PROPOSALS to give Burford a direct bus connection to the railway network have won the backing of the town’s mayor.

In conjunction with the project to reinstate double track on the Cotswold Line, due for completion next year, train operator First Great Western is keen to provide a railbus link for the popular tourist destination.

Mayor David Cohen said: “I would support the idea wholeheartedly.

“We have poor communications bus-wise, so I think that anything that would make life better in that respect should be welcomed.”

Matthew Golton, FGW’s projects and planning director, told the recent annual meeting of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, which represents passengers on the line, that he was keen to see such a link implemented to attract more passengers to the railway.

FGW is also looking at ways to expand the car parks at Charlbury and Hanborough stations.

The firm is proposing making the connection between trains and buses at Ascott-under-Wychwood station, six miles away, where extra trains are set to call from June next year.

FGW outlined its ideas to senior county councillors during an inspection trip along the Oxfordshire section of the line at the end of last month.

Mr Golton said: “We talked about service changes and station improvements which we believe are important to unlock the full potential of the line.

“We will work with the county council and West Oxfordshire District Council to see how we can achieve our aspirations.”

He added: “We want to find a way to get a link between Ascott-under-Wychwood and Burford, which is a key tourist location visited by lots of people, but has poor public transport. Much more could be done to fit Burford into the transport network.”

His views were echoed by Mr Cohen, who said: “Our problem is that although we’re a very busy town, we have a small population of only 1,100 people, many of whom depend on public transport to get out and about, but the bus companies don’t seem to think extra services here would be profitable.”

Ian Hudspeth, the county council’s cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said: “We are always happy to sit down with First Great Western to discuss improvements that could be made to station facilities and improvements to links with popular destinations along the line.

“Naturally, we’re interested in finding ways to maximise the benefits for the residents of west Oxfordshire, as well as visiting tourists.”