The possibility of a rail link being restored between Oxford and Witney has received a huge boost.

Witney Oxford Transport Group (“WOT Group”) is a group of volunteers seeking to rebuild the railway linking Oxford, Eynsham, Witney and Carterton.

The planned rail route would join the Cotswold Line north of Worton and west of Yarnton, cross over Lower Road just north of the A40, pass through the Salt Cross Garden Village project site to a rail station in the planned Park & Ride site west of Cuckoo Lane. 

It is hoped a rail link would help ease severe congestion on the A40 which is expected t worsen with more than 10,000 new houses being built along the A40 corridor over the next 10 years.

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WOT Group has been working with Grosvenor, the lead developer of the Salt Cross Garden Village project, to explore how a rail alignment, or design, could be accommodated within the project’s site.

WOT Group commissioned SLC Rail to explore the options and it has now been agreed that a rail route that does not result in any loss of the land that is available for development is possible.

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While the rail project is entirely separate from the Salt Cross development, the idea of a rail link aligns with the Garden Village principles of encouraging rapid, environmentally sensitive, mass public transportation solutions.

Separately Oxfordshire County Council has already commissioned a rail consultant to conduct a  feasibility study to explore the strategic, economic, financial, commercial and management cases for the railway, which will be completed by next February.

Additionally, OCC is also exploring the potential funding opportunities that might arise from the incremental gain in land values that would result from the rail development.

WOT Group believes the proposed rail line represents a logical follow-on to the planned expansion work on the North Cotswold Line, including the dualling of track between Wolvercote and Hanborough.

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Charlie Maynard, Chair of WOT Group, said: “We’re delighted and grateful that Grosvenor and the Garden Village landowners have given their support.

"This is a big step forward and clearly demonstrates the win-win nature of this project."

In a survey run by WOT Group 771 respondents who took part up to March 2021 supported exploring the potential of restoring the railway line and 95 per cent stated that they were likely to use it.

Further information, including a route presentation, is available at www.witneyoxfordtransport.org.uk

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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