branch line

American  

noun

1. a rail line, directly or indirectly connected with a main line, having its own stations and service.

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branch line British  

noun

1. railways a secondary route to a place or places not served by a main line

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Etymology

Origin of branch line

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

The Swanage branch line was closed and demolished by British Rail in 1972 but volunteers spent 30 years rebuilding it as a tourist attraction which, in 2019, carried more than 200,000 passengers.

From BBC • Oct. 12, 2023

When a branch line was built from Goshen to Visalia in 1874, people had high hopes that it would lead to prosperity for the town, but the boom never arrived.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2023

The line was closed as part of Dr Beeching's branch line closures.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2023

Before the rise of the automobile killed off the old branch line, its little steam locomotives puffed by so slowly that passengers would toss their bags out as the train passed their homes.

From New York Times • Feb. 26, 2018

She walked to the branch line station at Deeside.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein