Alston line

Alston Line
Overview
Status	Operational between Alston and Slaggyford
Locale	Cumbria Northumberland
Termini	Alston Haltwhistle
Former connections	Brampton Railway (1851–1953) Newcastle and Carlisle Railway (1851–1976)
Service
Type	Heavy rail (1851–1976) Light rail (1983–)
Operator(s)	South Tynedale Railway
History
Commenced	March 1851
Completed	November 1852
Closed	3 May 1976
Reopened	30 July 1983 (as South Tynedale Railway)
Technical
Line length	13 miles (21 km)
Number of tracks	Single track
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge (1851–1976) 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge (1983–)

The Alston Line was a 13-mile (21 km) single-track branch line, which linked Haltwhistle in Northumberland with Alston in Cumbria.

The line was constructed in the early 1850s by the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, opening in stages. Construction of the line was completed in November 1852, following the opening of Lambley Viaduct.

Since the line's closure, a 5-mile (8 km) section of the line has since reopened in stages between Slaggyford and Alston, with heritage services operated by the South Tynedale Railway.