Editing Lymington branch line (section)

{{Short description|Railway line in Hampshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox rail line
 | box_width   =
 | name        = Lymington branch line
 | color       =
 | logo        =
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 | image       = 
 | image_width = 
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 | caption     = 
 | type        = [[Suburban rail]], [[Heavy rail]]
 | system      = [[National Rail]] 
 | status      = Operational
 | locale      = [[Hampshire]]<br>[[South East England]]
 | start       = [[Brockenhurst railway station|Brockenhurst]]
 | end         = [[Lymington Pier railway station|Lymington Pier]]
 | stations    = 
 | routes      = 
 | daily_ridership = 
 | open        = 
 | close       =
 | owner       = [[Network Rail]]
 | operator    = [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]]
 | character   = 
 | depot       = 
 | stock       = [[British Rail Class 450|Class 450 Desiro]]
 | linelength  = 
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 | tracks = 
 | gauge       = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
 | old_gauge =
 | minradius   =
 | racksystem  =
 | routenumber =
 | electrification = 
 | speed       = 50 miles per hour
 | elevation   =
 | website     = 
 |map          = [[File:Lymington branch line.png|270px]]<br>([[:commons:File:Lymington branch line.png|Click to expand]])
 |map_state    = uncollapsed
}}

{{Lymington Branch Line}}

The '''Lymington branch line''' is a railway that runs from [[Brockenhurst railway station|Brockenhurst]] to [[Lymington]] in the [[New Forest (district)|New Forest]], England. The line is around {{convert|9|km|mi|order=flip}} long, and is single track throughout its length. It diverges from the [[South West Main Line]] at Lymington Junction. At Lymington Pier, trains connect with [[Wightlink]] ferry services to [[Yarmouth, Isle of Wight]]. The Lymington branch line is electrified using the 750 V DC [[third-rail]] system.

The line was opened as far as Lymington in 1858. The [[London and South Western Railway]] bought out the local company in 1879, and in 1884 the LSWR opened a short extension of the line to [[Lymington Pier railway station|Lymington Pier]]. The economy of Lymington had been in decline but the local economy improved in the twentieth century. The line was electrified in 1967. A half-hourly shuttle passenger service operates at present (2023).