Furness line

Furness line
A Northern Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter Rounds a Curve near Grange-over-Sands
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerNetwork Rail
LocaleCumbria
Lancashire
Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
North West England
Termini
Stations10
Service
TypeHeavy rail, Commuter rail
SystemNational Rail
Operator(s)Northern
Rolling stockClass 68 'UKLight'
Class 156 'Super Sprinter'
Class 195 'Civity'
History
Opened1846–1857 (in stages)
Technical
Line length28 mi 45 ch (45.97 km)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE (Carnforth)
Operating speed60 mph (97 km/h) maximum
Route map

(Click to expand)

The Furness line is a British railway between Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster, joining the West Coast Main Line at Carnforth. A predominantly passenger line, it serves various towns along the Furness coast, including Barrow-in-Furness, Ulverston and Grange-over-Sands. It runs through Cumbria and Lancashire.

Regional services on the line start from Manchester Airport and Preston, while local services start from Preston and Lancaster. The majority of services along the line terminate at Barrow-in-Furness, however some services continue along the Cumbrian Coast Line to Millom, Sellafield and Carlisle. The line was constructed by the Ulverston and Lancaster Railway and the Furness Railway between 1846 and 1857, and today has services operated by Northern.

Along with the Cumbrian Coast Line, the route is considered one of the most scenic in England. The line was designated a community rail partnership by the Department for Transport in 2012.[1] The line is electrified between Lancaster and Carnforth where the route leaves the West Coast Main Line, which previously allowing for sleeper services between Barrow and London Euston.

  1. ^ "Furness community rail partnership". UK Government. Retrieved 9 September 2017.