Investment in Oxfordshire's rail network was announced by the Government today as part of a £9.4bn nationwide package of improvements.

Plans include improvements to Oxford’s station, the electrification many of the lines out of Oxford and the first phase of the East West Rail link, via Bicester to Milton Keynes and Bedford, which could eventually reconnect the city with Cambridge.

Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron said the plans were the “biggest modernisation of our railways since the Victorian era”.

The plans will see the creation of a high-capacity ‘electric spine’ running from Yorkshire and the Midlands to Southampton, via Banbury and Oxford.

There are also proposals for a substantial enlargement of Oxford station and extra track on the city to increase capacity.

Oxford Civic Society chairman Peter Thompson said the news was “encouraging”, adding “hopefully this announcement will enable considerable thought to be put into what the best option for Oxford’s station is for the future.”