After years of campaigning by Anneliese Dodds MP and Oxford Labour, this freight train line will reopen to passengers after 60 years of closure. Two new stations will be built in Littlemore (by Priory Road) and Cowley (by the Tesco Superstore off the ring road) and make so many people’s journeys faster and easier.
The Labour Government is investing £120 million to reopen the line, alongside the £35 million already committed by local businesses, Oxford City Council, and Oxfordshire County Council.
Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, says: “I’m delighted that after years of campaigning for the reopening of the Cowley Branch Line, alongside local residents, this is finally going to become a reality. I’m grateful to everyone who has pushed for the line to be reopened for so many years.”
Anneliese has organised annual Cowley Branch Line walks for many years to raise awareness and show the amount of support for the plan – this year’s walk was the biggest so far. Although the walk takes around 4.5 hours, a train journey along the line could be completed in under 10 minutes.
Cllr Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, says: “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. We are proud to have worked with our partners to get the project to this stage, and we’re pleased the government recognises how important it is for the people of Oxford and beyond. We now need to work with landowners and developers in the area to help pay for the line and the works needed to connect the stations into the communities they serve.”
