United Kingdom - Older General Information

Introduction

This document acts as an archive for Recent and Future Changes prior to 2013.

Route Closures and Service Reductions

Closures and significant service reductions in recent years

Lines closed:

• Farringdon - Moorgate, London: March 2009, but the London Underground line between the same stations is not affected.

• Fawkham Junction - Southfleet Junction: Regular passenger use ceased in November 2007, as a result of Eurostar services being diverted from London Waterloo to St Pancras. The line was converted to sidings, accessed only from Southfleet Junction, in April 2016, possibly temporarily.

• Barkston South Junction - Barkston East Junction: Replaced by new curve at Allington, October 2005.

Lines closed for conversion to rapid transit or other alternative transport use:

• Manchester - Oldham - Rochdale: Closed October 2009; most is now part of Manchester's tram/metro system, but that has street running through Oldham, following an interim period when trams used a now-closed section of the former railway.

• Stratford - North Woolwich, London: Closed December 2006; part being converted to part of Docklands Light Railway and much of the remainder as part of Crossrail's Abbey Wood line.

Passenger service withdrawn, line still open:

• Acton Main Line - Willesden West London Jn: Service withdrawn in December 2008, as a result of Cross Country ceasing to run trains to and from Brighton.

• Reading West Junction - Oxford Road Junction: The summer Saturday service last ran in September 2008.

• Nine Elms Junction - Linford Street Junction: Service withdrawn November 2007, as a result of Eurostar services being diverted from London Waterloo to St Pancras.

• Stratford - North Woolwich, London: Service withdrawn December 2006; part of the line being converted to part of Docklands Light Railway and part of the rest being rebuilt as part of Crossrail's Abbey Wood line.

• Newhaven Marine Station: The service comprising one train per day was suspended in August 2006 because of the alleged unsafe condition of the platform canopy.

• Maindee curve, Newport, Gwent: Service withdrawn December 2005.

• Lisburn - Antrim: Service withdrawn June 2003, on diversion of passenger trains via Bleach Green Junction.

Regular passenger service replaced by a very limited one:

• Stechford - Aston: Limited service following closure of open-access operator Wrexham & Shropshire in January 2011.

• Darlaston Jn - Pleck Jn [Walsall]: Reduced to one Walsall to Wolverhampton train, December 2008.

• Trowell Junction - Trent Junction: Reduced to 2 or 3 trains a week from December 2008.