Oxfordshire approves £20 million rail investment plan

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 06:08 · Archive

Oxfordshire County Council has approved £20 million in rail investment across the county.

Oxfordshire County Council has approved £20 million in rail investment following a report on OxRAIL 2040, which sets out the authority's vision for rail as part of an integrated sustainable transport network.

The council's cabinet gave the green light to £10 million in rail schemes and research studies, funded by business rates from the county's enterprise zones. Within this, £5 million has been formally committed to the Cowley Branch Line, which will link Oxford city centre with Cowley and Littlemore.

A separate £10 million has been approved 'in principle' to mitigate impacts of the East West Rail route linking Oxford and Cambridge. This will fund an underpass at London Road in Bicester, following years of local campaigning to preserve the crossing.

Gareth Epps, the county's transport boss, said the investment is 'absolutely countywide, including the Cowley Branch Line' and will deliver 'the station that Oxford finally deserves'. The projects follow recommendations in the OxRAIL 2040 report.

How it is being reported

• Oxfordshire £20 million rail investment for 'countywide network'The success of a £20 million Oxfordshire railways investment will be 'judged by results, not rhetoric', a county leader has been warned.Oxfordshire Guardian · 22 Oct, 05:00
• Oxfordshire £20 million rail investment for 'countywide network'The success of a £20 million Oxfordshire railways investment will be 'judged by results, not rhetoric', a county leader has been warned.Oxford Mail · 22 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Oxfordshire County Council · Oxfordshire · Gareth Epps · Cowley Branch Line · East West Rail · Oxford · Bicester

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