 The Oxford , Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway was completed in 1852-1853 and it opened a branch from Honeybourne to Stratford-on-Avon on 12 th July 1859.
A branch from the Oxford to Birmingham route at Hatton was opened to Stratford-on-Avon by the independent Stratford-Upon-Avon Railway Company on 9 th October 1860. The GWR operated the line, which was broad gauge until 1869, although most trains were standard gauge after 1863.
 A connection between the two branches came into use on 24 th July 1861. The Stratford-Upon-Avon Railway became part of the GWR in 1883. The Oxford , Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway became the West Midland Railway in 1860 and part of the GWR in 1863.
The GWR obtained an Act on 1 st August 1899 for the construction of a high speed line between Honeybourne and Cheltenham . The maximum gradient was to be 1 in 108 and the minimum radius of curves was set at half a mile. The route from Honeybourne was opened in stages: to Broadway on 1 st August 1904, to Toddington on
1 st December 1904, to Winchcombe on 1 st February 1905, to Bishop's Cleeve on 1 st June 1906 and to Cheltenham (Lansdown Junction) on 1 st August 1906.
 Combined with a new line north of Stratford to Tyseley in 1908, the GWR had developed a strategic route of some importance between the Midlands and the West of England. Doubling between the Midlands and the West of England . Doubling between Stratford and Honeybourne took place in 1907-1908.
Local passenger services were a secondary consideration and were dieselised as early as 1934, most terminating at Honeybourne. Stopping trains were withdrawn south thereof on 7 th March 1960 and northwards on 3 rd January 1966. Most inter-regional freight trains were diverted to other routes after 8 th November 1965 and parcels trains ceased on
6 th March 1967. Some local goods traffic continued but long distance freights returned in May 1970.
 The train service to both Cheltenham Spa Malvern Road and St James was withdrawn on 3 rd January 1966, but a twice daily railcar ran between Gloucester and Leamington Spa until 25 th March 1968. This could not thus call at Cheltenham . Through passenger services ceased altogether on 25 th August 1975 and through freight traffic came to an end on
25 th August 1976, following a derailment. Official closure south of Honeybourne was on 1 st November 1976; the Long Marston – Stratford section was also closed at this time. A single line was retained between Honeybourne and Long Marston, mainly for the benefit of the Ministry of Defence.
|
