Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level Line
The Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level Line was part of the Great Western Railway's London Paddington to Birkenhead Woodside route. As the name suggests, it ran between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton Low Level in England. The line was dual-gauged, both 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) and 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge.
| Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level Line | |
|---|---|
Soho and Winson Green station in 1967 | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Partially reopened for heavy rail and light rail |
| Owner | Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley Railway; British Rail |
| Locale | West Midlands, England |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 16 |
| Service | |
| Type | Local rail |
| System | National Rail |
| Operator(s) | West Midlands Trains/West Midlands Metro |
| History | |
| Opened | 1854 |
| Closed | 1992 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | Dual 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm)/4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The line opened in 1854 and the final section was closed in August 1992, following the closure of other sections during the 1970s and 1980s. The opening was delayed for two months because a bridge collapsed near Winson Green, which caused chief engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel to order strengthening on several other bridges. Passenger services had been discontinued in 1972, although parts of the line continued to be used by goods trains.