A NEW train link could take passengers from the village of Grove, through Oxford to Heathrow Airport.

That is the latest vision of Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, who recently met with a minister to discuss the proposal.

The idea is part of Mr Vaizey's campaign to get the old Grove railway station reopened.

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The saga has run for years, but in July he said the station's reopening was becoming a ‘considerably more positive prospect’.

Last week he met Parliamentary Undersecretary of State Andrew Jones to discuss the issue and raised the idea of a Western Rail link to Heathrow.

Land has already been set aside for building a new station on the railway at Grove on both sides of the A338, north of the Williams F1 headquarters.

Mr Vaizey said there was a 'wide-ranging discussion' about the county's provision of rail services.

Oxford Mail:

'Developing a strategic case' for the reopening of Grove Station was mooted as part of a broader project to improve commuter services between Oxford and Bristol, while 'strategic improvements' to Oxford Station and the Oxford-Didcot line were also covered.

Various rail and department for transport officials also attended.

Read again: Grove station becoming 'considerably more positive'

Mr Vaizey said: “I am delighted that the Minister took the time to meet me and local colleagues to discuss these important projects.

"We will continue to work with the Department and local rail partners to develop strategic schemes to improve services.

"On guidance from the Department and Network Rail I will be looking at the East West Rail scheme and the Cotswold Line Promotion Group for inspiration in how to build a business case for improvements to commuter services between Oxford & Bristol and hope that colleagues in Parliament with stations along that route might join me.”

Wantage's nearest rail station is currently Didcot Parkway.