An Act for building a railway between Halesowen and Bromsgrove was passed in 1865, but construction was delayed by the rivalry between two railway companies. The new route, promoted by the Halesowen Railway Company, would connect the Great Western Railway's line from Dudley to Halesowen with a new station at Northfield, on the Midland Railway's main line from Birmingham to Bristol. Even when the line was finished in 1882, the opening was delayed whilst the two companies argued over facilities at Northfield. The line opened in June 1883, with stations at Hunnington and at Rubery.