A
new
study


into
restoring
the
railway
between
Oxford,
Eynsham
and
Witney
and
continuing
west
to
Carterton
has
concluded
that
the
investment
would
reduce
road
congestion
and
bring
other
benefits.

The
study
was
commissioned
by
West
Oxfordshire
District
Council
from
consultants
Lichfields.

The
line
to
Witney
started
at
Yarnton
Junction
on
the
North
Cotswolds
line
and
ran
to
Fairford
until
passenger
services
were
withdrawn
in
June
1962,
but
Fairford
is
not
included
in
the
current
proposals. 

The
latest
study
follows
an
earlier
investigation
by
Oxfordshire
County
Council
in
2023,
which
said
predicted
journey
times
to
Oxford
of
23
minutes
from
Carterton,
16
minutes
from
Witney
and
11
minutes
from
Eynsham
represented
journey
time
savings
of
more
than
70
per
cent.

The
new
study
also
points
out
that
further
upgrades
to
the
A40
would
not
be
enough
on
their
own
to
cope
with
future
demand.

Much
of
the
formation
of
the
old
line
has
been
lost.
At
Witney
the
railway
was
buried
under
the
dual
carriageway
A40
bypass
which
runs
to
the
south
of
the
town,
and
in
2023
the
cost
of
building
a
new
line
was
put
at
between
£700
million
and
£900
million.

The
latest
study
says
the
scheme
could
offer
‘high’
value
for
money
when
wider
benefits
to
the
economy,
environment
and
public
health
are
included,
and
these
benefits
are
estimated
to
be
more
than
double
the
cost
of
the
scheme.

West
Oxfordshire
District
Council’s
executive
member
for
planning
Cllr
Hugo
Ashton
said:
‘What
this
study
has
shown
us
is
that
a
rail
connection
wouldn’t
just
improve
how
people
travel;
it
could
transform
how
we
grow
as
a
district.
It
makes
a
strong
case
for
including
rail
as
part
of
a
long-term,
joined-up
plan
and
also
shows
that
it
is
economically
viable.

‘From
unlocking
new
housing
to
boosting
access
to
jobs,
essential
services,
education,
and
reducing
congestion
and
carbon
emissions,
the
benefits
would
be
wide-reaching
and
underline
why
sustainable
transport
must
be
at
the
heart
of
our
plans
for
the
future.’

Restoring
a
railway
on
the
Witney
corridor
and
safeguarding
the
necessary
land
is
also
included
in
the
evidence
base
for
the
council’s
Local
Plan
for
2041,
which
is
currently
out
for
consultation.

What
do
you
think?
Click here to
let
us
know.