A new railway station serving Wantage and Grove could attract up to around 1,400 passengers a day, according to a study announced by Oxfordshire County Council.
The estimate depends on the site and services offered. The findings support further development of the proposal, rather than approval to build it.
SLC Rail prepared the strategic outline case, the first stage of the Department for Transport’s business case process. The council published the findings on Thursday 22 October.
Fitting services onto a busy railway
A Network Rail assessment dated December 2025 describes the line between Foxhall Junction and Wootton Bassett Junction as a predominantly two-track route shared by fast passenger trains and freight.
Against the timetable and already approved future services used in that assessment, Network Rail identified room for only one additional passenger train per hour in each direction during most daytime hours. Four applications were competing for that capacity.
That assessment illustrates why a station needs an operable train service as well as a suitable site. It does not establish a timetable for Wantage and Grove.
Reservoir proposals also affect the options
The council is discussing Thames Water’s White Horse Reservoir proposals to protect the station scheme and explore possible opportunities for its location and infrastructure.
Thames Water’s indicative reservoir master plan includes temporary rail sidings for construction. The company says the reservoir, previously known as SESRO, would store water taken from the Thames in winter for use when supplies are under pressure.
Those proposed construction sidings are not a commitment to provide a passenger station.
Further work expected in spring 2027
Work with the rail industry on capacity, operations, site and commercial viability is expected to finish in spring 2027. It will inform whether the council commits to the next business case stage.
The latest announcement gives no opening date.
The council’s earlier station project page says deliverability, affordability and funding require further work. Its indicative service options are assessment assumptions, not a confirmed timetable.
