaw Street-Earlestown-Warrington Bank Quay14. 6.652
Aviemore-Forres11.10.6536
Hamilton-Strathaven/Coalburn4.10.6518½
Ulverston-Lakeside6. 9.654

Date of Closure

Passenger Route Mileage Closed

Oxford-Bletchley-Bedford-Cambridge1. 1.68*77
Glasgow (Buchanan Street)-Stirling-Oban1.11.6540¼
Earby-Barnoldswick27. 9.6513¼
Farnley Junction-Spen Valley Junction via Heckmondwike2. 8.6513½
Pye Bridge-Kirkby in Ashfield East6. 9.655
Killin Junction-Killin1.11.65
Chippenham-Calne20. 9.65
Ryde (Pier Head)-Cowes18. 4.6611¾
Shanklin-Ventnor
Rosegrove-Todmorden1.11.65½
Manchester Victoria-Horwich27. 9.651
York-Hull29.11.6531
Glasgow St. Enoch-Dumfries-Carlisle6.12.651
Lincoln Central-Barnetby1.11.6520
Lincoln Central-Grantham
Aberdeen-Ballater28. 2.6643
Lancaster Castle/Lancaster Green-Ayre-Heysham3. 1.66½
Yeovil Town-Yeovil Pen Mill29.11.65½
Yeovil Junction-Yeovil Town3.10.662
Leeds-Skipton-Morecambe-Heysham3. 1.6618½
Bristol Temple Meads-Bath Green Park7. 3.6694
Bath Green Park-Bournemouth West
Highbridge-Evercreech Junction
Seaton Junction-Seaton7. 3.664
Axminster-Lyme Regis29.11.65
Shoreham-by-Sea-Christ's Hospital7. 3.6616½
Manchester Victoria-Rochdale-Todmorden (withdrawal of local service)3. 1.66
Cheltenham Spa (Malvern Road)-Cheltenham (St. James)3. 1.66½
Crewe-Chester (General) (withdrawal of local service)18.4.66
Derby Midland-Nottingham Midland (withdrawal of local service)14. 2.66
Rugby-Peterborough East6. 6.6651
Seaton-Stamford
Leicester London Road-Peterborough
(Part closure)
Sidmouth Junction-Sidmouth6. 3.678
Tipton St. John's-Exmouth6. 3.6711
Halwill-Wadebridge3.10.6630
Okehampton-Bude3.10.6645
Southampton-Fawley14. 2.66
Royton-Royton Junction18. 4.661
Glasgow St. Enoch-Dalry-Kilmarnock27. 6.6610
Barrhead-Kilmarnock (withdrawal of local service)7.11.66
Tayport-Newport East31. 3.66
Connel Ferry-Ballachulish28. 3.6628
Croxley Green-Bushey and Oxhey6. 6.661
Dearne Junction-Mexborough West5. 4.651
Swinton Junction-Mexborough No. 1 Signal Box25. 7.65½
Mexborough No. 1 Signal Box-Mexborough No. 3 Signal Box5. 4.65¼
Sheffield Victoria-Aylesbury Town and Woodford Halse-Banbury (except Sheffield Victoria-Woodhouse and Nottingham Arkwright Street-Rugby Central)5. 9.6673½
Yatton-Clevedon3.10.66
Okehampton-Bere Alston6. 5.6823
Callington-Gunnislake7.11.665
Saxmundham-Aldeburgh12. 9.668
Workington-Penrith (part closure)18. 4.6621
Gobowen-Oswestry7.11.66
Patney and Chirton-Holt Junction (line closure)18. 4.6620
Manchester (Victoria)-Bury (Bolton Street) and Ramsbottom-Accrington5.12.66
Manchester Victoria-Bury-Bacup via Clifton Junction and Heywood (includes Rochdale-Bacup)†5.12.6611¾
Manchester-Chinley-Derby (withdrawal of local services)6. 3.67
Buxton Midland-Millers Dale6. 3.67
Wakefield-Goole2. 1.676

* Varied to permit closure of Oxford-Bletchley and Bedford-Cambridge sections. Rail services continue Bletchley-Bedford at present.

† Decision reserved on single service each way between Bury-Rochdale.

Date of Closure

Passenger Route Mileage Closed

Nottingham Midland-Sheffield Midland2. 1.67
Derby Midland-Sheffield Midland
(Withdrawal of local service)
Harrogate-Northallerton6. 3.6725¼
Appledore-New Romney6. 3.6713½
Bodmin Road/Bodmin North-Padstow30. 1.6718¼
Three Bridges-Groombridge2. 1.6716½
Shelford-Marks Tey6. 3.6731½
Cambridge-St. Ives-March (part closure)6. 3.6718¾
Stanley Junction-Forfar-Kinnaber Junction4. 9.6744½
Killamarsh Junction-Pyewipe Junction6. 9.6440½
Tuxford West Junction-Tuxford North Junction
Shirebrook Junction-Warsop Junction
London (St. Pancras)-Nottingham (Midland) (Diversion of the remaining express services from Nottingham and St. Pancras via Oakham to the route via Wellingborough and Leicester (London Road))1. 5.6733¾
Arkleston Junction-Renfrew Wharf5. 6.67
Netherfield and Colwick-Nottingham Victoria3. 7.67
Woodburn Junction-Aldwarke Junction4. 9.67
Leeds-Doncaster (withdrawal of local service)6.11.67
Grendon Underwood Junction-Ashenden Junction5. 9.666
Leeds City-Cudworth-Sheffield Midland (withdrawal of local service)1. 1.68
Trowell Junction-Long Eaton Junction13.11.676
North Erewash Junction-Trent Station
North Junction
Leicester London Road-Wellingborough Midland Road (withdrawal of local service)1. 1.68
Aberdeen-Keith-Elgin6. 5.6866
Newcastle-Alnwick-Berwick29. 1.693
Alnmouth-Alnwick
Castlehill Junction-Parkhouse Junction1. 1.68½
Corstorphine-Edinburgh (Waverley)1. 1.68
Tyldesley-Springs Branch1. 1.68
Birmingham (Snow Hill)-Wolverhampton (Low Level) (section of line north of Wolverhampton and south of Birmingham)4. 3.68
Scotswood Junction-West Wylam Junction, Northumberland11. 3.68
Larbert-Alloa29. 1.686
Stratford-upon-Avon-Gloucester (part closure, part modification)25. 3.6820¼
Grangemouth Branch Junction-Grangemouth29. 1.683
Penarth-Cadoxton4. 5.68
Stevenson Junction-Montgomerie Pier Station6. 5.68
Chester Northgate-Hawarden Bridge9. 9.68
Carnforth-Carlisle (withdrawal of local service)1. 7.68
Matlock-Chinley North Junction1. 7.6823¾
Denton Junction-Droylsden Junction1. 7.68
Dereham-King's Lynn9. 9.6826½
King's Lynn-Wisbech East9. 9.68
March-Wisbech9. 9.68
Methley Junction-Cutsyke Junction7.10.68
Hailsham-Polegate9. 9.683
Manchester-Southport (section of line between Dobbs Brow Junction-Horwich Fork Junction)9. 9.68
Dunfermline Lower-Stirling7.10.6823½
Ayr-Heads of Ayr9. 9.68
Edinburgh-Hawick-Carlisle6. 1.6998¼
Leuchars South Junction-St. Andrews6. 1.695
Barrow Shipyard Station and lines, St. Lukes Junction-Locomotive Junction7.10.682
Salthouse Junction-Locomotive Junction, Locomotive Junction-Barrow Shipyard Station
Dundee-Newport-on-Tay East5. 5.69
Uckfield-Lewes and Ashurst Junction-Groombridge Junction5. 5.699
Stratford-upon-Avon-Worcester5. 5.69
Chester Northgate-Mickle Trafford Junction6.10.69
Kilmarnock-Ayr3. 3.69
Eastleigh-Romney5. 5.69
Darlington-Richmond3. 3.6910
King's Lynn-Hunstanton5. 5.6915¼
Nottingham-Rugby Central5. 5.6943½
Eccles Junction-Kenyon Junction via Tyldesley5. 5.6910½
Wymondham-Dereham6.10.6911½
Yate South Junction-Bristol East Junction29.12.6910

Date of Closure

Passenger Route Mileage Closed

Lowestoft Central-Yarmouth South Town4.5.7010¼
Pemberton Junction Signal Box-Hindley No. 2 Signal Box14.7.693
New Mills-Hayfield5.1.703
Rose Hill-Macclesfield5.1.7010
Thornton Junction-Leven6.10.696
Crewe-Preston (withdrawal of local service)6.10.69
Wembley Stadium Loop Line1.9.69
York-Normanton-Wakefield-Manchester5.1.70
Kidderminster-Bewdley-Hartlebury5.1.708
Bangor-Caernarvon5.1.707
Cowdenbeath-Kinross-Perth5.1.7023½
Skipton-Carlisle (withdrawal of local service)4.5.70
Peterborough-Boston, Firsby South Junction-Grimsby, Firsby-Firsby East Junction (Refusal to Boston-Firsby South Junction-Skegness)5.10.70103
Willoughby-Mablethorpe
Lincoln Central-Bellwater Junction
Cleethorpes-Immingham Dock6.10.69
Ormskirk-Preston6.10.69
Colne-Skipton2.2.7011
Barnstaple Junction-Ilfracombe5.10.7015
Cambridge-St. Ives5.10.7012½
High Wycombe-Bourne End4.5.705
Kirkham-Fleetwood1.6.70
Bolton-Bury-Rochdale5.10.7010
Bridgend-Treherbert14.12.7017½