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to Witney started at Yarnton Junction on the North Cotswolds line and ran to Fairford until passenger services were withdrawn in June 1962, but Fairford is not included in the current proposals.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

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