We are currently updating the history of the line. If you have any stories, photographs or more details on the history then we would love to hear from you. Use the 'Contact us' form to tell us more and we will be in contact.
Key Dates
1824 Plans for London to Bristol pass through Wallingford
1840 Line opens but passes south of Wallingford
1861 Proposal to build a branch line (Moulsford to
Wallingford)
1863 Initial plans go only as far as Wallingford
1863 Plans resubmitted for the line to continue to Benson
and Watlington
1864 Public meeting at the Corn Exchange, Wallingford to
announce share issue
1864 Work starts on the Cholsey to Wallingford branch 1866
Branch opens (7 th July)
1868 Watlington residents prefer to link to the Princes
Risborough branch
1870 GWR approached to buy the line as finances were in a
dire state
1871 Further negotiations with GWR
1872 GWR purchase the line, Wallingford and
Watlington Railway Company pay creditors
1892 Line shortened with Cholsey Station opening
1959 Passenger service suspended (15 th June)
1965 Goods service to Wallingford suspended
1969 Station and associated land sold off, line now
terminating at the Maltings
1981 ‘Wallingford Wake’ is the last passenger service on the
line
1981 The Cholsey and Wallingford Railway Preservation Society formed
1985 First heritage train departs a temporary Wallingford
platform
1988 – First steam train leaves the new Wallingford station
1994 – First preserved train enters the Cholsey Bay platform
