Cowley line to reopen

[Brush 4]

According to this BBC report anyway....

An Oxford railway line closed to passengers since 1963 is being reopened.

Cowley Branch Line to reopen after 60 years in £120m project

The Cowley Branch Line is currently only used by freight going to and from the BMW Mini Plant.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JonathanH]

Is £120m enough to secure this given two new ststions? I can't yet see anything on the DfT website, but maybe that comes later today.

Another source suggests a VIP train along this line starting at Oxford Parkway today, so does seem to be some substance in the story.

2Z68 1015 Oxford Parkway to Morris Cowley

Realtime Trains | 2Z68 1015 Oxford Parkway to Morris Cowley | 23/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 2Z68 1015 departure from Oxford Parkway to Morris Cowley on 23/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

2Z69 1100 Morris Cowley to Oxford Parkway

Realtime Trains | 2Z69 1100 Morris Cowley to Oxford Parkway | 23/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 2Z69 1100 departure from Morris Cowley to Oxford Parkway on 23/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Stock from Banbury via a reversal at Bicester South Junction.

 

[Magdalia]

According to this BBC report anyway...

Thanks. It is part of a bigger announcement of £500m funding for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor see here:

Oxbridge 'Silicon Valley' given £500m government boost

The government says the investment in the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor will boost growth.

www.bbc.co.uk

The government is to invest £500m to "kickstart" regional growth in "Europe's Silicon Valley".

Money for the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor will see £400m spent on the Cambridge end to boost development with affordable homes, infrastructure and business expansion, the government said.

The Cowley branch railway line will also be reopened with new stations at Littlemore and Cowley, "to help support the creation of up to 10,000 new jobs and homes in Oxford".

I have been struggling to find out where the rest of the funding is going. Maybe there will be a speech from the train at Cowley giving more details!

 

[John R]

Worth noting now the £120m quoted. Will be interesting to see whether, and by how much, it creeps upwards before it is finally delivered.

 

[Verulamius]

Thanks. It is part of a bigger announcement of £500m funding for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor see here:

Oxbridge 'Silicon Valley' given £500m government boost

The government says the investment in the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor will boost growth.

www.bbc.co.uk

I have been struggling to find out where the rest of the funding is going. Maybe there will be a speech from the train at Cowley giving more details!

The government press release is from HM Treasury.

Jobs, homes and better transport links for the Oxford Cambridge Growth Corridor

The government is going further and faster on growth with over £500 million investment for new homes, infrastructure and business space for the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor

www.gov.uk

The rest of the funds is going towards affordable housing in Greater Cambridge area.

Up to £400 million of initial government funding will kickstart development in Cambridge with affordable homes, infrastructure and business expansion. In Oxford the Cowley Branch railway line will reopen with new stations at Littlemore and Cowley - connecting people to jobs, homes and opportunity. These investments build on government’s commitment to deliver East West Rail, which will strengthen links between Oxford and Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bedford and beyond.

 

[brad465]

Is £120m enough to secure this given two new stations? I can't yet see anything on the DfT website, but maybe that comes later today.

They're being built on a line that already exists, and if at least one of the stations is single platform, that's a much cheaper build than a two-platform station requiring extra accessibility features.

 

[AlterEgo]

£120m to open two single platform stations on an existing three mile branch line for passenger use is enormous. Yes there will be some other works too but that really does feel like an obscene amount of money.

 

[Magdalia]

The government press release is from HM Treasury.

Thanks, you're a star! I thought that there must be an HMT press release but I couldn't find it.

This is what I was looking for, the key bit for this end of the corridor, but not for this discussion.

More information​

• The government’s intention is to launch a consultation on establishing a new centrally led development corporation to support the growth of Cambridge.
• The Cambridge Growth Company, chaired by Peter Freeman, was established by government as a subsidiary of Homes England, bringing together local leaders, communities and industry to develop and deliver an ambitious plan that will remove barriers to growth in Greater Cambridge.
• The Cambridge Growth Company will also begin recruiting for a new Chief Executive.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Oct 2025 ==

£120m to open two single platform stations on an existing three mile branch line for passenger use is enormous. Yes there will be some other works too but that really does feel like an obscene amount of money.

By way of comparison the total funding for moving Waterbeach station is a bit over £40m.

Station relocation for Waterbeach new town moves step closer

Phase Two of Waterbeach new town cannot go ahead until the station is relocated and up and running.

www.bbc.co.uk

The GCP has already committed £20m towards the project, with a further £23m coming from Homes England, which will eventually be recouped from the developers of Waterbeach New Town.

 

[Captain Bigwig]

To be clear the total money is £155 million- £120m from central government, £35m from councils and local businesses

 

[Kingham West]

To be clear the total money is £155 million- £120m from central government, £35m from councils and local businesses

Fantastic and unexpected news, now we just need Witney and job done.
It just shows how rail investment is all about politics.

 

[zwk500]

£120m to open two single platform stations on an existing three mile branch line for passenger use is enormous. Yes there will be some other works too but that really does feel like an obscene amount of money.

Those 'other works' include signalling and speed upgrades, persumably, if the plan is half-hourly passenger service while leaving room for the freight.

Today's special: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U68415/2025-10-23/detailed is timed for 17.5 minutes from Kennington Junction to Morris Cowley one-way. To achieve a half-hourly service the train will need to take c.27 minutes for the trip from Kennington Jn to Cowley and back to give sufficient margin for the next train to enter the branch. That includes the stops at Littlemore and the turnround at Cowley. Cowley obviously won't be quite as far as the freight terminal timing point but you're still looking at a reduction in runtime of more than 5 minutes each way to accommodate the stops, and leaving sufficient capacity for freight to work around the passenger service somehow.

For comparison, the single-platform Portway Park and Ride station in Bristol cost about £3.5m. the 2-platform Reading Green Park cost about £20m in the end. Re-signalling schemes however regularly cost 9 figures.

 

[The Planner]

£120m to open two single platform stations on an existing three mile branch line for passenger use is enormous. Yes there will be some other works too but that really does feel like an obscene amount of money.

There needs to be a lot of work around Kennington, as well as a mechanism to lock a train in at the Cowley end to allow car trains to run.

 

[geordieblue]

More detail here: https://oxfordclarion.uk/cowley-branch-line-reopening-gets-the-go-ahead/. Sounds like line speed increases will also be taking place on the branch as well as work on the main line so the £155m starts to make sense

 

[Nicholas43]

There needs to be a lot of work around Kennington ...

Is there anything now public about the intended capacity enhancement between Hinksey North and Kennington Junction?
Meanwhile, here's 2Z68, Oxford Parkway to Morris Cowley, crossing the Thames.

 

[DavidGrain]

Interesting to see that this service is going to be served by extending the Marylebone - Oxford trains. Previous talk has been that the Milton Keynes - Oxford trains would cover the service.

Referring to the work being done at Oxford station, does this need the planned conversion of platform 1 or 2 into a through platform for this reopening to go ahead?

My second question would be, With 4 passenger train movements per hour over a single track line, would there be time for a freight train to fit in?

 

[NorthOxonian]

Very good idea - it'll both bring people into the area (with several expanding employers in the area) but also help regenerate a seriously deprived area. Blackbird Leys and Littlemore aren't necessarily like (say) Ashington but are pretty disconnected from the affluent south east economy and having transport that doesn't get absolutely jammed on the Cowley Road will definitely help local people get around.

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

Issue with increasing line speed is a heavily-used foot crossing with poor visibility by Spring Lane, I would say!
Doesn't help that trees and foliage are in an awful state down there at the moment, as every time I go down there, we're hitting branches etc.

I would also recommend upgrading the Up Kennington Goods Loop to a passenger loop for a) faster turnout with flashing yellows (currently 25mph), and b) overrun protection (so you can clear the distant on OD2341, which makes travelling through the bridge section a bit easier, as its quite the gradient downhill to the signal).

 

[zwk500]

Interesting to see that this service is going to be served by extending the Marylebone - Oxford trains. Previous talk has been that the Milton Keynes - Oxford trains would cover the service.

Is the exact service confirmed yet? People may be hoping it'll be Marylebone without knowing for sure. (FWIW I expect the Marylebone services to have a far better case than EWR).

Referring to the work being done at Oxford station, does this need the planned conversion of platform 1 or 2 into a through platform for this reopening to go ahead?

Unlikely, as £120m would almost certainly not cover that together with the works to the branch

My second question would be, With 4 passenger train movements per hour over a single track line, would there be time for a freight train to fit in?

My understanding from being involved in a similar reopening proposal in a different part of the country (existing freight branch having passenger service restored to part of the line) NR will have been required to accommodate existing freight demand somehow. Either by the operators agreeing to leave gaps off-peak in individual hours for the freight to get down, by running the freight outside of service hours, or by providing sufficient infrastructure to facilitate the freight paths between services.

 

[John R]

My understanding from being involved in a similar reopening proposal in a different part of the country (existing freight branch having passenger service restored to part of the line) NR will have been required to accommodate existing freight demand somehow. Either by the operators agreeing to leave gaps off-peak in individual hours for the freight to get down, by running the freight outside of service hours, or by providing sufficient infrastructure to facilitate the freight paths between services.

There might be a difference in that the reinstatement of the Portbury branch was fully funded by the docks, so there may have been some watertight clauses inserted into the contract which guaranteed first dibs to freight traffic for an indefinite period.

 

[brad465]

My understanding from being involved in a similar reopening proposal in a different part of the country (existing freight branch having passenger service restored to part of the line) NR will have been required to accommodate existing freight demand somehow. Either by the operators agreeing to leave gaps off-peak in individual hours for the freight to get down, by running the freight outside of service hours, or by providing sufficient infrastructure to facilitate the freight paths between services.

Could they do what's in place on parts of the West of England line, and have additional signal blocks on the single sections that allow two trains travelling in the same direction to occupy the same single section? In this case have an arrangement that allows a freight train to immediately follow a passenger train leaving Cowley, exiting the branch in time for the next passenger train to enter it, or build a passing loop at Cowley station that allows a freight train to traverse the branch while a passenger train occupies the platform?

 

[norbitonflyer]

No date mentioned. I'll believe it when I can buy a ticket to Cowley

 

[Oxfordblues]

I imagine this will entail reinstatement of the Up Goods beween Hinksey Norh and Kennington North which will require vegetation removal and encroachement into Hinksey Lake, The locals might not like that!

 

[fishwomp]

I imagine this will entail reinstatement of the Up Goods beween Hinksey Norh and Kennington North which will require vegetation removal and encroachement into Hinksey Lake, The locals might not like that!

No need for that - relaying the current mainline and two lines from Hinksey yard would do the trick - pairing by direction I guess.

 

[Nicholas43]

I imagine this will entail reinstatement of the Up Goods beween Hinksey Norh and Kennington North which will require vegetation removal and encroachement into Hinksey Lake, The locals might not like that!

I think the trackbed is still there, and still wide enough. But there are several expensive-to-move-looking bits of kit on it. And maybe a bridge to adapt?

 

[Bald Rick]

Looking forward to the timetable arguments.

 

[DavidGrain]

No date mentioned. I'll believe it when I can buy a ticket to Cowley

Leader of the County Council says she hopes by 2030

 

[The Pelican]

It's really good to see the Cowley branch regaining passenger service- it will be interesting to see how Chiltern advertise any Cowley via Oxford trains at Marylebone. Also leads to the amusing situation of trains following the route of the old Wycombe Railway from High Wycombe to Princes Risborough, then leaving it, then rejoining it at the far end, near Oxford, to run back along part of the line in the opposite direction! I wonder how it will work at Oxford station- will trains from the Bicester direction have to start interacting with GWR and Cross Country trains, which I don't think they do at the moment? Or might we see the pre-2010 London facing bay platform south of Botley Road revived?

I've just seen discussion on how this service will impact Oxford Station on the following thread:

OxRail 2040 - plan from Oxfordshire County Council

Pretty far-fetched question, but how feasible is it for GWR stations to Banbury [Tackley, Heyford, Kings Sutton] to be served by an extension of Chiltern's 1tp2h Birmingham-Leamington stopper, instead of the current GWR 1tp2h extension of Didcot Local? I'd imagine that when they electrify...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Class 170101]

I hope the detailed design work has been done so we know (within reason) that the scheme will actually cost £150m and there are no unforeseen surprises.

I am also glad the article says Chiltern would be running the service (though I'd love to know the source(s) for that) so East West Rail could potentially head south towards Bristol. However I do wonder Oxford Station will operate as it seems likely services from Cowley towardsw Marylebone will have to cross Oxford Station twice, once to the south and once to the north.

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

Looking forward to the timetable arguments.

Can’t wait for TPU to see the graph of a 2-car 165 interacting with a 108 SLU 1400t behemoth of WIAs…

 

[class ep-09]

I hope the detailed design work has been done so we know (within reason) that the scheme will actually cost £150m and there are no unforeseen surprises.

I am also glad the article says Chiltern would be running the service (though I'd love to know the source(s) for that) so East West Rail could potentially head south towards Bristol. However I do wonder Oxford Station will operate as it seems likely services from Cowley towardsw Marylebone will have to cross Oxford Station twice, once to the south and once to the north.

Not necessary - Up Oxford Relief is bi - directional , if extended to the Cowley branch ( between Hinksey and Kennington ) , a train can be routed without conflicting movements to / from Oxford station .

However it could be facing trains in opposite direction at current platform 3 .
I guess the sooner bay platform 2 is made as a through road the better, but that needs station to be redeveloped as a whole in the first place.