Thames Branch
| Thames Branch | |
|---|---|
The former station in Thames. | |
| Overview | |
| Other name(s) | Waitoa Branch |
| Status | Closed Waitoa - Thames Open Morrinsville - Waitoa |
| Owner | New Zealand Railways Corporation (land) KiwiRail (track) |
| Locale | Waikato, New Zealand |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy Rail |
| System | New Zealand Government Railways (NZGR) |
| Operator(s) | KiwiRail (as far as Waitoa dairy factory) |
| Rolling stock | None |
| History | |
| Opened | 19 December 1898 (Hamilton - Thames) |
| Junction moved to Paeroa | November 1905 |
| Junction moved to Morrinsville | 12 September 1978 |
| Closed beyond Waitoa | 31 May 1995 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 74.07 km (46.02 mi) Morrinsville - Thames 11 km (6.8 mi) Open |
| Number of tracks | Single |
| Character | Rural |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
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The Thames Branch railway line connected Thames, New Zealand, with Hamilton and was originally part of the East Coast Main Trunk railway. Part of the line between Morrinsville and Waitoa remains open and is in use as the Waitoa Branch line, connecting to the Fonterra Dairy Factory at Waitoa.