 Next the double-track Evesham-Ashchurch section was closed on 9 September 1963, because of the considerable expenditure necessary to maintain the track for heavy freight movements.The section between Evesham and Ashchurch soon followed, closing for passengers on 17 June 1963.Passenger services between Redditch and Ashchurch have shown little variation over the years, normally consisting of four or five trains in each direction on weekdays at roughly three-hourly intervals.