THE deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council is hopeful that Oxford could soon become “almost the centre of the rail universe”.

Rodney Rose is right to be optimistic about the benefits the improvements to the rail system in the county will bring.

A number of major schemes are now progressing well, including a new rail link between Oxford and London Marylebone.

There are also ambitious proposals to upgrade Oxford Station which, when completed, will help to cater for the surge in passenger numbers in recent years.

But Mr Rose is right to qualify his statement with an “almost” because he is experienced enough to know that with some schemes there will be unexpected delays along the way.

The long-awaited East-West Rail link, to join Oxford with Milton Keynes and Bedford, is due to open by March 2019 but some rail watchers will be doubtful that the scheme will be completed on time.

If all the proposals that are outlined do go ahead, it will be great news for rail passengers.

And if some commuters then decide to switch from road to rail, there could be a reduction in traffic, freeing up congestion on the county’s busy roads.

There are gaps in these proposals, however, with towns like Witney, Carterton and Wantage all lacking rail links, but it is positive that so many major schemes are now nearing completion.

The demand for rail travel is increasing every year and the growth in the network will help to reverse the savage cuts made by Dr Beeching in the 1960s.