Trains could run on Cowley branch line after 60 years

East West Rail Company (EWR Co) has announced a major consultation on the latest designs for the route linking Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

The eight-week consultation will run from Tuesday to June 9, 2026, offering communities along the route an opportunity to have their say.

Contributions will help shape the final design before a Development Consent Order application for government backing is submitted next year.

Proposed changes have been made to improve Oxford Parkway station to accommodate the expected increase in passenger demand for East West Rail (EWR).

This includes from proposed nearby developments such as the new Oxford United stadium near Kidlington.

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As part of the plans, there is a new active travel hub with cycle parking, an improved pedestrian access route between the station building and the existing park and ride terminal, and safer crossing facilities for walkers and cyclists at the junction with Oxford Road.

There are also plans for hybrid electric/battery-equipped trains to operate between Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.

Network Rail is also proposing to open the Cowley Branch line for passenger services after being closed for 60 years.

This would free up platform capacity at Oxford Station and allow trains on EWR services to terminate at the station.

Up to five trains an hour with up to five carriages could run across the whole route during peak times to meet increase demand and  enable service extensions on the wider rail network.

New stations and sections of the line will open as soon as they are ready with the full railway open by the mid-to-late 2030s.

One of the consultation events will be at the Kings Centre in Osney Mead, Oxford, on Tuesday, May 12, from 11am to 6pm.