the first major section of the oxford, worcester and wolverhampton railway (oww), between evesham and , opened to public traffic on 3 may 1852, the opening ceremony having been held on 1 may. evesham was a terminus for just over a year, until the last major section of the oww, from evesham to wolvercot junction (to the north of ), was opened on 4 june 1853. the oww became the west midland railway in 1860, which in turn merged with the great western railway in 1863.