| Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by eightonedee at 19:09, 10th January 2023 |     |
On this evening's BBC local news on TV, there's a piece about this. Apparently they hope to do this in three years, presumably because the track is still there and in use for the Mini factory.
Presumably though there will need to be new stations built - I assume all the old ones have long since been removed. Best of luck with that - see posts on the Green Park Reading thread! I also assume that it would be operated by GWR, so they would have to source the additional rolling stock.
I guess this may be repeated after the 10 o'clock BBC News if anyone wants to try to catch it.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by ChrisB at 19:13, 10th January 2023 | |
Who is "they"? Network Rail, the councils, someone else?
Yes, two new stations - apparently Oxford South & Oxford East.
Chiltern is likely the operator, running through Oxford to Cowley rather than using the bay platforms. Whenever Hanborough becomes a P&R station, those shuttles *may* also run down there too.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by eightonedee at 19:14, 10th January 2023 | |
Sorry - it seems to be the County Council.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by eightonedee at 19:17, 10th January 2023 | |
....and now doing my research on-line, I see that the City council is also supporting it, both authorities have pledged funding.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by ChrisB at 19:22, 10th January 2023 | |
No news there then, they have both already done that....the line needs upgrading & NR need to place that in the CP7 funding bid next. That may be why it's now been picked up by the media.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by infoman at 07:01, 11th January 2023 | |
eightonedee,thank you for the link.
I presume this was on BBC South/Oxford news,as I did not see it on BBC points west.
Its a shame some posters have to resort to snotty comments insteading of having a look at the TV item first.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by ChrisB at 11:18, 11th January 2023 | |
I had taken a look at the piece. There was nothing new & had been regurgitated as the Councils have started on thye business case for the stations that they wish to contribute to. Funding is still required from Network Rail as I suggested.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by Electric train at 17:07, 11th January 2023 | |
I had taken a look at the piece. There was nothing new & had been regurgitated as the Councils have started on thye business case for the stations that they wish to contribute to. Funding is still required from Network Rail as I suggested.
Network Rail can only secure DfT funding based on Local Authority funding and or commercial funding, NR funding from DfT would only be for enablers and project management
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by ChrisB at 17:15, 11th January 2023 | |
They'll be looking closely at the business case & probably off to OXLEP for funding too
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by Hal at 13:52, 1st February 2023 | |
https://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/23290281.councillors-greenlight-cowley-branch-line-4-5m-business-case-plan/
The city council has approved expenditure on a full business case for the reopening.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by grahame at 06:18, 15th June 2024 | |
https://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/23290281.councillors-greenlight-cowley-branch-line-4-5m-business-case-plan/
The city council has approved expenditure on a full business case for the reopening.
The city council has approved expenditure on a full business case for the reopening.
From the Oxford Mail
Oxford Cowley Branch Line drop-in event for residents
There will be a drop-in event between 4pm and 6pm at the Jungle Art Gallery, Templars Square shopping centre, Cowley on Wednesday, July 10.
Organisers would like to hear the public’s views on the proposed passenger train services from the proposed stations at Littlemore and Cowley to Oxford city centre.
A statement on Oxford City Council’s website said: “The new rail stations would connect significant employment sites and residential areas to the city centre in less than 10 minutes, with the possibility of direct connections to Oxford Parkway, Bicester and beyond.
There will be a drop-in event between 4pm and 6pm at the Jungle Art Gallery, Templars Square shopping centre, Cowley on Wednesday, July 10.
Organisers would like to hear the public’s views on the proposed passenger train services from the proposed stations at Littlemore and Cowley to Oxford city centre.
A statement on Oxford City Council’s website said: “The new rail stations would connect significant employment sites and residential areas to the city centre in less than 10 minutes, with the possibility of direct connections to Oxford Parkway, Bicester and beyond.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by ChrisB at 15:39, 15th June 2024 | |
"10 minutes to City centre" - my foot!
The rail station is at least 10mins itself from the city centre (walking) & it will be quicker to get on a bus if that's where you are going. Great though if, like an airline, you are connecting to somewhere further away & far quicker than the bus to the rail station is currently.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by Mark A at 21:23, 27th March 2025 | |
| Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 Posted by ray951 at 09:15, 23rd October 2025 | |
News today that the go-ahead has been given for reopening the Oxford - Cowley line by 2030.
Funding of £120m has been made available to reopen the line to passengers with new stations at Littlemore and Cowley.
https://oxfordclarion.uk/cowley-branch-line-reopening-gets-the-go-ahead/ and https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgql954g07do
Services will operate to Oxford and London Marylebone.
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 Posted by Ralph Ayres at 09:49, 23rd October 2025 | |
Cynically, i expected that £120m to be for a feasibility study, but it does actually seem to be towards doing some physical upgrade work.
Quite impressed by the Oxford Clarion, which I expected to be one of those clickbait local news sites that simply repeat/misunderstand a press release, if you can manage to read it between the popup adverts. This was refreshingly different and I felt rather better than the BBC article.
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 Posted by IndustryInsider at 10:22, 23rd October 2025 | |
Great news. A special train is just about to go onto the branch now. I remember another special ran 11 years ago to demonstrate the potential of the line, and that potential looks like it might be close to being realised.
Oxford Clarion is an excellent site.
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 Posted by ray951 at 11:26, 23rd October 2025 | |
Great news. A special train is just about to go onto the branch now. I remember another special ran 11 years ago to demonstrate the potential of the line, and that potential looks like it might be close to being realised.
Oxford Clarion is an excellent site.
Oxford Clarion is an excellent site.
I assume this one https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68415/2025-10-23/detailed and https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68420/2025-10-23/detailed doesn't seem to be stopping at Oxford and I assume is using a Chiltern Trains unit.
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 Posted by CyclingSid at 18:52, 23rd October 2025 | |
But will they have finished the work at Oxford station in time?
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 Posted by ChrisB at 18:53, 23rd October 2025 | |
One is reliant on the other, so yes.
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 Posted by ray951 at 20:04, 23rd October 2025 | |
Lets hope that's the line is opened quicker than EWR, first announced in 2011 still not open to passengers in 2025.
On the whole I think this is good news but they would struggle to run this service without completing Oxford Station. So I assume that means they are still planning to finish the station even though it has gone over budget.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 12:14, 23rd November 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Cowley Branch line to reopen after 60 years in £120m project
The rail line, which has been closed to the public for 60 years, will include a new station in Littlemore
An Oxford railway line closed to passengers since 1963 is being reopened.
The Cowley Branch Line is currently only used by freight going to and from the BMW Mini Plant, but new stations will be opened in Cowley and Littlemore in south-east Oxford.
The government has pledged £120m in funding, part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the "European Silicon Valley".
Anneliese Dodds, MP for East Oxford, said the Cowley Branch Line was "finally going to become a reality". She said it would make a "massive difference to local residents, slashing travel times and reducing congestion".
The county's five Liberal Democrat MPs Freddie van Mierlo, Layla Moran, Charlie Maynard, Olly Glover, and Calum Miller said the "major" announcement reflected "years of campaigning, local partnership and rigorous business-case work".
The government said reopening the line would help create up to 10,000 new jobs. It will connect Littlemore, Cowley, Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys to central Oxford in under 10 minutes in a twice-hourly passenger service.
Prof Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, said it would "stitch together" science parks, hospitals and new cultural spaces "so that ideas, researchers and local residents" could move more easily around Oxford and out to London Marylebone.
Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said: "The Cowley Branch Line is the single most important piece of infrastructure for connecting local communities and businesses in south and east Oxford. It will give access to more amenities and jobs, help to cut congestion, meet our climate targets, and unlock new homes and jobs."
Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, added: "We're delighted that the government has seen the obvious benefits that this project will deliver and the value for money it represents."
Rob Brighouse, chair of Oxford Strategic Rail Promoters' Group, called it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity and represents great news for those who do, and will, live and work on the route, as well as helping to ease rail capacity constraints through Oxford".
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government had "massive ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor".
The government said the investments would also build on its commitment to deliver East West Rail, "which will strengthen links between Oxford and Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bedford and beyond".
The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), which conducts research into biology, agriculture, climate change, AI and robotics in Oxford, said it could eventually employ up to 7,000 staff, and that the Cowley Branch Line would be "crucial". EIT said it would "participate with other local stakeholders to provide supplementary funding" of £35m, and design and construct the station at Littlemore.
Sarah Haywood, managing director of Advanced Oxford, which represents science and tech businesses in the region, said it was an "exciting and important boost to the Oxford region". She said it would help to realise the "full potential" of East-West Rail "cementing the region as a world-class science super-cluster".
Yong Shen, director of the Oxford Science Park, called it a "significant, tangible step towards more sustainable transport options" to the city.
Oxford City Council said work would be carried out to identify the additional infrastructure needed to connect the stations to their local communities. This could include new bridges, pedestrian and cycle routes, and better links to the bus network, it said.
The rail line, which has been closed to the public for 60 years, will include a new station in Littlemore
An Oxford railway line closed to passengers since 1963 is being reopened.
The Cowley Branch Line is currently only used by freight going to and from the BMW Mini Plant, but new stations will be opened in Cowley and Littlemore in south-east Oxford.
The government has pledged £120m in funding, part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the "European Silicon Valley".
Anneliese Dodds, MP for East Oxford, said the Cowley Branch Line was "finally going to become a reality". She said it would make a "massive difference to local residents, slashing travel times and reducing congestion".
The county's five Liberal Democrat MPs Freddie van Mierlo, Layla Moran, Charlie Maynard, Olly Glover, and Calum Miller said the "major" announcement reflected "years of campaigning, local partnership and rigorous business-case work".
The government said reopening the line would help create up to 10,000 new jobs. It will connect Littlemore, Cowley, Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys to central Oxford in under 10 minutes in a twice-hourly passenger service.
Prof Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, said it would "stitch together" science parks, hospitals and new cultural spaces "so that ideas, researchers and local residents" could move more easily around Oxford and out to London Marylebone.
Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said: "The Cowley Branch Line is the single most important piece of infrastructure for connecting local communities and businesses in south and east Oxford. It will give access to more amenities and jobs, help to cut congestion, meet our climate targets, and unlock new homes and jobs."
Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, added: "We're delighted that the government has seen the obvious benefits that this project will deliver and the value for money it represents."
Rob Brighouse, chair of Oxford Strategic Rail Promoters' Group, called it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity and represents great news for those who do, and will, live and work on the route, as well as helping to ease rail capacity constraints through Oxford".
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government had "massive ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor".
The government said the investments would also build on its commitment to deliver East West Rail, "which will strengthen links between Oxford and Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bedford and beyond".
The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), which conducts research into biology, agriculture, climate change, AI and robotics in Oxford, said it could eventually employ up to 7,000 staff, and that the Cowley Branch Line would be "crucial". EIT said it would "participate with other local stakeholders to provide supplementary funding" of £35m, and design and construct the station at Littlemore.
Sarah Haywood, managing director of Advanced Oxford, which represents science and tech businesses in the region, said it was an "exciting and important boost to the Oxford region". She said it would help to realise the "full potential" of East-West Rail "cementing the region as a world-class science super-cluster".
Yong Shen, director of the Oxford Science Park, called it a "significant, tangible step towards more sustainable transport options" to the city.
Oxford City Council said work would be carried out to identify the additional infrastructure needed to connect the stations to their local communities. This could include new bridges, pedestrian and cycle routes, and better links to the bus network, it said.
| Re: Go-ahead given for Cowley Line to reopen by 2030 Posted by ChrisB at 12:25, 23rd November 2025 | |
News today that the go-ahead has been given for reopening the Oxford - Cowley line by 2030.
Funding of £120m has been made available to reopen the line to passengers with new stations at Littlemore and Cowley.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgql954g07do
Funding of £120m has been made available to reopen the line to passengers with new stations at Littlemore and Cowley.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgql954g07do
Posted back on October 23rd?
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:15, 23rd November 2025 | |
Fair point, ChrisB: I hadn't noticed that.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by eightonedee at 22:09, 23rd November 2025 | |
Re-reading this again-
The government has pledged £120m in funding, part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the "European Silicon Valley".
..two questions occur to me-
1 - That's a huge proportion of the East-West fund for a short stretch of line that does not even connect directly to the actual Oxford to Cambridge line, and
2 - What would it cost to complete the OHL from Didcot to Oxford?
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by ellendune at 23:40, 23rd November 2025 | |
Regarding your first question.
I read somewhere that reopening the branch and allowing the Marylebone trains to terminate there allows the current bay platform at Oxford to be used for EWR.
I am guessing that to provide further platform capacity at Oxford for terminating EWR trains might involve rebuilding the east side of the station and that would cost much more than £120m and take a lot longer to complete.
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by John D at 08:10, 24th November 2025 | |
Re-reading this again-
..two questions occur to me-
1 - That's a huge proportion of the East-West fund for a short stretch of line that does not even connect directly to the actual Oxford to Cambridge line, and
2 - What would it cost to complete the OHL from Didcot to Oxford?
The government has pledged £120m in funding, part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the "European Silicon Valley".
..two questions occur to me-
1 - That's a huge proportion of the East-West fund for a short stretch of line that does not even connect directly to the actual Oxford to Cambridge line, and
2 - What would it cost to complete the OHL from Didcot to Oxford?
The second one is lot less than average because about third of the mast bases are already installed, and some masts already up.
Also there are closures planned (and budgeted for) in Oxford area where gantries spanning all the tracks could be installed (even if the detail of what needs to be bolted to them is not yet finalised). Much cheaper to come along overnight with a road railer attaching brackets and wires than do extra full closure/blockade
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by Electric train at 08:58, 24th November 2025 | |
Re-reading this again-
..two questions occur to me-
1 - That's a huge proportion of the East-West fund for a short stretch of line that does not even connect directly to the actual Oxford to Cambridge line, and
2 - What would it cost to complete the OHL from Didcot to Oxford?
The government has pledged £120m in funding, part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the "European Silicon Valley".
..two questions occur to me-
1 - That's a huge proportion of the East-West fund for a short stretch of line that does not even connect directly to the actual Oxford to Cambridge line, and
2 - What would it cost to complete the OHL from Didcot to Oxford?
The second one is lot less than average because about third of the mast bases are already installed, and some masts already up.
Also there are closures planned (and budgeted for) in Oxford area where gantries spanning all the tracks could be installed (even if the detail of what needs to be bolted to them is not yet finalised). Much cheaper to come along overnight with a road railer attaching brackets and wires than do extra full closure/blockade
£120m I suspect is less than the funding for road schemes to achieve the same capacity, also funding a rail project meets the Governments carbon zero ambition.
The completion of the Didcot - Oxford electrification I believe is on the Western and Wales Region business plan, it would not be in the funding plan until CP8 / 9, NR are in the process of putting the CP8 funding plan together but the Didcot - Oxford electrification will be dependent on the future GWR (GBR) rolling stock, the other factor to aid the case will the be decarbonising fright
| Re: Re-opening the Cowley branch to passenger traffic Posted by ChrisB at 09:01, 24th November 2025 | |
....the other factor to aid the case will the be decarbonising fright
Had to record this typo before it got edited
