branch line

Definitions

1. A secondary railroad route or one subsidiary to a railroad's mainlines.
2. A non-through line which joins a mainline (or another branch or secondary line) and ends at a terminus.

Equivalents

Examples

“But the states were generally concerned with the location of trunk lines and left it to cities and counties to worry⟳ about branch lines.”

“This is itself a cheerless spot, particularly on a rainy day, when, overshadowed by the great massif of rock that towers in the background, and surrounded by the grey and cheerless quarries, it has a depressing character much in contrast with the green verdure encountered on the northern end⟳ of this interesting branch line.”

“They saddled themselves with the handling of light⟳ flows on a multiplicity of branch lines, and they sacrificed the speed⟳, reliability and low cost⟳ of through train⟳ operation, even over the main arteries of the system.”

“Above all, Eurostar needs to be proactive in improving the service, reducing fares, and getting back to a post-COVID normal, despite Brexit. Or is it that SNCF just feels London is on a branch line from the rest⟳ of Europe, and not worth bothering about?”

CEFR level