Wallingford railway branch line

Wallingford railway branch line
Overview
OwnerGreat Western Railway
British Rail
LocaleOxfordshire
Termini
History
Opened1866
Closed1981
Technical
Line length2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The Wallingford railway branch line was a 2.5 mi (4.0 km) branch line between the market town of Wallingford and the Great Western Railway main line at Wallingford Road in Oxfordshire. The railway, which opened in 1866, was originally planned to go a further 6 mi (9.7 km) to Watlington but this was never completed because of insufficient funds. Instead Watlington was reached by a 9 mi (14 km) line completed by the Watlington and Princes Risborough Railway Company in 1872. After the Wallingford branch line opened, it ran regular passenger shuttle services to the GWR mainline for almost a century. It closed to passengers in 1959; the line escaped the Beeching Axe, remaining open for goods services until 1981.

In 1985, the line was acquired by the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway; in 1997 the heritage railway began operating a selection of vintage train services on part of the line near Wallingford.