A light railway order was granted on 28 March 1974 and train services to
Bewdley commenced on 18 May 1974 under one engine in steam working.
Initially services were operated under handsignalling with all connections
at the north end of the station disconnected, with the North box signalman
in the SMO. By 1975 many changes in the track layout and signals had been
made and relocking of the frame, including direction levers to control the
Back Road (platform 3), continued through 1976. Insulation of pointwork
was carried out so that the life-expired fouling bars could be removed and
track circuting installed.
Token working to Arley was introduced on
10 April 1976 and the token instruments were initially installed in the SMO
until North box was recommissioned on 20 March 1977. Permission for services
to be extended to Foley Park had been held back until the Bewdley resignalling
had been completed. Down distant signals were re-erected in February 1990
and were commissioned in April 1990. In 1992 deterioration of the wiring
was observed and a rewire of the box planned. Mechanical locking
modifications to bring into use the up and down distant signals was completed
during Easter week 2000 and a complete rewire is planned later that year.
Click here to see the box diagram.