Oxford Branch (New Zealand)

Oxford Branch
Springbank engine shed and its station sign, December 2023
Overview
StatusClosed
OwnerRailways Department
LocaleCanterbury, New Zealand
Termini
Stations13
Service
TypeHeavy Rail
SystemNew Zealand Government Railways (NZGR)
Operator(s)Railways Department
History
Opened28 July 1884 (1884-07-28)
Closed14 July 1930 (1930-07-14) (Sheffield – Oxford East)
19 April 1959 (1959-04-19) (Oxford East – Rangiora)
Technical
Line length35.47 km (Rangiora – Oxford West)
Number of tracksSingle
CharacterRural
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Route map

km
0.00
Rangiora
Bells
Fernside
Stoke
Springbank
(Moeraki)
Cust
32.41
Bennetts Junction
Carleton
Oxford East
35.47
Oxford West
View Hill
Bexley
Waimakariri River Gorge
Sheffield
(Malvern)
Map
Map

The Oxford Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealand's national rail network. It was located in the Canterbury region of the South Island, and ran roughly parallel with the Eyreton Branch that was located some ten kilometres south. It opened to Oxford in 1875 and survived until 1959.[1]

It was unusual in that for much of its life it linked two main lines, the Main North Line and the Midland Line, the only portion of the proposed Canterbury Interior Main Line to be completed.

  1. ^ "History of the Oxford-Rangiora-Sheffield railway line". Waimakariri Libraries.