£20 million investment planned to advance Oxfordshire's OxRail 2040 vision
Funding aims to improve rail transport and connectivity across the region
Oxfordshire County Council is set to consider a £20 million investment to support the ambitious OxRail 2040 plan, aiming to enhance rail transport and connectivity across the region.
The council's cabinet will evaluate funding allocations later this month to advance OxRail 2040, which will focus on improving public transport over the next 15 years.
Projects earmarked for funding include the Oxfordshire Metro, integrating rail, bus, and cycling networks, and developing the Cowley Branch Line with new stations at Oxford Cowley and Oxford Littlemore.
Further proposed stations at Begbroke, Ardley, and Wantage & Grove aim to boost local growth, while continued studies seek to introduce more overhead wiring and battery-electric trains.
Funding sources include enterprise zone grant funding and developer contributions.
Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We welcome the work and industry engagement that has gone in so far, which is helping to turn the OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail vision into reality. I look forward to discussing the paper at cabinet.”
Once Network Rail's upgrades at Oxford Station are completed, the council plans further investment to enhance safety and facilities at the station's eastern concourse.
Approximately £1.5 million is allocated towards a £3 million concourse upgrade, with additional funding from the government and Great Western Railway.
The planned investment builds upon the council's rail development budget, which supports active travel access, station enhancements and the environmental and economic assessment of rail investments.
OxRail 2040, approved in November 2025, outlines the priorities driving this funding.
The council’s cabinet will convene on 20th October to discuss the latest recommendations.