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If you're including that, then there's also the former mile and a half long "Willingdon Chord" direct line (avoiding Eastbourne) from Polegate Junction to Stone Cross Junction, which was closed in January 1969 with the last of the remaining, partly severed, trackwork lifted in 1984.
The freight line from Round Oak (just north of Brierley Hill) via Dudley to the Bescot/Walsall area (AFAIK closed as a through route in 1993). Parts of the alignment are being reused for an extension to the Midland Metro tram system.
The short freight branch from Brierley Hill to Pensnett in 1994.
The short freight branch from Langley Green to the Albright & Wilson chemical plant.
A freight line that ran from a junction east of Coventry station to today's Coventry Arena area, where it joined the main Coventry - Nuneaton route.
The very last bit of the (originally) Halesowen Railway effectively closed when MG Rover ceased production at Longbridge in 2005 (the line originally ran from 'Halesowen Junction' there to Halesowen, where it joined a GWR branch from Old Hill, but that had all closed in the 1960s north of the car plant site).
5 November 1979 passenger services withdrawn between High Street Junction and Bridgeton Central, replaced by services through the former Bridgeton Cross Station on the Argyle Line. Branch remained in use for ECS working until June 1987.
Had the full Clyderail report proposals been implemented the station would still have closed but the branch would have been retained with a new burrowing link to the Argyle Line.
Only a short length, but the line into Belfast Great Victoria Street closed after service on 10th this month pending diversion to the new Grand Central development.
Think you mean Elmers End-Addiscombe and Selsdon (-Sanderstead). The New Addington branch of Tramlink took over a short section, the Elmers End branch rather more.
The North Woolwich - Silvertown - Canning Town (latterly SilverLink) route I used quite regularly, as I lived next to Victoria Gardens (at the opposite end to the old station).
As the train (313s by my time there) dived under the Docks, there was always a musty smell of dripping briny water.
Think you mean Elmers End-Addiscombe and Selsdon (-Sanderstead). The New Addington branch of Tramlink took over a short section, the Elmers End branch rather more.
Leven branch closed in 2015, which has since re-opened to Network Rail traffic, for we all know ScotRail services from Leven will commence this Sunday.
Also a very short line into Bathgate (1986) station which closed in 2010 following the completion of the Airdrie to Bathgate link, which included the re-sited station.
Only a short stretch of line, given its close location to the GWML, but the railway into Didcot Power Station was last used in 2013, and subsequently has been lifted (despite still appearing on Google Maps)
Paddington to Greenford line I assumed that MadMac meant between Old Oak Common and Greenford via Park Royal which was closed in 2018 for construction of HS2.
In connection of construction of HS2 the line between Quainton Road and Calvert was recently completely closed and track removed but do not know closure date. Yes I know the GC passenger service was withdrawn in 1966 but was used for freight trains to Calvert until recently.
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In Wales, I've been racking my brains, but haven't been able to think of a single closure of a passenger line that had no freight since the Beeching era. Many lines lost their passenger services in the 1960s, and survived only for freight, but I can't think of many opposites. Certainly not ones that closed afterwards. (The Cardiff Bay branch almost went that was with the redevelopment in the 1980s!)
On the topic of freight line closures, the Blaenau Ffestiniog to Trawsfynydd section closed with the end of nuclear traffic in 1998. There may well be more recent coal-related closures in the South Wales Valleys, though I couldn't quote which.
There were many passenger service lines that closed after freight had finished. A few are
Maiden Newton- Bridport- it was one long single line.- closed 1975
Haltwhistle- Alston- one long single line
Elmers End- Addiscombe- closed 1997
Broad Street- Dalston Junction closed 1985
Woodside- Selsdon although a short section at Selsdon end served the oil terminal until the 1990s
West Croydon-Wimbledon closed 1997- A once busy line used by freight trains but passenger service finished last.
Folkestone Harbour branch
Stratford- North Woolwich
There were many passenger service lines that closed after freight had finished. A few are
Maiden Newton- Bridport- it was one long single line.- closed 1975
Haltwhistle- Alston- one long single line
Elmers End- Addiscombe- closed 1997
Broad Street- Dalston Junction closed 1985
Woodside- Selsdon although a short section at Selsdon end served the oil terminal until the 1990s
West Croydon-Wimbledon closed 1997- A once busy line used by freight trains but passenger service finished last.
Folkestone Harbour branch
Paddington to Greenford line I assumed that MadMac meant between Old Oak Common and Greenford via Park Royal which was closed in 2018 for construction of HS2.
In connection of construction of HS2 the line between Quainton Road and Calvert was recently completely closed and track removed but do not know closure date. Yes I know the GC passenger service was withdrawn in 1966 but was used for freight trains to Calvert until recently.
OK, yes, Park Royal-Ruislip chord. Yes, I used it occasionally in 1991, on NSE Paddington to Bicester North peak evening services. 47 haulage guaranteed.
I used to regularly photograph the Calvert "binliner" and the Whatley-Wolverton ARC trains, between Claydon Junction & Bicester Town.
A "Christmas shopper special" - Aylesbury to Milton Keynes - enabled me to travel via Quainton, Claydon Junction & over Bletchley flyover. I think I was the only passenger not using the train as a means to shop in Milton Keynes.
There’s a road underbridge being lengthened at the OOC common end of the route that allows for a reinstated connection to the new up relief loop. (The overall width of the new 8 platform formation means the route has to be repositioned.)
But on the other hand the single line is shown on the track diagram posted in the main OOC thread as being ‘tbc’.
I forgot to mention that. I was on the NLL and had to change at Willesden Junction as the line through Kentish Town West was closed for maintenance, and went downstairs for a service that ran from the bay through to Stratford via Primrose Hill. It was interesting going through the underground junction at the east end of the South Hampstead tunnel.
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