The Government has approved £120m to reopen Oxford’s Cowley Branch Line to passengers, with two new stations planned at Oxford Littlemore and Oxford Cowley. A further ~£35m is expected from local partners, taking the total package to around £155m. The scheme sits within a wider £500m investment in the Oxford–Cambridge corridor.
Under the current plan announced by Oxford City Council, services from the two new stations would run via Oxford Station through to London Marylebone, extending the existing Chiltern route. The county’s rail strategy assumes two trains per hour, with local journey times to the city centre projected at about nine minutes. Final timetables and an opening date will follow detailed design and delivery decisions.
The announcement comes alongside a major private-sector push: the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) today set out £10bn over ten years for talent and science programmes linked to its Oxford campus at The Oxford Science Park. Backers say the branch line was a key factor in unlocking the investment.
What they 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. In 2023, the City Council decided to take the lead in making it a reality by investing £3.8m of our money, alongside securing additional funds from partners, and directly commissioning Network Rail to develop the Full Business Case for the reopening of the line.
I am glad that the leadership and conviction the City Council showed in taking this risk has now paid off.
The Cowley Branch Line is the single most important piece of infrastructure for connecting local communities and businesses in south and east Oxford. It will give access to more amenities and jobs, help to cut congestion, meet our climate targets, and unlock new homes and jobs.”
Cllr Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council
“This is wonderful news and well deserved after all the hard work that so many organisations have put into making this happen. 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.
This week the county council agreed an initial £10m investment in our emerging new OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail and we look forward to presenting ambitious and deliverable plans for additional services and stations right across the county to support sustainable economic growth.”
Cllr Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council
“After years of campaigning alongside residents, this is finally becoming a reality. The branch line will slash travel times, reduce congestion and open up new economic opportunities for local people.”
Anneliese Dodds MP, Oxford East
“A new station at ARC Oxford will help our members attract world-class talent and grow their businesses, while strengthening connections between local communities, companies and research hubs.”
Jim Stretton, Managing Director, ARC
“A station at The Oxford Science Park will be a tangible step towards more sustainable transport and will support the continued growth and collaboration that define the Park.”
Yong Shen, Director, The Oxford Science Park
“This is a great example of what happens when government and the private sector join forces. The line will help us attract talent to EIT and link key innovation hubs with Central London.”
Lisa Flashner, Chief Operating Officer, Ellison Institute of Technology
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It will ease rail capacity constraints through Oxford and shows what can be achieved when public and private sectors work together.”
Rob Brighouse, Chair, Oxford Strategic Rail Promoters’ Group
What’s been funded
- Two new stations: Oxford Littlemore (serving Littlemore & The Oxford Science Park/EIT) and Oxford Cowley (serving Cowley, Blackbird Leys & ARC Oxford, formerly Oxford Business Park).
- Passenger reopening of the existing freight branch, currently used by BMW for Mini movements.
- Service concept: extend the Oxford–Marylebone service to the branch with 2 tph (assumption; subject to final timetabling).
Why it matters
Supporters say the line will cut congestion, lower emissions, and unlock jobs and homes by improving links between Oxford’s science and employment clusters (The Oxford Science Park/EIT, ARC Oxford at Cowley) and the city’s rail network, with onward services to London Marylebone and the coming East West Rail connections.
What happens next
- Network Rail’s Full Business Case work, commissioned by Oxford City Council, underpins the decision; a delivery schedule and construction programme will follow. No firm opening date has been published; county documents place the Cowley reopening within 2025–2030 planning horizons.
- Local partners are expected to contribute ~£35m alongside Government funding. Detailed access works (bridges, walking and cycling routes, and bus links) will be scoped to connect the stations into surrounding neighbourhoods.
At a glance
- Funding: £120m Government + ~£35m partners (≈£155m)
- New stations: Oxford Littlemore; Oxford Cowley
- Planned service: 2 trains per hour via Oxford to London Marylebone (assumption)
- Projected demand: ~1m journeys/year (steady state)
- Private investment linked: EIT £10bn talent & science plan over 10 years
Background: what is the Cowley Branch Line?
The three-mile freight branch diverges south of Oxford and runs through Littlemore and Cowley, serving BMW and nearby employment sites. Passenger services ended in the 1960s. Reopening has been a long-standing local priority; Oxford City Council commissioned Network Rail to develop the Full Business Case in 2023.
