A message from our MP:

As you may have seen, Oxfordshire County Council has launched a consultation on OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail. This is our chance to shape the future of transport in our county for the next 15 years.

Here in West Oxfordshire, we face some of the worst congestion in the county. The Government has required thousands of new houses to be built locally, but we still have no railway serving Carterton, Witney, or Eynsham. Without action, the traffic problems on the A40 and beyond will only get worse.

That’s why it’s so crucial that the Council hears loud and clear from residents that we want the Carterton–Witney–Oxford railway restored. The consultation explicitly includes the proposal to revive the railway, but we need to demonstrate overwhelming public support to ensure it happens.

You can use the following text in your email, tweak it as much as you like, or just use it as inspiration for your own words. Just copy and paste into the text field on your email client:

I am writing as a resident of Oxfordshire to respond to the OxRAIL 2040: Plan for Rail consultation. 

I firmly support the overarching ‘case for change’ and vision of this plan. Improving our rail network will have a range of positive outcomes, from supporting and spreading the benefits of economic growth through sustainable access to jobs and homes, to aiding our transition to net zero, and enhancing the inclusivity and connectedness of our communities.  I do, however, want to ensure that within the next 15 years these benefits can be felt by many more residents of West Oxfordshire too. 

West Oxfordshire’s communities and businesses are significantly underserved by the rail network, with the most populated and rapidly growing corridor in the southern part of the district not served by rail services at all.  Indeed, as the Technical Evidence Base itself notes, “Most of our larger population centres ….. are close to our rail network, notable exceptions to this are Carterton and Witney.”  I therefore note with approval the commitment given in Phase 1, 2025-30, to continue development of a proposed scheme to reconnect Carterton, Witney and Eynsham with Oxford.  That must, however, be matched by unequivocal commitments to bringing the rail line to Witney and Carterton as well, to work towards securing completion of the new link by the end of the 15-year Plan period.

West Oxfordshire’s roads are already at capacity. Congestion on the Witney-Oxford stretch of the A40 is renowned for being particularly bad.  A county council-commissioned study by AECOM in 2021 found that, even with the then-predicted increase in local housing, Witney-Oxford car travel will take 30 minutes longer by as early as 2031.  Since then, planned housing growth in West Oxfordshire is now required by central government to be 65% higher than previously and the forecast express bus lanes linking Eynsham with Oxford are not funded.

While the consultation document refers to the need for a “mass rapid transit system” in West Oxfordshire, the county council’s own feasibility study published in November 2023 evidenced that a rail system is the higher-capacity, faster, greener, and more reliable solution than any other option.  Restoring regular rail services across the southern part of West Oxfordshire would reduce future journey times between Carterton and Oxford, for example, by an hour, with a Witney-Oxford journey time of just 16 minutes. The rail line would also support the creation of new jobs and the sustainability of planned housing growth, or ‘place-making’ as it’s called, reducing carbon emissions and saving a million car miles a year.  A Network Rail Western Route study last year showed Witney as 19th and Carterton 45th of the most significant unconnected population clusters among hundreds across the whole of Britain, with them ranked respectively fourth equal then sixth-highest of the 23 places studied in Western Route for ‘strategic fit’ – which speaks volumes about the justification and urgent need for a railway to connect them with Oxford.

Yours sincerely,

Send the above to: OxRAIL2040@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Here is our response to the recent consultation from WODC (closing in early August 2025)

Policy PL5 – Carterton-Witney-Oxford Rail Corridor

Question: Do you support Policy PL5, and how could it be strengthened?

“Witney Oxford Transport strongly supports Policy PL5 but believes it requires strengthening to ensure delivery.”

We support:

• Safeguarding the rail corridor from Carterton to Yarnton
• Recognition of stations at Carterton, Witney, and Eynsham   
• Integration with wider transport planning

We request strengthening through:

• Delivery timescales: Include target dates for feasibility studies and construction phases 
• Funding mechanisms: Specify how developer contributions will fund rail infrastructure 
• Firmer commitments: Move beyond ‘safeguarding’ to active delivery requirements
• Integration requirements: Mandate that significant developments (300+ homes) demonstrate rail compatibility

Protection measures: Stronger policies preventing development that could compromise the route

The A40 corridor faces severe congestion, which is expected to worsen with the planned expansion of housing. Rail is essential for sustainable transport and achieving the Plan’s net-zero objectives.

Core Policy 3 – Spatial Strategy

Question: “Do you support the spatial strategy focusing growth along the A40 corridor?”

WOT Response: Witney Oxford Transport supports concentrating growth along the A40 corridor, but emphasises that this requires rail infrastructure to be sustainable.

The strategy correctly identifies the A40 corridor as a key growth area; however, the current transport infrastructure is already under severe pressure. Without a Carterton-Witney-Oxford rail link:

• 16,000 new homes will generate approximately 32,000 additional car journeys daily
• A40 congestion will become gridlock, undermining the economic benefits of growth   
• Net-zero transport objectives cannot be achieved

We recommend:

• Making rail delivery a prerequisite for significant A40 corridor developments
• Requiring transport impact assessments to include rail alternatives
• Phasing development to align with rail infrastructure delivery

The spatial strategy is sound but needs rail to be deliverable and sustainable.

Core Policy 1 – Climate Change

Question: How can the climate change policy be strengthened?

WOT Response: The climate policy must explicitly recognise transport infrastructure as essential for emission reductions.

Current gaps:

• Focus on building emissions, but limited attention to transport infrastructure   
• No specific targets for reducing transport modal share
• Insufficient emphasis on public transport delivery

Recommended additions:

• Target: Reduce private car dependency by 25% by 2035 through public transport
• Requirement: Major developments must demonstrate a contribution to sustainable transport infrastructure
• Recognition: Rail infrastructure as a climate change mitigation measure equivalent to renewable energy

The Carterton-Witney-Oxford rail link would:

• Remove at least 2,000 car journeys daily from the A40
• Reduce transport emissions by 15% across the corridor
• Enable modal shift essential for net-zero targets Without rail, WODC Plan’s climate objectives are unachievable.

Core Policy 4 – Delivering New Homes

Question: Do you support the housing delivery strategy?

WOT Response: “The housing numbers are challenging but achievable if supported by appropriate transport infrastructure.

Key concerns:

• 16,000 new homes without rail will create transport chaos
• Focus on housing delivery speed may override infrastructure planning    
• Risk of piecemeal development that doesn’t integrate with rail plans

Essential requirements:

• Strategic sites (300+ homes) must contribute to rail infrastructure through S106 agreements
• Phasing policies to ensure transport infrastructure keeps pace with housing
• Integration requirements – all A40 corridor sites must demonstrate rail compatibility

We support the 10% buffer for flexibility but recommend:

• Part of this buffer should be contingent on rail delivery
• Use flexibility to ensure infrastructure-led development

Housing growth is positive but must be transport-sustainable to avoid creating new problems.

Settlement Strategies – Witney

Question: Comments on the Witney settlement strategy?

WOT Response: “The Witney strategy correctly identifies transport as the town’s most significant challenge but needs stronger rail commitments.

We strongly support:

• Recognition of A40 congestion as a major constraint   Sustainable transport as a strategic objective
• Bridge Street bottleneck acknowledgment

Critical additions needed:

   Rail Delivery Timeline – When Will the Oxford Link Be Restored?

   Integration Requirements – How Will New Developments Support Rail?

   Traffic reduction targets – specific goals for modal shift

Recommended policy additions:

• All significant Witney developments must include rail contribution requirements
• Transport assessments must model rail alternatives
• New developments should be accessible to future rail stations

Without rail, Witney’s growth strategy will fail due to transport constraints. The strategy needs rail to be deliverable.

Settlement Strategies – Carterton

Question: Comments on the Carterton settlement strategy?

WOT Response: “The Carterton strategy’s transformational growth vision is excellent but absolutely requires rail delivery.

Strong support for:

• Recognition of rail as essential for economic potential   A40 access improvements
• Strategic employment growth vision, including the development of RAF Brize Norton

Critical implementation points:

 ‘Transformational’ growth cannot happen without rail – this must be explicit. The Timeline for rail delivery should align with housing phases

  Significant developments should contribute proportionally to the rail infrastructure

Specific recommendations:

• Require rail feasibility contributions from developments over 100 homes   
• Include rail accessibility in site selection criteria
• Phase growth to ensure rail delivers before peak housing completions

Carterton has enormous potential, but this potential is entirely dependent on solving transport connectivity. Rail isn’t optional – it’s essential.

Policy DM20 – Town Centres

Question: Comments on town centre policies?

WOT Response: “Town centre vitality depends on accessibility – rail is essential for both Witney and Carterton centres.

Current challenges:

• Parking constraints limit town centre access
• Car dependency undermines sustainability goals 
• Competition from Oxford/Bicester requires better connectivity

Rail benefits for town centres:

• Direct access from Oxford brings customers without parking needs
• Reduced traffic improves pedestrian environment
• Economic multiplier – rail stations become economic anchors

Policy recommendations:

• Include rail accessibility as a town centre vitality factor
• Require pedestrian/cycle links from future stations to centres
• Plan station-adjacent development to support town centre economy

Strong town centres need sustainable transport access – rail is the key to long-term vitality.

Policy DM24 – Active and Healthy Travel

Question: Comments on active travel policy?

WOT Response: “Excellent policy that needs rail integration to maximise effectiveness.

Strong support for:

• Active travel prioritization
• Integration with development   Network connectivity focus

Essential addition: 

• Rail stations should be active travel hubs with:
• Secure cycle parking (minimum 100 spaces per station)
• Walking/cycling routes connecting stations to residential areas
• Integration with bus services and car clubs

Recommended policy addition:

• Significant developments within 2km of planned rail routes must provide direct active travel connections to future stations
• Active travel assessments should include rail station accessibility

Active travel and rail are complementary – together they can achieve the modal shift needed for sustainability.

General Economic Benefits

 Question: How can the Plan better support economic development?

WOT Response: “Rail infrastructure is economic infrastructure – essential for West Oxfordshire’s economic future.

Economic benefits of rail:

• £2.4 billion economic impact over 30 years (typical rail project multiplier)
• 4,000+ jobs during construction phase
• Reduced business costs – employees can live locally without car commuting
• Inward investment – businesses locate near good transport links
• Relieve pressure on overstretched Oxford resources
• Tourism boost – sustainable access to Cotswolds attractions

Policy recommendations:

• Include rail in economic development policies
• Require economic impact assessments to include rail benefits    Consider rail a strategic economic asset like employment land
• Evidence base: Every £1 invested in rail typically generates £4 in economic benefits. Rail isn’t just transport – it’s economic development infrastructure.

Infrastructure and Viability

Question: Comments on infrastructure delivery and viability?

WOT Response: “Infrastructure delivery policies must prioritise strategic transport alongside utilities.”

Key points:

• Rail infrastructure serves multiple developments, more cost-effective than individual site solutions
• Cumulative contributions from A40 corridor developments can fund rail delivery
• Viability assessments should include long-term transport costs

Recommended mechanism:

• Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) specifically for rail infrastructure   
• S106 contributions scaled to development size and transport impact   
• Pooled funding approach rather than site-by-site assessment
• Economic argument: Rail infrastructure increases land values and development viability long-term. Initial contributions are investments in sustainable growth, not costs.

Key Consultation Questions WODC needs to address:

How will Policy PL5 be implemented? We request specific mechanisms and timescales.

What developer contributions will fund rail infrastructure? 

Ensure coordination with central housing allocations? 

What safeguards exist against piecemeal development? We must protect corridor integrity.

Witney Oxford Transport   

Email: info@witneyoxfordtransport.org.uk  

Website: witneyoxfordtransport.org.uk