Commuters hail rail line boost

4:52pm Friday 6th June 2008

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A decision to double track part of the Cotswold Line between Oxford and Worcester has been welcomed by rail campaigners and commuters.

The Office of Rail Regulation confirmed to Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly it has approved the necessary funding, allowing Network Rail to lay 20 extra miles of double track, including a four-mile section from east of Charlbury to Ascott-under-Wychwood, leaving just 10 miles of single track from Wolvercote junction north of Oxford.

The other 16 miles of double track will run from Moreton-in-Marsh, in Gloucestershire, to Evesham, in Worcestershire.

Derek Potter, chairman of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, said: "This is tremendous news because it will improve the reliability of the train service for passengers.

"When there are delays, trains get terminated short of their destination or they are cancelled and this investment of about £50m will lead to significant improve- ments."

Much of the route was reduced to a single line by British Rail in 1971 to cut costs. But with increasing numbers of trains using the route in recent years, delays caused by the single-line sections have increased. Referring to the dualling plans, the ORR's response to Network Rail's Strategic Business Plan for 2009-14 said: "It would deliver performance benefits on the Cotswold Line and consequent improvement along the Thames Valley. The financial case is good.

"It would also bring First Great Western's performance to over 90 per cent (in punctuality performance)."

Network Rail envisages that nine out of 10 trains should run on time when the new improvements are made by 2010, and paves the way for extra services.

Network Rail costed the work at £51m but the ORR says it could be done for £48m.

Ian Hudspeth, the county council's cabinet member for transport, said: "This is the best news possible.

"With new double track this important railway line will assume a much greater significance in terms of giving people options other than using their cars.

"I would like to thank every single person in Oxfordshire who took the time to write to the Government in support of this proposal and Network Rail which has persevered to secure the funding."

Network Rail plans to start work early next year, with the project due for completion in 2010.