[1] Construction began at Derry and followed the west bank of the River Foyle southwards 12 miles (19 km) to Strabane, which was reached in 1847.
The junction with the PD&O at Omagh made the Londonderry – Omagh line part of the GNR's "Derry Road" main line with services between Belfast Great Victoria Street and Derry Foyle Road via Portadown.
The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway's competing route via Coleraine was shorter, quicker and attracted more passenger traffic, but the Derry Road carried more freight.
[1] Traffic grew to the extent that by 1907 the GNR had installed double track between Foyle Road and St. Johnston,[10] but in 1932 it was singled again.
[8] The Omagh – Enniskillen line via Fintona Junction became a secondary route, and in 1957 the Government of Northern Ireland closed it.
Since the line's closure, the tram has been preserved at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra, County Down.