Swindon Council set to campaign for daily direct rail service to Oxford
Motion highlights benefits of quicker, greener transport linking key Thames Valley economies
Swindon Borough Council is set to push for the introduction of a daily direct rail service to Oxford, with a motion tabled by Councillor Kevin Small expected to pass at a council meeting on 15th January 2026.
If approved, the council will write to Great Western Railway, Network Rail, and the Department for Transport to advocate for extending current Saturday trials into a full seven-day operation.
The motion emphasises the benefits for commuters, tourism, and supply-chain links, along with reducing road congestion and supporting environmental sustainability and Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority ambitions.
Councillor Small highlighted the positive economic potential of the proposed rail service, which aligns with the Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority’s regional growth plans:
“The Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority will unlock £18.7 billion in economic output a year by 2040. Establishing a direct daily service between two key economies in the partnership would be a positive step forward to achieve these aims,” he noted.
Great Western Railway completed weekend pilot services connecting Swindon to Oxford earlier this year, reporting high usage. A report suggests an hourly Oxford–Swindon–Bath–Bristol service could operate without additional infrastructure costs.
Councillor Small added: “Network Rail confirms sufficient track capacity, with the proposal likely revenue neutral or positive. Operating would reduce journey times by about 30 minutes between Swindon and Oxford, about 75 minutes between Swindon and Bristol, and would benefit Swindon and its residents.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, who is also the MP for Swindon South, has signalled her support for improved rail links between Swindon and nearby cities.
Speaking earlier this week, Alexander said: “Swindon is obviously a proud railway town. My dad was an electrical apprentice, and the railways are really important to Swindon.
“I’d like to see whether we could do more to give us better connections to cities like Oxford… Making family days out more affordable for leisure travellers will be welcomed by people in Swindon.”
The motion notes that extending the service would support national targets for economic growth and sustainable transport, while offering residents quicker and simpler travel options.
If passed, Swindon Council Leader Jim Robbins will lead efforts to urge the government to adopt the proposal and make direct rail links between Swindon and Oxford a reality.