See Also

Great Western Main Line

The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway Rail transport

Rail transport is the transport [i] of passenger [i]s and goods [i] along railways or ... 

 in Great Britain Great Britain

Great Britain is an island lying off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe [i] and to the east of Ireland [i] ... 

, corresponding to the principal routes of the pre-1948 Great Western Railway Great Western Railway

The Great Western Railway was a British railway company [i] a ... 

 which were subsequently taken over by the Western Region of British Railways British Rail

British Railways , later rebranded as British Rail, ran the British railway system [i] ... 

 and are now operated by First Great Western First Great Western

First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British [i] ... 

. The original Great Western Main Line runs from London London

London is the capital [i] city of England [i] and of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 Paddington Paddington station

Paddington station is a major National Rail [i] and London Underground [i] station complex in the Paddington [i] ... 

 via Reading Reading, Berkshire

Reading is a town [i] and unitary authority [i] in the English [i] county of Berkshire [i]. ... 

, Swindon Swindon

Swindon is a large town in the South West [i] of England [i]. ... 

, Bath Bath

Bath is a city [i] in South West England [i] most famous for its baths ... 

, Bristol Bristol

Bristol is a city [i], unitary authority [i] and ceremonial county [i] ... 

 Temple Meads Bristol Temple Meads railway station

Bristol Temple Meads is a major railway [i] station [i] in Bristol [i], England [i]. ... 

 and Exeter Exeter

The city [i] of Exeter is the county town [i] of Devon [i], in England [i] ... 

 to Plymouth Plymouth

Plymouth is a city [i] in the southwest [i] of England [i] ... 

. The route that diverges at Wootton Bassett near Swindon Swindon

Swindon is a large town in the South West [i] of England [i]. ... 

 to Bristol Bristol

Bristol is a city [i], unitary authority [i] and ceremonial county [i] ... 

 Parkway Bristol Parkway railway station

Bristol Parkway is a railway [i] station [i] on the northern edge of Bristol [i], at Stoke Gifford [i] ... 

, the Severn Tunnel Severn Tunnel

The Severn Tunnel is a railway [i] tunnel [i] in the United Kingdom [i], linking South Gloucestershire [i] ... 

, Newport Newport

Newport is the third-largest city [i] in Wales [i]. ... 

, Cardiff Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital [i] of Wales [i] and its largest city [i]. ... 

 and Swansea Swansea

Swansea is a city [i] in Wales [i] and Welsh subdivision [i] ... 

, known as the South Wales Main Line, is also part of the Great Western Main Line, as is the Berks and Hants Line,

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Encyclopedia



The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway Rail transport

Rail transport is the transport [i] of passenger [i]s and goods [i] along railways or ... 

 in Great Britain Great Britain

Great Britain is an island lying off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe [i] and to the east of Ireland [i] ... 

, corresponding to the principal routes of the pre-1948 Great Western Railway Great Western Railway

The Great Western Railway was a British railway company [i] a... 

 which were subsequently taken over by the Western Region of British Railways British Rail

British Railways , later rebranded as British Rail, ran the British railway system [i] ... 

 and are now operated by First Great Western First Great Western

First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British [i] ... 

.

The original Great Western Main Line runs from London London

London is the capital [i] city of England [i] and of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

 Paddington Paddington station

Paddington station is a major National Rail [i] and London Underground [i] station complex in the Paddington [i] ... 

 via Reading Reading, Berkshire

Reading is a town [i] and unitary authority [i] in the English [i] county of Berkshire [i]. ... 

, Swindon Swindon

Swindon is a large town in the South West [i] of England [i]. ... 

, Bath Bath

Bath is a city [i] in South West England [i] most famous for its baths ... 

, Bristol Bristol

Bristol is a city [i], unitary authority [i] and ceremonial county [i] ... 

 Temple Meads Bristol Temple Meads railway station

Bristol Temple Meads is a major railway [i] station [i] in Bristol [i], England [i]. ... 

 and Exeter Exeter

The city [i] of Exeter is the county town [i] of Devon [i], in England [i] ... 

 to Plymouth Plymouth

Plymouth is a city [i] in the southwest [i] of England [i] ... 

.

The route that diverges at Wootton Bassett near Swindon Swindon

Swindon is a large town in the South West [i] of England [i]. ... 

 to Bristol Bristol

Bristol is a city [i], unitary authority [i] and ceremonial county [i] ... 

 Parkway Bristol Parkway railway station

Bristol Parkway is a railway [i] station [i] on the northern edge of Bristol [i], at Stoke Gifford [i] ... 

, the Severn Tunnel Severn Tunnel

The Severn Tunnel is a railway [i] tunnel [i] in the United Kingdom [i], linking South Gloucestershire [i] ... 

, Newport Newport

Newport is the third-largest city [i] in Wales [i]. ... 

, Cardiff Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital [i] of Wales [i] and its largest city [i]. ... 

 and Swansea Swansea

Swansea is a city [i] in Wales [i] and Welsh subdivision [i] ... 

, known as the South Wales Main Line, is also part of the Great Western Main Line, as is the Berks and Hants Line, diverging at Reading to reach Exeter more directly via Newbury Newbury, Berkshire

Newbury is a civil parish [i] and the principal town [i] in the west of the county [i] of Berkshire [i] ... 

, Westbury and Castle Cary Castle Cary

Castle Cary is a market town [i] in south Somerset [i], England [i], five mile [i]s north west of Wincanton [i] ... 

.

The main lines between Paddington and Bristol are capable of supporting 125mph operation, having been upgraded during the 1970s 1970s

The 1970s decade [i] refers to the years from 1970 [i] to 1979 [i], inclusive. ... 

 to support the introduction of the Intercity 125 .

The line is electrified at 25 kV AC overhead between Paddington and the junction with the line to Heathrow Airport, and is one of only two lines in the UK to be equipped with the Automatic Train Protection  system, the other being the Chiltern Main Line.

Routes in detail


London to Plymouth via Bristol

  • London Paddington Paddington station

    Paddington station is a major National Rail [i] and London Underground [i] station complex in the Paddington [i] ... 

     station, London London

    London is the capital [i] city of England [i] and of the United Kingdom [i]. ... 

    • Branch to Heathrow Airport London Heathrow Airport

      London Heathrow Airport , often referred to as Heathrow, is the third busiest airport in the world... 

  • Slough
  • Reading Reading railway station

    Reading is a railway station in the large town of Reading [i] in south central England [i] ... 

    • Direct line diverges to Taunton Taunton

      Taunton is the county town [i] of Somerset [i], England [i]. ... 

  • Didcot Parkway Didcot Parkway railway station

    Didcot Parkway railway station is a railway station serving the town of Didcot [i] in Oxfordshire [i] in ... 

    • Line diverges to Oxford Oxford

      Oxford is a city [i] and local government district [i] ... 

       and Banbury Banbury

      Banbury is a market town [i] on the River Cherwell [i] in Oxfordshire [i], England [i]. ... 

    • An avoiding line links the Oxford Line to the main and relief lines at Didcot East
  • Swindon
    • Golden Valley Line diverges to Stroud Stroud, Gloucestershire

      Stroud is a town in the county of Gloucestershire [i], England [i]. ... 

      , Gloucester Gloucester

      Gloucester is a city [i] and district [i] i... 

       and Cheltenham Spa Cheltenham

      !colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="#ff9999"|Borough of Cheltenham

... 


  • Wootton Bassett
    • South Wales Main Line diverges to Bristol Parkway Bristol Parkway railway station

      Bristol Parkway is a railway [i] station [i] on the northern edge of Bristol [i], at Stoke Gifford [i] ... 

       and South Wales South Wales

      South Wales is an area of Wales [i] bordered by England [i] and the Bristol Channel [i] to the east and ... 

  • Chippenham
    • Line diverges to Westbury
    • Line passes through Box Tunnel
  • Hampton Row Halt
  • Bath Spa Bath Spa railway station

    Bath Spa railway station is the principal railway station [i] in the city of Bath [i], in South West England [i] ... 

  • Twerton-on-Avon
  • Saltford
  • Keynsham
  • Bristol Temple Meads Bristol Temple Meads railway station

    Bristol Temple Meads is a major railway [i] station [i] in Bristol [i], England [i]. ... 

  • Nailsea and Backwell Nailsea and Backwell railway station

    Nailsea and Backwell railway station is a station located between the town of Nailsea [i] and the villag ... 

  • Yatton Yatton railway station

    Yatton railway station is a National Rail [i] railway station operated by First Great Western [i] servin ... 

  • Weston-super-Mare Weston-super-Mare railway station

    Weston-super-Mare railway station serves the town of Weston-super-Mare [i] in North Somerset [i], England [i] ... 

  • Highbridge, for Burnham-on-Sea Burnham-on-Sea

    Burnham-on-Sea is a town [i] in Somerset [i], England [i], at the mouth of the River Parrett [i] and Bridgwater Bay [i] ... 

  • Bridgwater
  • Taunton Taunton railway station

    Taunton railway station serves Taunton [i] in Somerset [i], England [i]. ... 

    • Connection with West Somerset Railway West Somerset Railway

      At 20 miles, the West Somerset Railway is the longest privately owned passenger rail line in the UK [i] ... 

  • Tiverton Parkway Tiverton Parkway railway station

    Tiverton Parkway station [i] was opened on the 12 May 1986 to the north of the former Tiverton Juncti ... 

  • Exeter St. Davids Exeter St Davids railway station

    Exeter St Davids station is the most important of seven National Rail [i] stations in the city of Exeter [i] ... 

    • West of England Main Line West of England Main Line

      The West of England Main Line is the from London Waterloo [i] to Exeter [i].

... 

 diverges to Yeovil, Salibury Salisbury

Salisbury is a cathedral city [i] in Wiltshire [i], England [i]. ... 

 and London Waterloo Waterloo station

* and for Waterloo station from National Rail [i]
... 


    • Avocet Line diverges to Exmouth
    • Tarka Line Tarka Line

      The Tarka Line is a railway line from Exeter [i] to Barnstaple [i] in Devon [i], England [i]. ... 

       merges from Barnstaple Barnstaple

      Barnstaple is a town in the county of Devon [i] in the South West of England [i]. ... 

      , also the Okehampton stub of former West of England Main Line West of England Main Line

      The West of England Main Line is the from London Waterloo [i] to Exeter [i].

... 

 to Plymouth via north Dartmoor.
  • Dawlish Dawlish railway station

    Dawlish railway station serves the town of Dawlish [i] in Devon [i], England [i]. ... 

  • Newton Abbot Newton Abbot

    Newton Abbot is a market town [i] in Devon [i] , England [i] on the River Teign [i], with a population o ... 

    • Riviera Line diverges to Torquay Torquay

      Torquay is a town on the south coast of England [i] in the county of Devon [i] which has extended along ... 

       and Paignton Paignton

      Paignton is a coastal town on the English Riviera [i], located immediately to the south of Torquay [i] i ... 

  • Totnes Totnes

    Totnes is a market town in South Devon [i], England [i]. ... 

    • Connection with South Devon Railway
  • Plymouth Plymouth railway station

    Plymouth railway station serves the city of Plymouth [i], Devon [i], UK [i]. ... 



Reading to Taunton

  • Reading Reading, Berkshire

    Reading is a town [i] and unitary authority [i] in the English [i] county of Berkshire [i]. ... 

    • Line diverges to Basingstoke Basingstoke

      Basingstoke is a large town and third largest settlement in the traditional county [i] of Hampshire [i] ... 

  • Newbury Newbury, Berkshire

    Newbury is a civil parish [i] and the principal town [i] in the west of the county [i] of Berkshire [i] ... 

  • Bedwyn
  • Pewsey
  • Westbury
    • Wessex Main Line diverges to Salisbury Salisbury

      Salisbury is a cathedral city [i] in Wiltshire [i], England [i]. ... 

       and Southampton Southampton

      Southampton is a city [i] and major port [i] situated on the south coa ... 

        or Bath Spa Bath

      Bath is a city [i] in South West England [i] most famous for its baths ... 

       and Bristol Temple Meads Bristol Temple Meads railway station

      Bristol Temple Meads is a major railway [i] station [i] in Bristol [i], England [i]. ... 

    • There is also a link to Chippenham Chippenham, Wiltshire

      Chippenham is a market town [i] in Wiltshire [i], UK [i], located at , some 21 km west of Bath [i] and 1 ... 

       via Trowbridge Trowbridge

      Trowbridge is the county town [i] of Wiltshire [i], England [i]. ... 

       and Melksham
  • Frome
    • There is also an avoiding line around the town.
  • Castle Cary Castle Cary

    Castle Cary is a market town [i] in south Somerset [i], England [i], five mile [i]s north west of Wincanton [i] ... 

    • Heart of Wessex Line Heart of Wessex Line

      The Heart of Wessex Line is a United Kingdom [i] railway line that runs from Bristol [i] to Westbury [i] ... 

       diverges to Weymouth Weymouth

      Weymouth is a town [i] in Dorset [i], England [i], situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey [i] ... 

  • Taunton Taunton

    Taunton is the county town [i] of Somerset [i], England [i]. ... 

    • Line continues to Exeter Exeter

      The city [i] of Exeter is the county town [i] of Devon [i], in England [i] ... 

       and Plymouth Plymouth

      Plymouth is a city [i] in the southwest [i] of England [i] ... 




Note: Most direct London-Plymouth trains use this route.

Cornish Main Line


  • Plymouth Plymouth

    Plymouth is a city [i] in the southwest [i] of England [i] ... 

    • Tamar Valley Line diverges to Gunnislake Gunnislake

      Gunnislake is the first village in Cornwall [i]. ... 

  • Devonport
  • St Budeaux
  • Saltash Saltash

    Saltash is a town in Cornwall [i], England [i]. ... 

  • St Germans St Germans

    St Germans is a village in east Cornwall [i], England [i], at . ... 

  • Menheniot
  • Liskeard
    • Looe Valley Line diverges to Looe Looe

      Looe is a coastal town in the Caradon [i] district of south-east Cornwall [i], England [i], UK [i], with ... 

  • Bodmin Parkway
    • Connection with Bodmin & Wenford Railway Bodmin and Wenford Railway

      The Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway is a heritage railway [i], based at Bodmin [i] in Cornwall [i], United Kingdom [i] ... 

  • Lostwithiel
  • Par
    • Atlantic Coast Line diverges to Newquay Newquay

      The town should not be confused with New Quay [i] in Wales [i].

... 



External links
... 


    • Rail Link bus service to the Eden Project Eden Project

      The Eden Project is a large-scale environmental [i] complex near St Austell [i], Cornwall [i],... 

  • Truro Truro

    |Image= Truro_Cathedral_1.jpg

... 


    • Maritime Line Maritime Line

      The Maritime Line is a railway line from Truro [i] to Falmouth [i] in Cornwall [i], UK [i] ... 

       diverges to Falmouth Falmouth, Cornwall

      Falmouth is a seaport [i] on the River Fal [i] on the south coast of Cornwall [i], England [i], UK [i]. ... 

  • Redruth
    • Rail Link bus service to Helston Helston

      |colspan=2 align=center|

[i]
... 

 and RNAS Culdrose
  • Camborne Camborne

    Camborne was once one of the richest mining areas in the world and is located in the far west of Cornwall [i] ... 

  • Hayle Hayle

    [i], [[UK]... 

  • St Erth St Erth

    St Erth is a village [i] and civil parish [i] in the Penwith [i] district of Cornwall [i], United Kingdom [i] ... 

    • St Ives Bay Line diverges to St Ives St Ives, Cornwall

      St Ives is a seaside town [i] and civil parish [i] in the Penwith [i] district of Cornwall [i] ... 

  • Penzance Penzance

    [i], [[England]... 




Note: The section of line between St Austell and Truro has recently been upgraded to double track, to allow better timekeeping and reduce delays to services.



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