Cross Gates–Wetherby line


The Cross Gates–Wetherby line is a former railway line in West Yorkshire, England, between Cross gates, near Leeds, and Wetherby. The line opened 1876 and closed 1964.

History and description

Construction began in 1871, with the work contracted to Thomas Nelson of Carlisle. Works on the line included over a dozen cuttings, and a similar number of embankments, with the cutting between Thorner and Scarcroft being deep with a volume of ; the largest bridge on the line was over the River Wharfe with twin spans of with a central pier of two cast iron columns.
The line ran from Cross Gates East Junction east of Cross Gates railway station on the Leeds and Selby Railway, to Wetherby railway station, then connecting at a junction on the Harrogate to Church Fenton Line at west of Wetherby railway station.
The from Cross Gates to Wetherby took four years to construct and it was opened on 1 May 1876. The line was doubled in 1901 and a new south-west curve was built at Wetherby; running from West junction to North junction, forming a wye junction north and west of both the Wetherby stations.
The line closed to passengers on 6 January 1964.

Reopening

In recent years there have been calls to bring rail services back to Wetherby by Labour and Conservative Wetherby MPs Colin Burgon and Alec Shelbrooke. Ideas have centred on both re-opening the Cross Gates–Wetherby line. Recently, however, after a high-speed railway to Leeds has been approved, an anticipated further line coming out of Leeds and heading north has been considered as a means to develop a new link to the town. The exact route of this is unknown and the high-speed system has only been approved as far as Leeds.

Stations