View source for Cotswold Line

{{Short description|Railway line between Oxford and Hereford}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = Cotswold Line
| box_width                       = 
| color                           = Black
| logo                            = 
| logo_width                      = 
| image                           = 180106-Honeybourne-P1410123.jpg
| image_width                     = 321px
| caption                         = A [[First Great Western]] {{brc|180}} approaches [[Honeybourne railway station|Honeybourne station]] in June 2017
| type                            = Rural, [[Heavy rail]]
| system                          = [[National Rail]]
| status                          = Operational
| locale                          = {{ubl|[[South East England]]|[[South West England]]|[[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]}}
| start                           = {{rws|Oxford}}
| end                             = {{rws|Hereford}}
| stations                        = 19
| routes                          = 
| daily_ridership                 = 
| open                            = 1851
| close                           = 
| owner                           = [[Network Rail]]
| operator                        = {{ubl|[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]|[[West Midlands Trains]]}}
| character                       = 
| depot                           = 
| stock                           = {{ubl|{{BRC|150}}|{{BRC|153}}|{{BRC|158}}|{{BRC|165}}|{{BRC|166}}|{{BRC|170}}|{{BRC|172}}|{{BRC|196}}|{{BRC|800}}|{{BRC|802}}}}
| linelength                      = {{convert|86.3|mi|km}}
| tracklength                     = 
| tracks                          = 1–2
| gauge                           = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = 
| speed                           = {{convert|100|mph|abbr=on}} maximum
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = [[File:Cotswold Line.png|321px]]<br>([[:commons:File:Cotswold Line.png|Click to expand]])
| map_state                       = uncollapsed
}}
{{Cotswold Line RDT|collapse=y}}
The '''Cotswold Line''' is an {{convert|86+1/2|mi|km|adj=on}} railway line between {{rws|Oxford}} and {{rws|Hereford}} in England.

==History==
===Early years===
The line between Oxford and Worcester was built under an 1845 [[Act of Parliament]] and opened in 1851 as part of the [[Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway]].

The Act required the line to be built to [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]'s {{convert|7|ft|1/4|in|mm}} [[broad gauge]] but delays, disputes and increasing costs led to its being completed as {{track gauge|uksg}} [[standard gauge]].{{citation needed|date=September 2011}}

The first stage of the [[Worcester and Hereford Railway]] opened between [[Henwick]] and Malvern Link on 25 July 1859. The bridge over the [[River Severn]] was approved for traffic the following year, and trains started running through from Malvern Link to Worcester Shrub Hill station on 17 May 1860. A short extension from Malvern Link to {{rws|Malvern Wells}} opened on 25 May 1860.

On 1 July 1860 the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway absorbed both the Worcester & Hereford Railway and the [[Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford Railway]] to form the [[West Midland Railway]].

On 13 September 1861 the final stage of the railway opened between Malvern Wells and Shelwick Junction. This junction is just north of Hereford station on the line between Hereford and Shrewsbury, and it finally created a through route between Worcester and Hereford.<ref>{{cite journal| journal=Railway Magazine| date=July 1959}}{{full citation needed|date=August 2017}}</ref>

The [[Great Western Railway]] took over the West Midland Railway in 1863.

The original tunnel through the ridge of the [[Malvern Hills]], Colwall Tunnel, was completed in July 1860. However, the tunnel was unstable, and it was closed for short periods in 1861 and again in 1907 following rock falls. Eventually the GWR decided to build a new tunnel to the south of the existing one. This opened for traffic on 2 August 1926. The old tunnel was abandoned, and during [[World War II]] it was used to store torpedoes.<ref>{{cite journal| journal=Railway Magazine| date=August 1959}}{{full citation needed|date=August 2017}}</ref>

In the early 1970s, 25 miles from Moreton-in-Marsh to Norton Junction, Worcester were converted from [[Double-track railway|double]] to [[Single-track railway|single]] track.<ref>Oxford-Worcester line singling ''[[Railway World]]'' issue 368 January 1971 page 2</ref>

Following serious floods, which washed parts of embankments away, the line was closed for about a fortnight during July and August 2007 for repairs.

===Improvement works 2008–2011===
[[Network Rail]] completed the redoubling of {{convert|20|mi}} of track from just east of {{rws|Charlbury}} to {{rws|Ascott-under-Wychwood}}, and from {{rws|Moreton-in-Marsh}} to about {{convert|1|mi}} west of Evesham on 22 August 2011. This was intended to improve reliability, enable non-stop operations and allow an hourly off peak service to run on the line.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://oxfordmail.co.uk/display.var.2172240.0.0.php| website=Oxford Mail| title=Rail improvements on track| date=4 April 2008| first=William| last=Crossley}}</ref> The [[Office of Rail Regulation]] approved the work in June 2008, although the planned work was over-budget and had to await final approval.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}} In December 2008 vegetation was cleared.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=3501 |title=North Cotswolds Line Improvements |access-date=14 May 2009|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507111712/http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=3501 |archive-date=7 May 2009| website=FGW}}</ref> A six-week closure of all or part of the line between Oxford and Worcester for preparatory works took place in July and August 2009. Further weekend work planned for February 2010 was postponed by Network Rail. Initial work began in autumn of 2010, with the majority of the second track being relaid between December 2010 and May 2011 when the line was closed at 21.30 from Monday to Thursday. In March 2011 construction works were started on additional structures and signalling equipment that the new line needed, including three new platforms at Charlbury, Ascott-under-Wychwood and {{rws|Honeybourne}}. Footbridges at Charlbury and Honeybourne as well as preparation for the upgrade of six Level Crossings.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/Projects/10995_Cotswold%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf| website=Network Rail| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001083714/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/Projects/10995_Cotswold%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf| archive-date=1 October 2012| title=A better railway for the Cotswolds| date=February 2011}}</ref> The new double track section between Charlbury and Ascott re-opened on 6 June 2011; the line between Oxford and Moreton-in-Marsh having been closed during the previous nine days. The section between Moreton and Evesham reopened as double track on 22 August 2011 with the line closed for the preceding two weeks.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/8214832.Cotswold_Line_rail_improvements_timetable_unveiled/| website=This is Oxfordshire| title=Cotswold Line rail improvements timetable unveiled| date=11 June 2010| first=William| last=Crossley}}</ref>

=== Platform extensions 2018 ===
The line was closed from 16 to 25 November 2018, between Moreton-In-Marsh and Worcester Shrub Hill, so that platforms could be extended to accommodate [[British Rail Class 800|Class 800]] trains.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/planned-engineering/cotswolds2018|title=GWR Cotswold Line|date=25 November 2018|website=GWR|access-date=25 November 2018}}</ref>

=== Opening of Worcestershire Parkway 2020 ===
[[Worcestershire Parkway railway station]] opened in February 2020, following a long-standing proposal for a new split-level station where the line crosses over the [[Birmingham and Bristol Railway]] route. Connecting services are provided by [[CrossCountry]] on the Cardiff to Nottingham line and there is parking for 483 cars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gwr.com/about-us/modernising-gwr/worcestershire-parkway|title=Worcestershire Parkway {{!}} Great Western Railway|website=gwr.com|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref>

==Route==
The line comprises all or part of the following [[Network Rail]] routes:<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rules%20of%20the%20route/outrotp11/gw11p.pdf| website=Network Rail| title=Rules of the Plan| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913221910/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rules%20of%20the%20route/outrotp11/gw11p.pdf| archive-date=13 September 2012}}</ref>

*GW 200 from Oxford
*GW 310 from Wolvercot Junction
*GW 300 from Norton Junction
*GW 340 from Worcester Shrub Hill
*GW 730 from Shelwick Junction to Hereford

===Infrastructure===
The line is single track between the following places:
*Wolvercot Junction, (about {{convert|3|mi|0|disp=or}} north of Oxford) and {{rws|Charlbury}}.
*{{convert|1|mi|disp=or}} west of {{rws|Evesham}} and Norton Junction ({{convert|3|mi|disp=or}} south east of {{rws|Worcester Shrub Hill}})
*Worcester Shrub Hill through {{rws|Worcester Foregate Street}} to Henwick.
*Malvern Wells, ({{convert|1|mi|disp=or}} south of {{rws|Great Malvern}}) and Shelwick Junction ({{convert|1.7|mi|disp=or}} north of Hereford) with a crossing place at {{rws|Ledbury}}.

Other sections are double track.

Significant [[civil engineering]] structures on the line include Campden Tunnel ({{convert|875|yd|m|disp=or}}), the [[Colwall Tunnels]] ({{convert|1567|yd|m|disp=or}}), Ledbury Tunnel ({{convert|1323|yd|m|disp=or}}) and viaducts at Worcester and Ledbury.

=== Detail===

====Oxford to Charlbury====
After departing Oxford station, the Cotswold Line shares track with the [[Cherwell Valley Line]] to [[Banbury railway station|Banbury]]. About {{convert|220|yd|m}} north of the station, the line crosses the [[Sheepwash Channel]] which links the [[Castle Mill Stream]] and [[Oxford Canal]] with the [[River Thames]].<ref name="canalplan">{{cite web| url=http://canalplan.org.uk/waterway/edm8| title=River Thames (Sheepwash Channel)| website=CanalPlanAC| location=UK| access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> Immediately east of the current line is the [[Rewley Road Swing Bridge]] over the channel which used to carry the [[London and North Western Railway]]'s (LNWR) [[Buckinghamshire Railway]] line to its terminus at [[Oxford Rewley Road railway station|Oxford Rewley Road]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.movablebridges.org.uk/BridgePage.asp?BridgeNumber=269| title=Sheepwash Channel – Oxford Canal /River Thames| website=Movable Bridges in the British Isles| location=UK| access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> The swing bridge is a [[listed building]]. The Rewley Road station building has been dismantled and re-erected at [[Buckinghamshire Railway Centre]]. The built up area east of the railway, visible across the Oxford Canal, is [[Jericho, Oxford|Jericho]], a district which originated as lodgings outside the city walls where travellers could rest if they arrived after the gates were locked. The [[Eagle Ironworks, Oxford|Eagle Ironworks]] of William Lucy & Co. was near the first road bridge over the track on [[Walton Well Road]].

After the bridge, the open area to the left is [[Port Meadow]], a [[water meadow]] bordering the Thames with a [[Bronze Age]] [[round barrow]]. The former LNWR Buckinghamshire Railway branches away to the north east. The section from Oxford to Bicester has been connected to the Chiltern Main Line by a new chord at Bicester, enabling through trains from Oxford to [[Marylebone railway station|London Marylebone]] to run from September 2015. Proposals exist for re-opening the whole line and are included in the Draft Milton Keynes & South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy, but there are many planning and funding matters to be resolved.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.goem.gov.uk/goem/psc/suscom/mksm/| title=Draft Milton Keynes & South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050423213346/http://www.goem.gov.uk/goem/psc/suscom/mksm/| archive-date=23 April 2005}}</ref>

The line passes through [[Wolvercote]]. To the west, Lower Wolvercote was a centre for paper making, mainly for the [[Oxford University Press]] from the 17th century until 1998 and is the site of [[Godstow|Godstow Abbey]], a [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictine]] convent founded in the 12th century. The line passes under the viaduct carrying the [[A34 road (England)|A34]] Oxford Western Bypass and {{convert|100|yd}} further under the [[A40 road]] linking London and [[Fishguard]].
[[File:Wolvercote Jnc.jpg|thumb|An HST leaving the Cotswold Line at Wolvercot Junction, about {{convert|3|mi|0}} north of Oxford]]

The line now turns west; here the former [[Buckinghamshire Junction Railway]] link with the Buckinghamshire Railway used to converge from the east. About {{convert|4|mi}} after Oxford station, {{rws|Yarnton}} station was in the short stretch between here and where the [[Witney Railway]] diverged to the south-west.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.martin.loader.btinternet.co.uk/Yarnton_Junction.htm |title=Yarnton Junction |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040722181033/http://www.martin.loader.btinternet.co.uk/Yarnton_Junction.htm |archive-date=22 July 2004 }}</ref> So far, the line has been close to the River Thames but the river now swings away to the south through a landscape dotted with gravel pits. The line now climbs the valley of the [[River Evenlode]] repeatedly crossing and re-crossing the river. {{rws|Hanborough}} station serves the villages of [[Long Hanborough]], [[Church Hanborough]], [[Freeland, Oxfordshire|Freeland]] and [[Bladon]]. The [[Oxford Bus Museum]] is next to Hanborough station.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.oxfordbusmuseum.org.uk| website=Oxford Bus Museum| title=Home}}</ref>

From Hanborough the line enters the Cotswold [[Cotswolds AONB|Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] and {{convert|1|mi}} beyond Hanborough is {{rws|Combe}} station. Building the line through Combe was difficult with several deep cuttings, four crossings of the Evenlode, and the diversion of a length of the river. To the south, just after the third river crossing are the remains of [[North Leigh Roman Villa]]. About {{convert|1|mi}} beyond the villa the line crosses the course of [[Akeman Street]] [[Roman road]]. The [[Oxfordshire Way]] [[long-distance footpath]] follows Akeman Street from the north east to a point about {{convert|0.6|mi|0}} north of the railway before turning to run through [[Stonesfield]] and meet the line at Charlbury station. The next station is {{rws|Finstock}}. Between Finstock and Charlbury the [[Medieval deer park|deer park]] to the west of the line is [[Cornbury Park]], original venue for the [[Cornbury Music Festival]], which has now been replaced by the Wilderness Festival. The woodlands south west of the park are the remains of [[Wychwood Forest]] named after the [[Hwicce]], one of the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] peoples of Britain. Charlbury station is the start of the redoubled track and is first stop for faster trains over the line and retains its original Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway clapperboard building. [[Peter Parker (British businessman)|Sir Peter Parker]] lived nearby at [[Minster Lovell]] and was a regular user of Charlbury station while chairman of the [[British Railways Board]] (1976 to 1983). The patronage of the head of the organisation may have helped to save the line at a time when the Serpell Report was calling for more rail closures.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=29| title=Railway Finances – Report of a Committee chaired by Sir David Serpell KCB CMG OBE| website=Railways Archive}}</ref> This is section of track has a maximum speed of {{convert|100|mph|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/baseline%20capability/track%20and%20route%20mileage,%20permissible%20line%20speeds/table%20a_track_and_route%20miles_linespeed_western%20route.pdf| title=Baseline Capacity – Western| date=31 March 2009| access-date=28 August 2014| website=Network Rail| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014210923/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/baseline%20capability/track%20and%20route%20mileage,%20permissible%20line%20speeds/table%20a_track_and_route%20miles_linespeed_western%20route.pdf| archive-date=14 October 2013| url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Charlbury to Moreton-in-Marsh====
The line is now heading south-west and the site of [[Ascot d'Oilly Castle]] is to the north-west as the train enters [[Ascott-under-Wychwood]]. Few trains call at {{rws|Ascott-under-Wychwood}} station, but there is a [[signal box]] controlling the [[level crossing]] and the [[Railroad switch|points]] that were formerly the end of the single track section from Wolvercot Junction. {{convert|1.2|mi}} beyond Ascott is {{rws|Shipton}} station which serves the villages of [[Shipton-under-Wychwood]], [[Milton-under-Wychwood]] and [[Fifield, Oxfordshire|Fifield]].

Still following the Evenlode, the line now turns north-west. There is another level crossing near [[Bruern Abbey]]. The next junction on the line was at {{rws|Kingham}} from where the [[Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway]] went west to [[Cheltenham Spa St. James railway station|Cheltenham]] via {{rws|Stow-on-the-Wold}} and east to {{rws|King's Sutton}} near {{rws|Banbury}}. [[Kingham]] village is north of the station. The village west of the station is [[Bledington]]. The Oxfordshire Way which has been close to the railway since Akeman Street now turns west to [[Bourton-on-the-Water]] but it is replaced by another long-distance footpath, the Diamond Way. Beyond Kingham, the line passes through the site of the former {{rws|Adlestrop}} railway station, closed in 1966. At Moreton-in-Marsh the line crosses the course of another major Roman road, the [[Fosse Way]] which linked ''[[Isca Dumnoniorum]]'' ([[Exeter]]) and ''[[Lindum Colonia]]'' ([[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]]). Moreton-in-Marsh was the headquarters of the railway spot-hire company [[Cotswold Rail]] until the company moved to Gloucester.

====Moreton-in-Marsh to Hereford====
[[File:166202 at Evesham.JPG|180px|right|thumb|A [[First Great Western Link]] [[British Rail Class 166|Network Express Turbo unit]] at {{rws|Evesham}} station on 19 September 2004, with a service for {{rws|London Paddington}}]]

About {{convert|28|mi}} after Oxford is Moreton-in-Marsh. This was once the southern end of the [[Stratford and Moreton Tramway]]. The line then passes the corner of the Roman town of [[Dorn, Gloucestershire|Dorn]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.roman-britain.org/places/dorn.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204043915/http://www.roman-britain.org/places/dorn.htm| archive-date=4 February 2012| title=Romano-British Town: Dorn, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire| website=Roman Britain}}</ref> The Cotswold Line leaves the Evenlode which drains into the Thames and enters the [[drainage basin|catchment]] of the [[River Severn]]. The first level crossing appears. The building west of the crossing is a brick works and the neighbouring pits were the site of [[Jurassic]] clay extraction for the works. The village to the north is [[Paxford]]. The large country house to the west is [[Northwick Park, Gloucestershire|Northwick Park]], former home of Edward Spencer-Churchill and site of a [[Medical Corps (United States Army)|United States Army]] hospital during [[World War II]] and afterwards a centre for Polish refugees. The line the passes the site of {{rws|Chipping Campden}} station, about {{convert|1|mi}} east of [[Chipping Campden]] itself. From here the line goes into cutting, then the {{convert|887|yd}} Campden Tunnel under the Cotswold [[escarpment]]. In 1851 unrest among the [[navvies]] building the tunnel resulted in a riot – the 'Battle of Campden Tunnel'.<ref>{{cite web| last1=Coldicott| first1=Fred| title=The Battle of Campden (or Mickleton) Tunnel| url=http://chippingcampdenhistory.org.uk/page/the_battle_of_campden_or_mickleton_tunnel| website=Chipping Campden History| access-date=16 July 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109135945/http://chippingcampdenhistory.org.uk/page/the_battle_of_campden_or_mickleton_tunnel| archive-date=9 January 2016}}</ref>

The next station is Honeybourne. From 1905 until 1977 this was the junction with the GWR line between [[Cheltenham Spa Malvern Road railway station|Cheltenham]] and {{rws|Stratford-upon-Avon}}. The track to the north remains as a link to the large former military depot at [[Long Marston, Warwickshire|Long Marston]].  There is a good business case for the restoration of the Stratford-Cotswolds link.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2012/10/22-restored-line-south-of-stratford.html| website=Railnews| title=Good business case for Stratford-Cotswolds link| date=22 October 2012 |access-date=2 June 2014}}</ref> The large compound to the north with high walls, chapel, and floodlights is [[Long Lartin (HM Prison)|Long Lartin prison]]. There is another level crossing, where {{rws|Littleton and Badsey}} station used to be. The line crosses the [[River Avon, Warwickshire|River Avon]] into Evesham. Opposite Evesham's Cotswold Line station is the former [[Midland Railway]] station, once on the [[Gloucester Loop Line|Ashchurch & Barnt Green line]]. The line becomes single track again about {{convert|1|mi}} west of Evesham and then crosses the River Avon twice more and follows it towards {{rws|Pershore}}.
[[Image:Junction2.jpg|thumb|The site of Norton Junction looking towards Oxford. The single tracked Cotswold Line branches off to the left, with the right hand branch linking to the [[Cross Country Route]] (southbound).]]

West of Pershore, where the line crosses over the [[Cross Country Route]], the new [[Worcestershire Parkway railway station|Worcestershire Parkway station]] has been opened. Just beyond, the line passes through Norton Junction where there was formerly a station. The junction links the line to the Cross Country Route. Here double track restarts.

About {{convert|57|mi}} after Oxford is Worcester Shrub Hill station. Here are connections to commuter lines going to {{rws|Birmingham New Street}}. Worcester Foregate Street station gives connections to the city centre and other lines to Birmingham. {{convert|6|mi|0}} later the line reaches Malvern Link station. Great Malvern station follows, and {{convert|2|mi|0}} later is the site of the former Malvern Wells station. After Malvern Wells the line enters the {{convert|1584|yd}} long [[Colwall New Tunnel]]. This is the second Colwall tunnel; the entrance to the original tunnel can be seen to the north. When the tunnel is below the ridge of the [[Malvern Hills AONB|Malvern Hills]], the line crosses the boundary between [[Worcestershire]] and [[Herefordshire]]. The line reaches [[Colwall railway station|Colwall station]], where [[The Coca-Cola Company]] plant (now demolished) next to the station used to bottle [[Malvern Water (bottled water)|Malvern Water]], a local [[mineral water]]. Next to the bridge carrying the B4218 road over the railway is an unusual five-sided cottage.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}} When the railway was built one corner had to be demolished and replaced by a plain wall. After passing through another tunnel, Ledbury station is passed and Hereford station ends the journey on the line.

==Services==
{{As of|2011|12|11}}, the previous off peak weekday service continues: roughly an hourly service between London and Worcester. Due to constraints of the former single track, there are some two-hour gaps. These services are extensions of the half-hourly Oxford fast trains. Some of the former gaps have been partly filled by three additional trains as far as Moreton-in-Marsh (running through from/to [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]]).

During peak hours, both Oxford fast trains are extended to Worcester, giving a half-hourly service. Overall, about half the trains continue to/from Great Malvern and five trains a day continue to and from Hereford.

There is also an additional commuter service to and from Oxford in the morning and evening, which additionally calls at the halts (their "Parliamentary" service, preventing their closure).

The historic problem of some trains having to wait at passing loops, extending journey times, has been eliminated by the redoubling, although some still have to wait at Charlbury or Evesham.

Due to short platforms, passengers alighting at stations except Shrub Hill, Worcestershire Parkway, Oxford and Hereford should listen to onboard announcements telling them from which coaches they should alight. Normally this is from the 2–5 coaches at the country end of the train (further from the ticket barrier at {{rws|London Paddington}}).

In 2007 some trains in the morning rush hour started at {{rws|Abergavenny}} but this was discontinued from December 2008.

==Usage==
The busiest stations on this line are the city stations at Oxford, Worcester and Hereford, followed by Great Malvern. The busiest station served exclusively by Great Western Railway's Cotswold Line services is Moreton-in-Marsh, followed by Hanborough.<ref>{{cite web| title=Station Usage| work=Rail Statistics| publisher=Office of Rail Regulation| url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529| access-date=2 November 2011| archive-date=4 July 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704101059/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529| url-status=dead}}</ref>

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|u1=2,050
|u2=2,534
|u3=2,931
|u4=1,769
|u5=2,499
|u6=2,860
|u7=2,264
|u8=1,658
|u9=2,702
|u10=2,484
|u11=2,856
|u12=4,026
|u13=4,532
|u14=4,644
|u15=3,312
|u16=2,638
|u17=3,036
|u18=638
|u19=1,162
|u20=1,628
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Shipton
|u1=5,057
|u2=6,231
|u3=5,513
|u4=5,389
|u5=3,914
|u6=3,032
|u7=2,890
|u8=3,614
|u9=4,680
|u10=5,028
|u11=5,050
|u12=4,884
|u13=5,660
|u14=6,568
|u15=4,572
|u16=4,524
|u17=5,136
|u18=592
|u19=2,250
|u20=2,354
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Kingham
|u1=121,318
|u2=124,462
|u3=126,995
|u4=131,183
|u5=141,310
|u6=147,554
|u7=137,944
|u8=150,890
|u9=156,668
|u10=169,496
|u11=172,006
|u12=180,536
|u13=184,218
|u14=184,260
|u15=183,514
|u16=181,790
|u17=191,518
|u18=39,014
|u19=162,784
|u20=206,270
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Moreton-in-Marsh
|u1=176,389
|u2=180,458
|u3=178,004
|u4=189,230
|u5=176,502
|u6=185,284
|u7=178,040
|u8=195,878
|u9=203,082
|u10=209,238
|u11=217,032
|u12=237,198
|u13=252,950
|u14=260,106
|u15=268,866
|u16=273,018
|u17=292,544
|u18=50,588
|u19=200,094
|u20=269,072
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Honeybourne
|u1=18,691
|u2=22,077
|u3=27,752
|u4=34,281
|u5=33,127
|u6=37,350
|u7=35,052
|u8=41,446
|u9=41,834
|u10=47,788
|u11=51,400
|u12=56,178
|u13=57,978
|u14=59,496
|u15=61,858
|u16=66,612
|u17=71,830
|u18=16,280
|u19=64,078
|u20=85,768
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Evesham
|u1=240,174
|u2=269,474
|u3=239,257
|u4=236,611
|u5=214,364
|u6=207,998
|u7=203,578
|u8=221,594
|u9=220,072
|u10=258,190
|u11=245,612
|u12=247,724
|u13=255,476
|u14=257,544
|u15=246,898
|u16=234,006
|u17=245,990
|u18=66,164
|u19=203,748
|u20=245,142
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Pershore
|u1=50,949
|u2=53,154
|u3=62,522
|u4=61,739
|u5=61,971
|u6=62,472
|u7=58,744
|u8=67,230
|u9=73,000
|u10=89,546
|u11=87,956
|u12=95,310
|u13=100,690
|u14=103,956
|u15=102,038
|u16=94,844
|u17=102,550
|u18=37,112
|u19=88,116
|u20=103,874
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Worcestershire Parkway
|u1={{n/a}}
|u2={{n/a}}
|u3={{n/a}}
|u4={{n/a}}
|u5={{n/a}}
|u6={{n/a}}
|u7={{n/a}}
|u8={{n/a}}
|u9={{n/a}}
|u10={{n/a}}
|u11={{n/a}}
|u12={{n/a}}
|u13={{n/a}}
|u14={{n/a}}
|u15={{n/a}}
|u16={{n/a}}
|u17=25,478
|u18=32,350
|u19=314,894
|u20=334,658
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Worcester Shrub Hill
|u1=1,225,757
|u2=1,355,790
|u3=202,708
|u4=592,756
|u5=625,971
|u6=761,666
|u7=856,196
|u8=747,595
|u9=780,168
|u10=891,844
|u11=968,834
|u12=595,402
|u13=618,467
|u14=818,070
|u15=845,794
|u16=806,636
|u17=660,638
|u18=161,288
|u19=409,540
|u20=477,310
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Worcester Foregate Street
|u1=379,734
|u2=319,996
|u3=1,582,620
|u4=1,273,385
|u5=1,252,182
|u6=1,469,283
|u7=1,487,256
|u8=1,625,011
|u9=1,791,810
|u10=1,859,984
|u11=1,833,902
|u12=2,207,508
|u13=2,293,021
|u14=2,100,826
|u15=2,172,026
|u16=2,071,468
|u17=2,190,982
|u18=534,904
|u19=1,358,222
|u20=1,582,976
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Malvern Link
|u1=165,820
|u2=179,091
|u3=201,091
|u4=216,790
|u5=227,141
|u6=235,748
|u7=249,898
|u8=261,792
|u9=267,522
|u10=278,592
|u11=296,934
|u12=313,526
|u13=344,232
|u14=354,414
|u15=348,714
|u16=355,256
|u17=360,234
|u18=93,628
|u19=253,760
|u20=302,128
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Great Malvern
|u1=394,411
|u2=373,914
|u3=392,143
|u4=405,371
|u5=384,906
|u6=447,172
|u7=464,296
|u8=484,668
|u9=502,468
|u10=514,778
|u11=526,374
|u12=543,198
|u13=557,012
|u14=559,494
|u15=562,634
|u16=531,124
|u17=537,454
|u18=126,294
|u19=324,946
|u20=367,552
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Colwall
|u1=43,788
|u2=40,574
|u3=44,596
|u4=51,392
|u5=56,384
|u6=56,528
|u7=63,062
|u8=61,356
|u9=66,110
|u10=63,374
|u11=65,210
|u12=63,560
|u13=66,642
|u14=60,870
|u15=64,162
|u16=62,146
|u17=67,664
|u18=19,102
|u19=44,866
|u20=52,402
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Ledbury
|u1=133,968
|u2=130,403
|u3=135,033
|u4=147,496
|u5=162,588
|u6=180,136
|u7=184,340
|u8=189,308
|u9=193,952
|u10=185,588
|u11=195,348
|u12=203,612
|u13=214,632
|u14=210,098
|u15=216,606
|u16=218,822
|u17=218,858
|u18=67,320
|u19=162,662
|u20=187,960
}}
{{UKsta-u A|stn=Hereford
|u1=602,219
|u2=732,320
|u3=800,448
|u4=854,475
|u5=899,199
|u6=974,844
|u7=974,668
|u8=1,017,114
|u9=1,081,990
|u10=1,085,918
|u11=1,103,764
|u12=1,192,912
|u13=1,226,444
|u14=1,228,284
|u15=1,240,212
|u16=1,215,784
|u17=1,194,120
|u18=500,182
|u19=1,002,596
|u20=1,117,190
}}
}}

==Poetry==
The line features in two notable poems: [https://web.archive.org/web/20061010134354/http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/2198.html "Adlestrop"] by [[Edward Thomas (poet)|Edward Thomas]] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20050403090349/http://gateway.uvic.ca/spcoll/Betjeman/webcon/wholeweb/b10wrev.txt1.htm#6084 "Pershore Station, or A Liverish Journey First Class"] by [[John Betjeman]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources and further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Atterbury |first=Paul |title=See Britain by Train |url=https://archive.org/details/seebritainbytrai0000atte |url-access=registration |year=1989 |publisher=[[The Automobile Association|AA Publishing]] |isbn=0-86145-760-9 |pages=not cited }}
*{{cite book |last=Connolly |first=W. Philip |year=1976 |title=British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer |place=Shepperton |publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing]] |isbn=0-7110-0320-3 }}
*{{cite book |last=Dewick |first=Tony |year=2002 |title=Complete Atlas of Railway Station Names |place=Hersham |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |isbn=0-7110-2798-6 }}
* ''[http://www.systemed.net/atlas/ New Adlestrop Railway Atlas]''.
*{{cite magazine|title=The Cotswold and Malvern Line: a bright future|first=Ian|last=Baxter|magazine=[[RAIL (magazine)|RAIL]]|issue=333|publisher=EMAP Apex Publications|date=17–30 June 1998|pages=26–31|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cotswold Line}}
* [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040303/debtext/40303-37.htm Hansard for 3 March 2004] – Record of House of Commons adjournment debate on the Cotswold Line.

{{Railway lines in the West Midlands}}
{{Railway lines in South East England}}
{{Railway lines in South West England}}

{{Transport in Worcestershire}}
{{Transport in Gloucestershire}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Worcestershire]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Herefordshire]]
[[Category:Railway lines in South East England]]
[[Category:Transport in Oxford]]
[[Category:Transport in Worcester, England]]
[[Category:Hereford]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1851]]
[[Category:Railway lines in South West England]]
[[Category:Railway lines in the West Midlands (region)]]
[[Category:Cotswolds]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in England]]