It ran from Kidlington railway station parallel with the Cherwell Valley Line north to Shipton-on-Cherwell, where it turned west through Shipton-on-Cherwell Halt towards Blenheim and Woodstock.
Built for the 8th Duke of Marlborough,[1] the line opened on 19 May 1890[2] and was privately owned until 1897 when it became part of the Great Western Railway, although the line was operated by Great Western Railway from its inception.
The last train ran on 27 February 1954 and track lifting was completed in January 1958.
[4] These cuts in the frequency of trains along the Woodstock branch line produced two-hour waits at Kidlington for a connection.
British Railways closed the branch line in March 1954 with the last train adorned with a wreath.