NEW rail projects in Oxfordshire could be partly paid for by businesses, rail operators and councils under radical proposals suggested by the boss of Network Rail.

Speaking before the opening of the new Oxford Parkway Station yesterday, Mark Carne said those who benefit from higher passenger numbers should “put their hand in their pocket and help with the investment”.

His comments came as the first passenger services to London Marylebone via the newly-anointed Bicester Village station began at Oxford Parkway, a project 22 years in the making and the first new link between a major British city and London in a century.

About 250,000 passengers are expected to use the service to the capital over the next year, which Mr Carne said would boost the economy and create jobs.

He added: “It will also help provide the capacity needed, as rail travel is forecast to double over the next two decades.”

But Mr Carne also called for a shake-up of the way rail schemes are paid for in the future, saying that rail operators, businesses and councils should contribute.

For the new line to London, Chiltern Railways has invested £130m of the £320m total cost, which included 12 miles of track and construction of the Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village stations.

Mr Carne said: “Where train operators or others benefit from the delivery of increased passenger numbers, they should be prepared to put their hand in their pocket and help with the investment.”

But the idea was criticised by Oxfordshire business leaders, who said they already paid taxes to fund infrastructure.

Schemes being considered by Network Rail for the county include the redevelopment of Oxford Station, capacity increases between Oxford and Didcot, the reopening of the Cowley Branch Line to passenger services and capacity increases on the Cotswold Line.

But Keith Slater, a director of the Oxfordshire Town Business Network, said: “Anything to do with transport infrastructure comes out of taxation, so why should the railways be any different?

“New rail links are obviously beneficial, in bringing in more customers, but the vast majority of businesses will ask why they should pay for it if they will hardly use it.

“One of the biggest problems most firms in Oxford have is that they are already heavily taxed through business rates, and that is before they have even made a profit.”

Richard Butler, Oxfordshire spokesman for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: “There is an expectation among businesses that infrastructure should be funded by the Government and the railways are a public asset, so this would raise pretty fundamental questions.”

But Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth said councils could support rail schemes by helping with bids for Government funding.

He said: “We have lots of ambition for rail and would want to make sure we worked with the right organisations to get the bids in.”

Mr Hudspeth said he believes the new station will “get people out of their cars”. He added: “They know they can either get the bus or the train instead.”

The first train from Oxford Parkway left yesterday before the station was opened by Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron.

Passengers were able to catch the first service to London at 5.42am, with the main commuter train leaving at 7.24am.

Oxford Mail:

  • All aboard: The 07.24 London Marylebone service arrives at Oxford Parkway

It came after a “dress rehearsal” on Sunday when about 80 people rode a test service.

Rakash Bashir, of Kidlington, was one of the first passengers yesterday with his son Issaac, 11.

The 44-year-old said: “Because our home is right behind the station, I thought this would be a great thing for us to do.

“This is a poignant moment in our lives and I’m glad to enjoy it.”

Train enthusiast Richard Hughes, of Marston, said the station opening let him revisit his youth.

The 77-year-old said: “I’ve been waiting for this for 18 months since they first started building. I used to be a train enthusiast when I was young, but when you have a station like this it never seems to change.”

After leaving Oxford Parkway, the 7.24am train reached speeds of up to 100mph as it passed through Bicester, returning later for the opening of Bicester Village station.

Network Rail route managing director Martin Frobisher said: “This whole scheme has been many years in development and it feels fantastic to finally open it.

“I talked to lots of customers and the reaction of most of them has just been ‘wow’.”

Chiltern Railways managing director Rob Brighouse said: “It’s all been quite emotional.”