THE long-awaited railway electrification between Didcot and Oxford ‘may never happen’ after the government's rail minister was unable to commit to the project.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran wrote to the Department for Transport after similar projects between Cardiff and Swansea and on the London-Sheffield Midland Mainline were scrapped in July.

She asked rail minister Paul Maynard to commit to the project for less noisy and more environmentally-friendly trains through Oxford.

But he said ‘ongoing assessments’ were taking place with ‘further announcements in due course’.

The Department for Transport insists 'no changes' have been made to the planned electrification. 

Mrs Moran said: “This is seriously worrying - residents were promised that electrifying the railway to Oxford would go ahead.

“We welcomed it to not just reduce carbon emissions, but also to reduce noise pollution.”

“The Government has already gone back on one promise by delaying it and I fear that the Department for Transport’s jargon-filled letter is a signal that electrification may never happen.”

She resolved to raise the issue in Parliament and ‘continue to fight’ for the improvements that were promised.

The scheme, adding overheard electric wires and making a series of bridges taller, was supposed to be completed by 2018.

In November electrification of the railway between Didcot and Oxford was deferred and moved into the next 'control period' (CP6) running between 2019 and 2024.

Network Rail said ‘as far as it was concerned’ that was still the plan but that the Government ultimately makes the decision.

Mr Maynard said bi-mode trains would be used instead, which would run on electric up to Didcot and switch to diesel power before heading to Oxford.

He said: “The decision was taken to defer the electrification of the route north of Didcot to Oxford because the same passenger benefits could be delivered sooner through the use of ‘bi-modes’, while ensuring maximum value for the taxpayer and avoiding disruptive works that electrification entails.”

He added that - as previously reported in the Oxford Mail - plans to electrify the East West Rail link between Oxford and Cambridge had also been scrapped.

He said: “Passengers will still see improved journey times between Oxford and towns east to Milton Keynes and Bedford and the railway still provides a more environmentally friendly travel option when compared to the use of private vehicles."

A DfT spokesperson said: “There is no change to the planned electrification of the Great Western route.

“Passengers in Oxford will benefit from the arrival of brand new, faster and more comfortable bi-mode intercity express trains, which are being brought into service this autumn.

"Each train will deliver on average over 130 extra seats with 40 per cent more seats in the morning peak once the full fleet is in operation.”

In May the Great Western Mainline’s electrification project - from London Paddington to Cardiff - reached Maidenhead and it is expected to reach Didcot at the beginning of next year.

But the branch to Oxford was put on hold.

Great Western Railway spokesman James Davis said its new electric Intercity Express trains are currently being tested and begin passenger services later in the Autumn - running on electric power on the electrified sections but diesel through Oxford.