Developer supports rail route through Salt Cross Garden Village to Witney
24/10/22 – Witney Oxford Transport Group (“WOT Group”) the voluntary group seeking to rebuild the railway linking Oxford, Eynsham, Witney and Carterton, has been working with Grosvenor, the lead developer of the Salt Cross Garden Village project, to explore how a rail alignment can be accommodated within the project’s site.
WOT Group commissioned SLC Rail to explore the best rail alignment through the project site and this work is now complete. As a result of this work, it became clear that a rail alignment that does not result in any loss of net development land is possible.
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. While the rail project is entirely separate from the Salt Cross development, the rail project closely aligns with the project’s Garden Village principles of encouraging rapid, environmentally sensitive, mass public transportation solutions.
Separately, Oxfordshire County Council (“OCC”) has commissioned a rail consultant to conduct a Strategic Outline Business Case, or feasibility study, to explore the strategic, economic, financial, commercial and management cases for the railway, which will be completed by February. Additionally, OCC is also exploring the potential funding opportunities from capturing a share of the incremental gain in land values as a result of the rail development. This 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.
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”.
Feasibility study approved!
18/01/22 – Check out our blog post here for more details.
Oxfordshire County Council election results
07/05/21 – Results for the May 6th county council elections have now been declared. We are delighted that nine out of ten elected county councillors pledged to define and protect a rail route as part of the upcoming A40 Works project. We look forward to working closely and cooperatively with all county and district councillors over the to make this railway a reality.
Oxford to Witney Railway: Call to protect future rail route
23/03/21 WOT Group called on councillors to define and protect a rail route as part of the A40 works project to prevent the route being “blocked for this generation and generations to come”. Public consultations start in May and June 2021.
Survey completed, 97% supportive of a feasibility study
03/04/21 – WOT Group conducts residents’ survey and finds stratospheric level of supports for exploring restoring the rail line
Former HS2 boss backs Witney to Oxford rail link
11/03/21 A SENIOR University of Oxford figure has backed plans for a rail link between Witney and Oxford.
Plans for Witney and Oxford rail link to be submitted to DfT
24/2/21 Oxford Mail
Rail Minister endorses Witney-Oxford rail link
Mr Heaton Harris said the Witney to Oxford line, long promoted as a potential commuter branch line, would be ideal for this fund.
23/1/21 – The Oxford Mail
£160m bid for Oxford station and railway upgrades
25/11/2020 – The Oxford Mail
Calls for study into reviving Oxford to Witney railway line
06/11/2020 – The Oxford Mail
Witney Oxford Transport Group 