List of Christchurch railway stations

This is a list of railway stations in the Christchurch region of New Zealand. It includes both those still in service and those that have been closed. Included are stations on the following lines: Eyreton Branch, Little River Branch, Main North Line out to Rangiora, Main South Line out to Burnham, Midland Line out to Springfield, Oxford Branch, Southbridge Branch, Whitecliffs Branch.

List
Station Line Opened Closed Notes
Addington (Addington Junction) Main South Line 13 October 1866 13 October 1986 (freight)
Annat Midland Line 24 December 1879 10 December 1984
Aylesbury 1 December 1874 18 February 1979
Bealey's Road May 1879? This station closed completely sometime prior to May 1879.
Belfast Main North Line 29 April 1872 13 October 1986 (freight)
Bells Oxford Branch 21 September 1887 19 April 1959
Bennetts Junction 1 February 1878
Bexley 7 August 1884 14 July 1930
Birdlings Flat Little River Branch 16 May 1882 30 June 1962
Bryndwr (Bryndwyr) Main North Line ? 27 March 1977
Burnham (Leeston Road) Main South Line February 1868 1993? This station closed completely sometime prior to 1993.
Carleton Oxford Branch 21 June 1875 19 April 1959
Chaneys Main North Line 1877 19 September 1971
Christchurch (first station) Main South Line 1 December 1863 1877
Christchurch (second station) 21 December 1877 5 April 1993[1][n 1]
Christchurch (third station) Main North Line 5 April 1993[1] -
Coalgate (Bluff) Whitecliffs Branch 3 November 1875 31 March 1962
Cust Oxford Branch 1 December 1874 19 April 1959
Darfield (Darfield Junction) Midland Line -
Doyleston Southbridge Branch 13 July 1875 30 June 1962
Ellesmere 26 April 1875
Fernside Oxford Branch 1 December 1874 19 April 1959
Ferrymead Ferrymead Railway 30 December 1863 9 November 1867 Re-opened briefly in 1868.
Ferrymead Ferrymead Historic Park 1977 -
Flaxton Main North Line 3 September 1872 17 July 1966
Glentunnel (Surveyors Gully) Whitecliffs Branch 22 April 1876 31 March 1962
Goulds Road Southbridge Branch 16 April 1909 25 July 1960
Greenpark Little River Branch 16 May 1882 30 June 1962
Hawkins Whitecliffs Branch 3 November 1875 31 March 1962
Heathcote (The Valley) Main South Line 1 December 1863 11 August 1985 Remained open for private siding traffic only until closing in October/November 1986.
Hills Road Southbridge Branch 13 July 1875 30 June 1962
Homebush Whitecliffs Branch 3 November 1875 31 March 1962
Hornby (Hornby Junction, Southbridge Junction) Main South Line 13 October 1866 -
Horrelville Eyreton Branch 1 February 1878 26 May 1954
Irwell Southbridge Branch 13 July 1875 30 June 1962
Islington Main South Line May 1883 18 June 1972 Remained open for private siding traffic only.
Kaiapoi Main North Line 29 April 1872 13 October 1986 (freight)
Kainga 1883 27 March 1977
Kaituna Little River Branch 16 May 1882 30 June 1962
Kirwee Midland Line 1 December 1874 -
Ladbrooks Southbridge Branch 26 April 1875 30 June 1962 Also known as Ladbrooke's
Lake Road April 1886
Leeston 13 July 1875
Lincoln (Lincoln Junction) 26 April 1875 1 July 1967
Linwood Main South Line 16 December 1880 22 July 1973
Little River Little River Branch 11 March 1886 30 June 1962 This station has been preserved on site.
Lyttelton Main South Line 9 December 1867[2] 1873
Lyttelton August 1873[2] 1963
Lyttelton 14 October 1963 1976
Mandeville North Eyreton Branch 27 December 1875 26 May 1954
Middleton Main South Line 13 October 1866 14 December 1970 The Middleton Marshalling Yard & Freight Terminal opened many years after this station ceased to handle passenger traffic.
Moorhouse Ferrymead Historic Park 1977 -
Motukarara Little River Branch 16 May 1882 30 June 1962 This station has been preserved near its original site.
Ohoka Eyreton Branch 27 December 1875 26 May 1954
Opawa Main South Line 30 April 1864 30 April 1972
Oxford East Oxford Branch 21 June 1875 19 April 1959
Oxford West 21 June 1875
Papanui Main North Line 29 April 1872 16 June 1991 Remained open for private siding traffic but now closed completely.
Parish's Main South Line 13 October 1866 16 December 1878
Prebbleton Southbridge Branch 26 April 1875 1 July 1967
Racecourse Hill Midland Line 1 December 1874 18 November 1973
Rangiora Main North Line 5 November 1872 - Northern terminus of Christchurch suburban passenger services until 30 April 1976
Riccarton 29 April 1872 2 July 1977
Rolleston Main South Line 16 October 1866 -
Sandy Knolls Midland Line October 1899 1 March 1970
School Road Eyreton Branch April 1884 26 May 1954
Sheffield (Malvern) Midland Line 1 December 1874 3 November 1986
Sockburn Main South Line 13 October 1866 March 1987
South Malvern Whitecliffs Branch 3 November 1875 31 March 1962
Southbridge Southbridge Branch 13 July 1875 30 June 1962
Southbrook Main North Line 3 September 1972 5 July 1981
Springbank (Moeraki) Oxford Branch 3 November 1875 21 November 1960
Springfield Midland Line 24 December 1879 -
Springston Southbridge Branch 26 April 1875 30 June 1962
Stoke Oxford Branch May 1879 3 July 1949
Styx Main North Line 29 April 1872 31 March 1984
Swannanoa Eyreton Branch 27 December 1875 26 May 1954
Templeton Main South Line 13 October 1866 25 July 1971
View Hill Oxford Branch 7 August 1884 14 July 1930
Waddington Midland Line 1 December 1874 29 July 1962
Waverley Eyreton Branch 27 December 1875 31 March 1917
Weedons Main South Line 13 October 1866 1 February 1964
West Eyreton Eyreton Branch 27 December 1875 19 April 1959
Wetheral 26 May 1954
White Cliffs (Whitecliffs) Whitecliffs Branch 3 November 1875 31 March 1962
Wilson's Siding Eyreton Branch 18 October 1876 26 May 1954
Woolston (Hillsborough) Main South Line June 1883 -

Stations

Addington

Until the 1970s, Addington was a major facility for the receiving and sale of livestock, with significant stock yards, races and loading platforms beside the track. It handled livestock traffic from as far afield as Marlborough, South Canterbury and the West Coast, with the proceeds of the sales destined for locations all over the South Island. Given the limited size of the lorry transport available at the time, it is understandable how the railways could compete with road transport for this type of traffic, even for relatively short distances.

One particularly sought-after source of livestock for Addington was the sheep of the Molesworth cattle and sheep station in Marlborough. From 1957 until about 1970, this livestock was driven to the railhead at Culverden (on the Waiau Branch line) then transported in several trains to Addington. In the last years of this traffic, there were in excess of 1,000 head to move, requiring a substantial portion of the cattle wagon fleet in the South Island.

When the workshops closed, it was decided to locate the new Christchurch railway station on the site for long distance trains (opened on 5 April 1993), see Christchurch railway station, New Zealand § Third station.

Today, the passenger facilities are gone, but the site still retains a signal box, several loops and railsheds for the storage of rolling stock. The land formerly occupied by the saleyards is currently a vacant lot.

See also: Aerial view of the saleyards.
  • The former saleyards building.
  • Saleyards land and rear of the saleyards building.
  • Loading races for stock trucks.

Belfast

Bryndwr

This station served passenger trains for residents of the suburbs of Bryndwr and Elmwood. Nothing of the station remains.

Burnham
  • Map of Burnham

Christchurch
Main article: Christchurch railway station (New Zealand)
Christchurch railway station building, Moorhouse Avenue.

The current Christchurch station at Troup Drive is the third railway Christchurch station. The two earlier stations, at Madras Street and Moorhouse Avenue, were a short distance away to the east on the Main South Line, closer to the city centre.

  • Christchurch platform and baggage conveyor, looking at the line passing beneath the new Blenheim Road overbridge.
  • Christchurch platform and building, looking in the direction of Addington junction.
  • Main platform and former station yard area at Moorhouse Avenue.

Heathcote
Overview of the former Heathcote station site showing the only remnant of the station still visible, its platform. The Main South Line disappears into the Lyttelton rail tunnel beneath where this picture was taken from.

Originally known as The Valley, this station was sited about 240 meters from the mouth of the Lyttelton rail tunnel. It was equipped with a signal box, freight sidings for nearby industrial customers as well as passenger facilities and a platform, which is the only remaining feature. Public access is from Station Road, at the intersection with Flavell Street, Marsden Street and Rollin Street.

The signal box, constructed in 1870, was to have been moved to the Ferrymead Heritage Park for use in the rail operations there after many years of disuse until it was destroyed on-site by fire in September 1996, shortly before its relocation.

  • Public access to the Heathcote station platform is gained through this gate from Station Road.
  • Looking along the Heathcote station platform in the direction of the Lyttelton rail tunnel.
  • Looking along the Heathcote station platform in the direction of the Lyttelton rail tunnel.
  • Looking along the Heathcote station platform in the direction of Ferrymead.

Hornby
  • Map of Hornby
  • The back of loading bank can be seen in front of the station platform.
  • The back of loading bank can be seen in front of the station platform.
  • Looking at the main platform from up close.
  • Looking at the platforms together
  • Main platform from the side.

Islington
  • Map of Islington

Kaiapoi

The Main North Line railway runs through Kaiapoi, and the town once served as the junction for the Eyreton Branch, which provided rail access to communities west of Kaiapoi such as West Eyreton (though it ran to the north of Eyreton itself). This branch line opened in 1875 and closed fully by April 1965.

  • Old Kaiapoi Station after relocation.
  • Site of relocation showing damage after the September 2010 Canterbury earthquake.

Kainga

The station at Kainga was a small rural station to serve the settlement of Kainga. Nothing of the station remains. The Main North Line through Kainga was opened on 1 September 1958 as a deviation when the Waimakariri River Bridge at Stewarts Gully was replaced with a new structure 1.6 km upstream.

  • Map of Kainga
  • Looking North from station site.

Ladbrooks
  • Map of Ladbrooks

Lincoln
  • Map of Lincoln

Linwood

One of the "younger" stations on the line, Linwood was not built by the provincial council. Nothing remains of the station today, though it continued to serve in a rail capacity as the location of a locomotive depot until the depot was damaged beyond repair in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and subsequently demolished, with the services it provided relocated to Middleton.

  • Site of the Linwood railway station.
  • Water tower and turntable at the Linwood station site.
  • Linwood Locomotive Depot.

Little River

The Little River station has been well preserved by the local community, who have converted into a centre that sells local craft and historical items. The platform and goods shed are still in good repair, and some metres of trackage have been installed so that a number of preserved freight wagons can be displayed.

  • The Little River railway station on Banks Peninsula, these days used as a tourist information, craft shop and public toilets.
  • View from the northern side of the surprisingly large former yard at Little River. The main road from Christchurch to Akaroa runs behind the station, which is visible above the guard's van.
  • A wagon parked at the Little River Railway Station.
  • Welcome sign leaning against the goods shed of the Little River Railway Station.
  • A Guard's Van at the Little River Railway Station.
  • La Class open wagon, two N Class flat wagons, and a guard's van sit in the yard at Little River on a small section of track.
  • Hc Class cattle wagon HC1018 and ganger's hut (on loading bank) at Little River. A notable omission are the running boards that should be on top of the roof.
  • Goods shed, loading bank, and Hc Class cattle wagon.

Lyttelton
Main article: Lyttelton Railway Station
Lyttelton railway station yard. Features of interest include the Oxford Street overbridge (middle), Lyttelton station building (right, in front of the bridge), shore-end of wharves 2 and 3 (left, opposite the end of the bridge), Lyttelton rail tunnel portal (obscured, centre background), and Lyttelton road tunnel portal (centre-right background). Also shown are two of the ports main sources of traffic: timber and motor vehicles.

Lyttelton railway station is the northern terminus of the Main South Line, a main trunk railway line from Lyttelton to Invercargill in the South Island of New Zealand. There have been three stations built at Lyttelton, with the most recent of these still being used for railway purposes.

  • Map of Lyttelton
  • Lyttelton railway station.
  • Lyttelton railway station from above.
  • Lyttelton railway station as seen from Norwich Quay.

Middleton
  • Map of Middleton

The Middleton Marshalling Yard in Christchurch on the Christchurch-Ashburton Line had a hump for shunting, and was opened on 5 December 1927. It closed in September 1930, then reopened in November 1946. Later it closed on 13 October 1986 for local loading and deliveries and fully closed on 22 October 1998.[3]

Opawa

This station served passenger trains for residents of the suburb of Opawa. Nothing of the station remains.

  • Map of Opawa
  • Opawa railway station site, from the Richardson Terrace - Judge Street walkway.
  • Opawa railway station site, looking south towards Woolston.
  • Opawa railway station site, looking north towards Linwood.
  • Heathcote River rail bridge, just south of the Opawa railway station site.

Papanui
Main article: Papanui Railway Station

The Papanui Railway Station closed in 1991. It is located in Restell Street, Papanui, Christchurch, and is registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category II heritage building with registration number "List of Christchurch railway stations". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand..

  • Papanui Railway Station from Restell Street.
  • View of the railway tracks south.
  • View of the platform.
  • Sign detail.

Rangiora
Map of Rangiora Station

Riccarton

The Riccarton railway station was located on the Main North Line, accessible from the south via Matai Street. The station building was to the west of the line.[4]

Riccarton station was last serviced by a single weekday return service between Christchurch and Rangiora in 1976. These services were popular with commuters working in the eastern parts of the city, and also with railway staff based at the Addington Railway Workshops.

In 1959, there were still two daily return services. Riccarton station at the time had a small but busy freight yard, handling coal consignments for local merchants, timber from the West Coast, and wheat and flour traffic for the mill sited on land that now forms the grounds of Christchurch Girls' High School.[4]

For many years, a special train ran through Riccarton station to the October meeting of the Kaikoura Trotting Club. It conveyed patrons, horses, trainers, sulkies and jockeys. The popularity of this train diminished as horse floats were used to take horses and trainers to the meetings, and patrons opting to travel using private cars. The fact that the meetings were held midweek also limited the appeal.

In its heyday, in addition to the platform, station building and main line, the station also had a couple of loops and a curved siding from the north end of the yard that provided access to the flour mill.[4] In late 1905, a spur line was built that left the Main North Line in this location heading through North Hagley Park to service the International Exhibition. The spur was used for freight traffic only and was removed in 1908.[5][6]

Today, no obvious signs of the station remain. The yard is now a bus and car park, and a cycle/walk way runs along the western side of the line connecting Fendalton Road with Kereru Lane, which runs the length of the former yard.

  • Former station site
  • View of the railway track south

Rolleston

The small south Canterbury town of Rolleston was first served by a railway station built by the Canterbury Provincial Railways on their broad gauge line from Christchurch, which was then known as the Canterbury Great Southern Railway. Since then, the station has been patronised by a variety of services, most recently by the long-distance TranzAlpine passenger train.[7]

The station is located on State Highway 1, at the intersection of Main South Road and Rolleston Drive.

See also: Map of station location.
  • Rolleston railway station, looking north towards Templeton.
  • Loading bank.
  • Station building.
  • Rolleston station yard, looking south in the direction of the Midland Line junction.

Sockburn
  • Map of Sockburn

Stewarts Gully

This station served the settlement of Stewarts Gully on the south bank of the Waimakariri River, just south of Kaiapoi. The dates of operation of the station are not known at the time of writing, but the Main North Line in the area opened on 29 April 1872, and closed on 31 August 1958 when the Waimakariri River Bridge was replaced with a new structure and associated trackage 1.6 km upstream.

  • Map of Stewarts Gully

Templeton
  • Map of Templeton

Weedons
  • Map of Weedons

Woolston
View from the side of the Woolston Railway Station platform.

Formerly known as Hillsborough after another nearby suburb, this station continues to serve as a freight hub for several adjacent industrial customers. The platform and loading bank remain, though the station building has been demolished.

  • View along the Woolston Railway Station platform.
  • Woolston Railway Station: wagon sidings, foreground; container storage yard, background; loading bank, right.
  • Disused private siding across Maunsell Street from the Woolston Railway Station yard.

See also

Notes and references

Footnotes
  1. In 1991 the comparatively modern Christchurch station was sold and replaced by a new station on the old Addington Workshops site, opened on 5 April 1993.[1]

Notes
  1. Churchman & Hurst 2001, p. 178.
  2. Pierre, W. A. (1964). Canterbury Provincial Railways: Genesis of the N.Z.R. System. Wellington: The New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society.
  3. Scoble, Juliet (2012). Names & Opening and Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand, 1863 to 2012. Wellington: Scoble.
  4. "Map of the city of Christchurch Sheet 3 of 9". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  5. "The International Exhibition". The Press. LXII (12369). 7 December 1905. p. 10. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  6. "New Zealand International Exhibition 1906". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  7. Tranz Scenic. The TranzAlpine Daily Timetable

References
  • Quail Map Company (1993). New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (4th ed.). England: The Quail Map Company. ISBN 0-900609-92-3.
  • Bromby, Robin (2003). Rails That Built A Nation: An Encyclopedia of New Zealand Railways. Wellington: Grantham House Publishing. ISBN 1-86934-080-9.
  • Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) [1990, 1991]. The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History (Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand. ISBN 0-908876-20-3.
  • McQueen, Euan (2005). Rails In The Hinterland: New Zealand’s Vanishing Railway Landscape. Wellington: Grantham House Publishing. ISBN 1-86934-094-9.
  • Pierre, W. A. (1964). Canterbury Provincial Railways: Genesis of the N.Z.R. System. Wellington: The New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society.
  • Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand
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