BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 'GLOUCESTER LOOP' LINE
The line between Barnt Green and Ashchurch was built
in four stages between 1859 and 1868, providing an essential link for the
various communities along it. The main line from Birmingham to Gloucester had
failed to serve such centres as Redditch, Evesham and Alcester. The line also
formed an important diversionary route running parallel to the main line this
was particularly important in the days of steam as the route bypassed the
notorious Lickey incline. In July 1858 the Redditch Railway Act authorised a
line between Barnt Green & Redditch which opened on 18th September 1859.
Authorisation to build the Ashchurch and Evesham Railway was given under the
Midland Railway (New Lines) Act of 1861. It opened to goods traffic on 1st July
1864 and to passengers on 1st October 1864. The gap between those two lines was
filled by the Evesham and Redditch Railway which was authorised in 1863. The
stretch between Evesham and Alcester opened to goods traffic in June 1866 and
to passengers on 17th September 1866. The remaining section between Alcester
and Redditch opened on 4th May 1868 running into a new station at Redditch a
¼ of a mile to the south of the original site. From the start the
service was provided by the Midland Railway.
The Redditch Railway was bought by the Midland
Railway in 1865 while the middle section between Redditch and Evesham was taken
over by the Midland in 1882. From Redditch the line ran south through Evesham
to a junction at Ashchurch where it rejoined the Birmingham & Gloucester
Railway; the line became known as the Birmingham & Gloucester Loop. There
were intermediate stations between Redditch and Evesham at Studley &
Astwood Bank, Coughton, Alcester, Wixford, Broom Junction (junction for The
Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway), Salford Priors, and
Harvington. Between Evesham and Ashchurch there were intermediate stations at
Bengeworth, Hinton, Ashton-under-Hill and Beckford. Although some stations on
the line had closed during the 1950's. The Evesham to Redditch section of
railway line was closed to passengers on a temporary basis on 1st October 1962
because of the poor condition of the track and substitute bus service was
introduced. Goods traffic was retained at Studley and Alcester. The passenger
service between Evesham and Redditch was withdrawn from 17th June 1963 and the
line closed completely on 6th July 1964 with the track being lifted by January
1965.
On 1965 there was an attempt to close the remaining
section between Redditch and Barnt Green but the line was reprieved. Redditch
station was moved to north side of Bromsgrove Bridge into the former goods
yard. This allowed the former station site to be cleared for the construction
of a new bus station as part of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre development. In
February 1990 the Cross City Line between Redditch and Litchfield was
authorised. This involved the electrification of existing lines including Barnt
Green to Redditch and the rebuilding of Redditch Station, with a new brick
station building and an extension to the platform to accommodate 6 car trains.
This section of the former Ashchurch line is still open forming an important
part of Centro's line to Birmingham New Street and Litchfield. Today much of
the former track bed can still be traced; part of the line has been
incorporated into the Evesham Country Park while another short section south of
Redditch now forms part of the realigned A441.
Information courtesy of Nick Catford of Disused
Railways
Further reading: An illustrated History of
Ashchurch-Barnt Green Line by R.J. Essery published by Oxford Publishing
Company 2002 ISBN 0860935620 |
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