LAST week saw the country remember the old steam train that pulled Sir Winston Churchill’s body to Bladon for his funeral.

Fifty years later, the future of rail in the county has been given a huge boost with plans for the expansion of Oxford station.

Many will say the development is long overdue. Amid engineering works and rising fares, the rail service has been hammered hard, and justifiably, in recent times.

But it still remains the best contender for tackling the traffic nightmares seen on our county’s roads, the A34 chief among them.

Network Rail’s proposals could finally see our rail operators provide the service its passengers deserve.

Longer carriages will mean greater capacity so fewer people are left packed like sardines on short trains.

But key to these proposals must be a plan to improve the reliability of our rail network.

Signalling problems have become almost a daily ordeal for season ticket holders, who are forking out thousands for the pleasure.

Until this is solved, too many people will favour their car over a carriage, despite congestion on the roads. Network Rail’s plans signal the right intent. It must now make sure they go full steam ahead.