Government confirms £120m funding to reopen Oxford’s Cowley branch line

The government has confirmed £120 million in funding to reopen Oxford’s Cowley Branch Line to passenger services for the first time since 1963, creating two new stations at Oxford Cowley and Oxford Littlemore.

The reopening of the line will connect communities in southeast Oxford with the city centre in under ten minutes, with direct onward services to London Marylebone. It will also link four of Oxford’s main growth areas along a single route, including ARC Oxford, the Oxford Science Park, the Ellison Institute of Technology in Littlemore, Oxford West End near Oxford Station, and Oxford North close to Oxford Parkway.

The scheme is expected to unlock development in what the Treasury has described as a “world-class science super-cluster”. Network Rail forecasts up to one million passenger journeys a year within three years of opening.

Oxford City Council has been working on the project in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and local landowners. The scheme has forms part of a wider strategy to improve public transport capacity across the county.

Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said: “Today marks a major milestone in our campaign to reopen the Cowley Branch Line to passengers, something that has been a priority for us for over a decade. The Cowley Branch Line is the single most important piece of infrastructure for connecting local communities and businesses in south and east Oxford.”

Tom Bridgman, deputy chief executive for place at Oxford City Council, said the Cowley Branch Line “should create thousands of additional homes and jobs” and praised the “monumental effort” from partners in getting the project funded.

Councillor Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The Cowley Branch Line will form a critical part of our Oxfordshire Metro concept of fully integrated public transport and active travel links, connecting communities and businesses.”

Early feasibility and business case work has been funded jointly by local partners, who contributed £4.7 million to develop the investment case submitted to the Department for Transport earlier this year. Local contributions totalling £35 million are expected towards the final construction cost.

The Ellison Institute of Technology, which is developing a two million square foot research campus in Littlemore, said the project had been a key factor in unlocking future investment. Lisa Flashner, the institute’s chief operating officer, said: “It’s a great example of what can happen if government and the private sector join forces and both contribute to a common goal.”

Work will also be undertaken to deliver supporting infrastructure, including pedestrian and cycle links and improved access between the stations and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Reopening the line forms part of the government’s wider plan to strengthen transport connections across the Oxford–Cambridge corridor, alongside East West Rail.