THE result of a bid for £160m to make Oxford's train station a national transport hub does not seem any clearer after a major transport cash announcement.

As Rishi Sunak made his spending review announcement yesterday, he also gave an update on the National Infrastructure Strategy, which 'sets out plans to transform UK infrastructure in order to level up the country, strengthen the Union and achieve net zero emissions by 2050'.

Officials involved in the Network Rail bid to improve Oxford station said there could be an announcement as early as in the spending review, which took place yesterday (November 25).

But when the review came, and the National Infrastructure Strategy was published with it, there was no specific mention of the bid.

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The document did say the Government 'has reaffirmed its commitment' to the Oxford to Cambridge Arc area, and with it East West Rail.

To do this, the Government plans to invest £17.5bn 'to renew and upgrade the railway system, improving passenger journeys across the UK' which it says will 'deliver on... recommendations by progressing the East West Railway'.

A DfT spokesperson said an 'investment decision outcome' is planned by January 2021, subject to the spending review.