The Hallam Line is a railway connecting Leeds and Sheffield via Castleford in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. It is a slower route from Leeds to Sheffield than the Wakefield line. Services on this line are operated by Northern Trains. Services from Leeds to also use the line. West Yorkshire MetroCards are available on trains between Leeds and Darton, north of Barnsley and South Yorkshire Travelmaster tickets are available in the South Yorkshire area.

Origin of name

The line is named after the manor of Hallam which included Sheffield at the time of the Domesday Book (1086). At this time the local area was known as Hallamshire—the names Hallam and Hallamshire are still used today by many local companies and organisations.

History

Before the 1923 grouping the route followed by the line was owned as follows: After 1921, the entire route, except Methley to Normanton via Castleford, and the short stretch from Barnsley (Jumble Lane) to Quarry Junction, became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway until nationalisation in 1948. Midland Railway trains made use of Barnsley Court House station to avoid contact with Great Central or LNER rails. The route that now exists as the Hallam Line was not possible until 1960 when BR added a connection at Barnsley (Quarry Junction) to allow trains to use Exchange station and reach the Midland line to Sheffield.

Route details

Trains on the line serve the following places; some stations may no longer be open: Stations from here to Sheffield are also on the Penistone line: From here the two railways – MidR and GCR had parallel lines to Sheffield. The latter line is closed and lifted.