Rail strategy will 'maximise investment' in network

The plan contains proposals for four new stations and county-wide upgrades

The chair of an advisory group looking into improving rail connectivity has vowed to "attack the issue" and move the "vision" along quicker.

Proposals for Oxfordshire include building five new stations and reopening the Cowley branch line to passengers to improve links to science parks.

Rob Brighouse, the newly-appointed chair of the Oxford Strategic Promoters' Group, said he wanted to "maximise investment in Oxford's rail network" and "make sure that investment is coordinated and it's impact and effectiveness is maximised".

A public consultation is open until 1 October and the final version of the proposal is expected to be presented to the council's cabinet for formal adoption in November.

All existing stations to be upgraded

The four new stations being proposed are Oxford Littlemore, Oxford Cowley, Begbroke and Wantage & Grove.

The plan, called OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail, will also explore the feasibility of a fifth station at Ardley.

Among the projects highlighted as priorities are plans to reopen the Cowley Branch Line for passengers, which is currently only used by freight going to and from BMW's Mini Plant.

OxRail 2040 also proposes upgrades of all of the county's existing 23 railway stations, as well as the restoration of double track on the North Cotswold line to Hanborough.

10,000 new jobs

Mr Brighouse, who is a former Chiltern Railways managing director, said he wanted to bring the public and private sectors together.

He said: "It brings opportunities in terms of creating jobs at Oxford Science Park and in that area, and I also think it has benefits for residents in the Blackbird Leys and Littlemore area, in that it improves their connectivity into the centre of the city and also into those jobs."

He said the Cowley branch line "gives us opportunity to create up to 10,000 jobs, potential to build new homes, it reduces traffic congestion, and more importantly it creates choice and opportunity for those people who live in the area".

He added: "Young people will be given more choice when they're looking for jobs, it'll be easier to travel to the different employment centres."

The group Mr Brighouse chairs contains representatives from the Department of Transport, Oxford Growth Commission, local MPs, Oxford City Council, and Oxfordshire County Council.