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

See Examples For:

branch line

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 rural branch line survived the infamous axe of Beeching Axe as it passed through six marginal constituencies and politicians feared they'd lose their seats if the railway shut.

From BBC ● Dec. 11, 2018

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

Built in 1897 as a seaside resort that depended on the railway, the hotel now sees its old branch line delivering customers once again.

From New York Times ● Feb. 26, 2018

“Och, no, not to Aberdeen. The next train’s the branch line to Castle Craig.”

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein