Oxfordshire County Council Calls for Feedback on OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail

Oxfordshire residents, businesses and visitors have been asked to have their say on the county’s rail priorities for the next 15 years.

Oxfordshire County Council has called for feedback on its new emerging rail plan, OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail, which looks to transform the county’s rail network.

The plan includes the upgrade and opening of new stations, upgrades of rail lines, increasing of passenger services and support for the introduction of freight routes to lessen the number of HGVs on local roads.

Priority projects involve the continued development of East West Rail and the reopening of the Cowley Branch Line, as well as the restoration of the double track on the North Cotswold line to Hanborough.

In addition, it also sets out measures to reduce both rail noise and pollution, decarbonise the local rail system through extensive electrification efforts and procure a new fleet of rolling stock.

Councillor Judy Roberts Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said:

While the government and train operators are responsible for rail infrastructure and passenger services, with private operators delivering rail freight, we as the local transport and highways authority are a key stakeholder and partner in shaping the future of transport in the county.

With the move to a state owned Great British Railways encompassing track and train and the likely establishment of a mayoral strategic authority with substantial new powers and funding, our plan lays the foundations for the future.

We are pushing hard for an ambitious expansion and enhancement of rail to complement and sustain our fast-growing local economy. That’s why it’s vital that we outline our priorities and ambitions for the future of rail development in Oxfordshire.

I would urge anyone with an interest in shaping the future of transport to take part in the consultation and tell us what matters to them.

The plan also focuses on the development of an Oxfordshire Metro, which would seek to improve and expand journeys by bus, train and other modes of transport through the co-ordination of timetables, simplification of tickets and use of new apps.

Finally, the plan looks to place Oxford Station at the centre of the city’s next phase of growth, proposing new homes, employment opportunities and public services once it completes its current redevelopment process.

Councillor Roberts added::

Growth in the local economy and in people choosing alternatives to road transport are such that rail passenger numbers in the county are expected to increase greatly over the next 15 years. Improved facilities are essential.

A full summary of the plan, as well as a contact form for feedback, can be found on the council’s Let’s Talk Oxfordshire website, here.

All feedback is required by 00:00 on 1 October 2025, with the plan expected to be presented to the council’s cabinet later this year for formal adoption.