List of closed railway lines in the United Kingdom
This list is for railway lines across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which are now long abandoned, closed, dismantled, disused or mothballed.
Across 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, whether 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 former railway lines have also been converted to cycleways, footpaths and highways.
Scotland
| Name of line | Builder | Route | Closure date | Notes |
| Aberdeen Railway | Caledonian Railway | Kinnaber Junction to Brechin, via Dubton | 1952–67 1981 | A 4 mile stretch of the line now preserved, as the Caledonian Railway (Brechin). |
| Aberfeldy branch line | Highland Railway | Aberfeldy Junction to Aberfeldy, via Grandtully | 3 May 1965 | |
| Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Railway | Longniddry to Gullane | 12 September 1932 15 June 1964 | Planned route from Gullane to North Berwick never opened | |
| Alford Valley branch line | Great North of Scotland Railway | Kintore to Alford, via Tillyfourie | 1950 1966 | A stretch of the former line now preserved as the Alford Valley Railway |
| Alloa Railway | Airth to Alloa | 29 January 1968 6 May 1968 | ||
| Alva Railway | Cambus to Alva | 1 November 1954 January 1965 | ||
| Alyth Branch Line | Caledonian Railway | Alyth Junction to Alyth, via Meigle and Jordanstone | 2 July 1951 January 1965 | |
| Arbroath and Forfar Railway | Caledonian Railway | Arbroath to Forfa | 1967 | |
| Ayr and Cumnock Line | G&SWR | Ayr to Cumnock via Annbank | 10 September 1951 | Section between Ayr and Drongan remains in service for freight |
| Ayr and Dalmellington Railway | Ayr to Dalmellington | 6 April 1964 | Section between Ayr and Dalrymple Junction in service as part of the Glasgow South Western Line. Section between Dalrymple Junction and Waterside remains in freight service | |
| Ayr to Mauchline Branch | G&SWR | Ayr to Mauchline via Annbank | 4 January 1943 | Remains in freight service |
| Balerno line | Ravelrig to Slateford via Balerno | 30 October 1943 4 December 1967 | ||
| 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 line now preserved as the Royal Deeside Railway. |
| Ballochney Railway | 1964 | |||
| Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway | GNoSR | Cairnie Junction to Banff, via Tillynaught | 6 July 1964 6 May 1968 | |
| Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Railway | Great North of Scotland Railway | Inveramsay to Macduff, via Turriff and Banff Bridge | 1 October 1951 3 January 1966 | |
| Bangour Railway | Uphall to Bangour | 4 May 1921 1 Aug 1921 | ||
| Bankfoot Railway | SMJR | Strathord to Bankfoot | 13 April 1931 7 September 1964 | |
| Barrhead Branch | G&SWR | Barrhead Central to Potterhill | 1 January 1917 2 March 1970 | |
| Bathgate Branch | Monkland Railways | Bathgate to Blackston Junction | 1 May 1930 1973 | |
| Beith Branch | GB&KJR | Lugton to Beith | 5 November 1962 5 October 1964 | Section between Lugton and Barrmill still extant, albeit disused and disconnected from the main line |
| Berwickshire Railway | North British Railway | Reston to St Boswell's via Duns | 10 September 1951 7 November 1966 | |
| Blane Valley Railway | Killearn to Lennoxtown | 1 October 1951 28 September 1964 | ||
| Blantyre and East Kilbride Branch | Caledonian Railway | East Kilbride to Hunthill Junction | 14 July 1924 24 January 1966 | |
| Boddam Branch | Great North of Scotland Rly | Ellon to Boddam | 1932 1945 1950 | |
| Bonnybridge Canal Branch | Caledonian Railway | Greenhill to Bonnybridge | 28 July 1930 7 December 1964 | |
| Border Union Railway | North British Railway | 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 | |
| Brechin and Edzell District Railway | Brechin to Edzell | 27 September 1938 7 September 1964 | ||
| Bridge of Weir Railway | Johnstone to Bridge of Weir | 10 January 1983 | ||
| Bridgeton Branch | North British Railway | College to Bridgeton Central | 5 November 1979 1987 | |
| Buckie and Portessie Branch | Highland Railway | Keith to Portessie | 9 August 1915 1 April 1944 | |
| Cairn Valley Light Railway | Dumfries to Moniaive | 1 May 1943 4 July 1949 | ||
| Cairnryan Military Railway | ||||
| Callander and Oban Railway | Callander and Oban Railway | Callander to Oban | 27 September 1965 | Section between Crianlarich and Oban is still open, accessed via the West Highland Railway. |
| Cambusnethan Branch | Caledonian Railway | Wishaw South Junction to Newmains | 1 January 1917 | |
| Campsie Branch | Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway | Lenzie to Lennoxtown | 1964 1966 | |
| Carmyllie Railway | Elliot Junction to Carmyllie | 2 December 1929 19 May 1965 | ||
| Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway | Glasgow and South Western Railway | Castle Douglas to Dumfries | 14 June 1965 | |
| Catrine Branch | G&SWR | Mauchline to Catrine | 3 May 1943 6 July 1964 | |
| 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 | |||
| Cleland, Morningside and Drumbowie Railway | Caledonian Railway | Cleland to Morningside | 1 December 1930 | |
| Corstophine Branch | North British Railway | Haymarket to Corstophine | 1 January 1968 | |
| Crieff and Comrie Railway | Caledonian Railway | Crieff to Comrie | 6 July 1964 | |
| Crieff Junction Railway | Caledonian Railway | Crieff Junction to Crieff | 6 July 1964 | |
| Crieff and Methven Junction Railway | Caledonian Railway | Perth to Crieff | 1 October 1951 11 September 1967 | |
| Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway | Conon to Cromarty | Never completed | ||
| Dalkeith Branch | North British Railway | Smeaton to Hardengreen Junction | 11 Nov 1934 | |
| Dalry and North Johnstone Line | G&SWR | Dalry to Elderslie via Kilbarchan | 27 June 1966 19 December 1977 | Also known as the Kilbarchan Loop Line |
| Darvel and Strathaven Railway | Darvel to Strathaven | 11 September 1939 | ||
| Darvel Branch | G&SWR | Hurlford to Loudounhill | 6 April 1964 | |
| Deeside Railway | Aberdeen to Ballater | 28 February 1966 2 January 1967 | ||
| Denny Branch | Scottish Central Railway | Larbert Junction to Denny | 28 July 1930 | |
| Devon Valley line | North British Railway | Kinross to Alloa, via Tillicoultry | 1964 1973 | |
| 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 | |
| Dornoch Light Railway | The Mound to Dornoch | 13 June 1960 | ||
| Douglas Branch | Caledonian Railway | Lanark to Happendon | 5 October 1964 | |
| Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Railway | Caledonian Railway | Lockerbie to Dumfries | 18 April 1966 | |
| Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway | Caledonian Railway | Dunblane to Callander | 1 November 1965 | |
| Dundee and Forfar direct line | Caledonian Railway | Dundee to Forfar | 10 January 1955 9 October 1967 | |
| Dundee and Newtyle Railway | Scottish Central Railway | Dundee West Junction to Alyth Junction, via Lochee, Baldovan, Baldragon, Rosemill, Dronley, Balbeuchly, Auchterhouse, Newtyle, and Ardler Junction | 1955 1967 | 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, Leith and Newhaven Railway | ||||
| Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway | LNER | 196? | ||
| Edinburgh Suburban Line | Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway | 10 September 1962 | Line remains open to freight | |
| Elvanfoot–Wanlockhead branch line | Caledonian Railway | Elvanfoot to Wanlockhead | 31 December 1938 195? | A stretch of the former branch line, now re-laid as the gauge 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 | Thornton Junction to St Andrews, via Leven, Largo, Anstruther and Boarhills | 5 October 1964 6 September 1965 18 December 1966 | Most of the FCR, now forms the Fife Coastal Path Section of the FCR still extant, though long since disused |
| Findhorn Railway | Kinloss to Findhorn | 31 January 1869 1880 | ||
| Fochabers Railway | Orbliston to Fochabers | 14 September 1931 28 March 1966 | ||
| Forfar and Brechin Railway | Forfar to Brechin | 4 August 1952 4 September 1967 | ||
| Formartine and Buchan Railway | Dyce to Fraserburgh and Peterhead | Fraserburgh branch: 4 October 1965, 6 October 1979 Peterhead branch: 3 May 1965, 7 September 1970 | ||
| Fort George Branch | Highland Railway | Gollanfield to Fort George | 5 April 1943 11 August 1958 | |
| Fortrose Branch | Highland Railway | Muir of Ord to Fortrose | 1 October 1951 13 Jun 1960 | |
| Forth and Clyde Junction Railway | Stirling to Balloch | 1 October 1934 9 April 1965 | ||
| Fountainhall-Lauder Branch Line | LNER | Fountainhall to Lauder, via Oxton | 1958 | |
| Fraserburgh branch line | Great North of Scotland Railway | Dyce to Fraserburgh, via Ellon and Maud Junction | 1965 6 October 1979 | |
| Galashiels to Eskbank line | North British Railway | Eskbank to Galashiels, | 1962 1967 1971 | |
| Galashiels–Selkirk branch line | North British Railway | Galashiels to Selkirk | 3 October 1966 | |
| General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway | ||||
| Glasgow and Renfrew District Railway | G&PJR | Cardonald to Renfrew | 19 July 1926 | |
| 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 1965 | |
| Glasgow Central Railway | Newton to Maryhill | Sections between Carmyle and Glasgow Green, Stobcross and Maryhill closed. Remaining portions still extant and in passenger service | ||
| Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway | Paisley to Ayr and Kilmarnock | Majority of the line still extant and in passenger service | ||
| Glenfarg Line | North British Railway | Mawcarse to Bridge of Earn | 15 June 1964 | |
| Govan Branch | G&PJR | Ibrox to Govan | 9 May 1921 | Line remains partially extant as a test track for the Glasgow Subway |
| Grangemouth Railway | Falkirk to Grangemouth | 29 January 1968 | Remains open for freight | |
| Granton Branch | Caledonian Railway | 1965 | ||
| Greenock and Ayrshire Railway | G&SWR | Bridge of Weir to Greenock | 10 January 1983 | |
| Haddington line | North British Railway | Longniddry to Haddington | 5 December 1949 30 March 1968 | |
| Hamiltonhill Branch | Caledonian Railway | Balornock Junction to Hamiltonhill | ||
| Hamilton and Strathaven Railway | Caledonian Railway | Hamilton to Strathaven | ||
| Hopeman Branch | 14 September 1931 7 November 1966 | |||
| Inchture Branch | Dundee and Perth Railway | Inchture Station to Crossgates, Inchture | 1916 | Horse-drawn tramway |
| Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway | Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus | 1 December 1933 31 December 1946 | ||
| Inverness and Perth Junction Railway | Highland Railway | Perth to Inverness | 18 October 1965 | The line between Perth and Aviemore is still open as part of the National Network. Whilst a 10 mile stretch of the line is now preserved as the Strathspey Railway. |
| Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Railway | Inverurie to Oldmeldrum | 2 November 1931 3 January 1966 | ||
| Jedburgh branch line | North British Railway | Roxburgh Junction to Jedburgh, via Nisbet and Jedfoot | 13 August 1948 10 August 1964 | |
| Keith and Dufftown Railway (GNoSR) | GNoSR | Keith to Elgin, | 1968 1984 24 March 1991 | An 11 mile stretch of the line now restored as the Keith and Dufftown Railway. |
| Kelvin Valley Railway | Maryhill to Kilsyth | 31 March 1951 1966 | ||
| Killin Railway | Caledonian Railway | Killin Junction to Killin | 27 September 1965 | |
| Kilsyth and Bonnybridge railway | Kilsyth to Bonnybridge | 1 July 1935 4 May 1964 | ||
| Kincardine Line | North British Railway | Alloa to Dunfermline | 7 July 1930 | Line remains extant |
| Kinross-shire Railway | Kinross to Lumphinnans | 22 September 1930 12 July 1972 | ||
| Kirkcaldy District Railway | 6 August 1962 | |||
| Kirkcudbright Railway | Castle Douglas to Kirkcudbright | 3 May 1965 | ||
| Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway | Ardrossan to Newton | 4 July 1932 | Section between Newton and Neilston remains in service as part of the Cathcart Circle Lines | |
| Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway | Possil to Dumbarton | |||
| Langholm Branch | NBR | Riddings Junction to Langholm | 15 June 1964 18 September 1967 | |
| Lauder Light Railway | Fountainhall to Lauder | 10 September 1932 30 September 1958 | ||
| Leslie Railway | Markinch to Leslie | |||
| Lesmahagow Railway | Caledonian Railway | |||
| Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie Railway | Caledonian Railway | Comrie to Lochearnhead | 1 October 1951 | |
| Longridge to Bathgate Branch | E&GR | Longridge to Bathgate | 10 August 1964 | |
| Macmerry Branch | North British Railway | 196? | ||
| Maidens and Dunure Railway | Ayr to Girvan via Maidens | 2 March 1942 | ||
| Moffat Railway | Beattock to Moffat | 6 December 1954 6 April 1964 | ||
| Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway | 2 April 1966 | |||
| Monkton and Annbank Branch | G&SWR | Monton to Annbank | ||
| Montrose and Bervie Railway | Montrose to Bervie | Great North of Scotland Railway | 1951 1966 | |
| Moray Coast Railway | GNoSR | Portsoy to Lossie Junction | 6 May 1968 | |
| Morayshire Railway | Morayshire Railway | Elgin to Lossiemouth and Elgin to Craigellachie | 28 March 1966 4 November 1968 | |
| Muirkirk and Lesmahagow Junction Railway | Caledonian Railway | Alton Heights Junction to Poneil Junction | 13 September 1954 | |
| Muirkirk Branch (Caledonian Railway) | Caledonian Railway | Happendon to Muirkirk | 5 October 1964 | |
| Muirkirk Branch (GPK&AR) | GPK&AR | Auchinleck to Muirkirk | 3 July 1950 | |
| Musselburgh Branch | Musselburgh | 9 September 1964 7 December 1970 | ||
| Newburgh and North Fife Railway | St Fort to Newburgh | 10 February 1951 10 October 1964 | ||
| Newport Railway, Scotland | Tay Bridge to Leuchars | 5 May 1969 | ||
| Paisley and Barrhead District Railway | Paisley to Lyoncross via Barrhead | 21 October 1984 | ||
| Paisley and Renfrew Railway | Paisley to Renfrew | 5 Jun 1967 1981 | ||
| Paisley Canal line | G&SWR | Glasgow to Elderslie via Paisley Canal | 10 January 1983 | Section between Shields Junction and Paisley Canal reopened 28 July 1990 |
| Peebles Railway | Eskbank to Peebles | 10 September 1962 | ||
| Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Railway | Caledonian Railway | Perth to Methven via Methven Junction | 1 October 1951 11 September 1967 | |
| Peterhead branch line | Great North of Scotland Railway | Dyce to Peterhead, via Ellon and Maud Junction | 1965 1970 | |
| Portpatrick Railway | Castle Douglas to Portpatrick | 12 June 1965 | Section between Dunragit and Stranaer remains in service as part of the Glasgow South Western Line | |
| Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway | Caledonian Railway | Rutherglen to Airdrie via Whifflet | 7 November 1966 | Section between Rutherglen and Whifflet reopened 4 October 1993 |
| Scottish Midland Junction Railway | Scottish North Eastern Railway | Perth to Forfar, via Stanley Junction, Cargill, Coupar Angus, Meigle Junction and Kirriemuir Junction en route. | 1967 | Perth to Stanley Junction stretch of the line still exists, as part of the Highland Mainline. |
| Selkirk and Galashiels Railway | Selkirk to Galashiels | 10 September 1951 2 Nov 1964 | ||
| Solway Junction Railway | Brayton to Kirtlebridge | 27 April 1931 | ||
| South Alloa Branch | Scottish Central Railway | Alloa Junction to South Alloa | 1 October 1885 1 September 1950 | |
| Slamannan Railway | Causewayend to Arbuckle | 1930 1964 | ||
| Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway | Causewayend to Bo'ness, via Birkhill | closed 196? | A 5 mile stretch of the branch line now preserved as the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway. | |
| South Queensferry Branch | North British Railway | South Queensferry to Ratho | ||
| Spiersbridge Branch | GB&NDR | Kennishead to Spiersbridge | 1 May 1849 31 January 1960 | |
| Stirling and Dunfermline Railway | North British Railway | Stirling to Dunfermline via Alloa | 5 October 1968 1993 | The section between Stirling and Alloa re-opened to passenger traffic in 2008. |
| St Boswells–Kelso line | North British Railway | St Boswells to Kelso | 1964 1968 | |
| Strathendrick and Aberfoyle Railway | Aberfoyle to Dumgoyne | 1 October 1951 5 October 1959 | ||
| Strathspey Railway | GNoSR | Craigellachie to Boat of Garten | 18 October 1965 4 November 1968 November 1971 | Boat of Garten Station is now part of the Strathspey Railway. |
| Sutherland and Caithness Railway | ||||
| Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway | Caledonian Railway | Symington to Peebles | 1950 1966 | |
| The Switchback | Caledonian Railway | Strathclyde Junction to Balornock Junction | ||
| Waverley Route | North British Railway | Carlisle to Edinburgh via Scotch Dyke, Newcastleton, Whitrope, Hawick, Tweedbank, Galashiels and Eskbank | 4 January 1969 1971 | Part of the line, now rebuilt and re-opened, named the Borders Railway, as part of the National Network. Whilst the section of the line now preserved as a Heritage Railway. |
| Wemyss and Buckhaven Railway | Buckhaven to Thornton | 9 January 1955 31 May 1985 | ||
| Whiteinch Railway | Whiteinch to Jordanhill | 2 April 1951 March 1965 | ||
| Wick and Lybster Railway | Wick to Lybster | 1 April 1944 | ||
| Wigtownshire Railway | Newton Stewart to Whithorn and Garlieston | 29 September 1950 | ||
| Wilsontown branch | Caledonian Railway | Auchengray to Wilsontown | 10 September 1951 4 May 1964 | |
| Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway | Morningside to Longridge | 1 May 1930 1982 | ||
| Wishaw and Coltness Railway | 1930 |