and rationalisation were sought at the time. Diesel traction had rendered the Lickey incline a negligible problem so it was declared the general freight route from Spring 1965; heavy through freight shifted away from the Honeybourne route. The present day The line is an important part of the British railway network, forming a section of the Bristol to Birmingham main line. Frequent long-distance passenger services operate by CrossCountry, part of Arriva UK Trains. The line is also an important freight route. West Midlands Trains operate the local passenger service from Hereford to Birmingham New Street, which uses the line only closer to the latter (Stoke Works Junction to Kings Norton). A brief corollary known as former Birmingham West Suburban Railway is used by the majority of Birmingham New Street passenger trains; a few through trains use the original Camp Hill route for convenience in approaching or leaving that hub station at the east end rather than the west. Most of the freight traffic uses the Camp Hill route, which gives quick connectivity to the national network at Saltley. The Tewkesbury branch closed in 1961 to passengers and completely in 1964. Accidents and incidents On 10 November 1840, the boiler of locomotive Surprise exploded at Bromsgrove. Two people were killed. On 26 June 1845, a passenger train from Gloucester, hauled by one of the Philadelphian engines, ran head-on into a slow-moving "heavy, powerful" goods engine which was crossing the line from a siding, via a diamond crossing, at Camp Hill, Birmingham. The driver of the Gloucester train was badly hurt after jumping from his engine. Some passengers suffered minor injuries, mostly from flying glass. Both engines suffered only minor damage. The driver of the goods engine, John Garvie, was deemed at fault, but was discharged by magistrates on the grounds of previous good character. For the same reason the company demoted him to non-driving duties, rather than dismissing him. Topography Gloucester; opened 4 November 1840; closed 12 April 1896; Churchdown; opened August 1842; closed September 1842; reopened 2 February 1874; closed 2 November 1964; Badgeworth; opened 22 August 1843; closed October 1846; Hatherley Junction; divergence of curve to Banbury line (1906 - 1956); Lansdown Junction; convergence of Banbury and Cheltenham Direct line (1881 - 1962); divergence of GWR line to St James station (1847 – 1966); Cheltenham; opened 24 June 1840; sometimes known as Cheltenham Spa Lansdown; still open; Cheltenham High