| Predecessor | Leeds and Hull Railroad Company (1824) unbuilt |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1830 (Act of Parliament) 1834 (Opening) |
| Fate | Track owned by Network Rail, services by various operators |
| Successor | Leased and acquired by York and North Midland Railway 1844 merged into North Eastern Railway 1854 London and North Eastern Railway 1923 British Rail 1948 |
The Leeds and Selby Railway was an early British railway company and first mainline railway within Yorkshire. It was opened in 1834.
As built, the line ran west/east between two termini, Marsh Lane station, Leeds and Selby railway station. The company was leased and then acquired by the York and North Midland Railway in 1840 and 1844; the line remained in use through the subsequent NER, LNER, BR and post-privatisation periods.
Use of the line was expanded through junction connections to new railways, most built in the late 19th century; a junction with the York and North Midland Railway in 1839; an end on junction at Selby to Hull (Hull and Selby Railway, 1840); a through route into Leeds and westward (Leeds viaduct extension, 1869); a shortened route to York (Micklefield to Church Fenton, 1869); a line to Wetherby (Cross Gates to Wetherby Line, 1876, closed 1964); a line to Castleford (Garforth to Castleford Line, 1878, closed 1969) and a line avoiding Selby for Goole (Selby to Goole Line, 1910, closed 1964) as well as a number of minor and industrial lines and sidings. The Selby Diversion of the East Coast Main Line (1983) also made junctions with the Leeds and Selby.
The line is still in mainline use for services operated by TransPennine Express and Northern. These trains operate from Leeds to Selby, Hull, York and beyond.