Oxford's Brand New Railway Project: A Look At The Cowley Branch Line

[@DumbMuscle]

I was working at the science park when these plans were announced, and there was a fair bit of cautious excitement in my office - not for journeys to/from the centre, but because a lot of the people working there lived in Kidlington, near Oxford Parkway, so a direct train to another Oxford suburb was a potentially very useful bonus. I'd also heard (from a report of one of the launch events that my boss went to) that part of the justification for this is that it means the Oxford-London Marylebone trains wouldn't have to wait and turn around at Oxford station - helping to free up congestion in the station and reduce any knock-on effect of delay. It nicely expands commuter services into the Science Park and the Business park. It's not as useful for locals heading into the centre, since Oxford station is enough out the way that the bus is generally a better bet anyway - but it'll see a fair bit of use since trains don't have to deal with the traffic on the roads!

[@manwithaplan47]

The thing that strikes me the most about this project is how much intense scrutiny and study reopening an already laid railway is considered normal and sensible but that same amount of scrutiny applied to damaging and counterproductive road projects, if it even happens at all, is considered obstructive. My main opinion with this project is just "get on with it already", it has been in discussions for decades.

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

agreed, get on with it.

[@JT-nr2ss]

That is because Highways England is a racket

[@williamevans9426]

Many thanks! An excellent, clear but comprehensive explanation of what's being proposed - far better than anything the local authorities have produced. I live near Littlemore and think the main benefits will be for commuters working in the science parks in Littlemore and near Cowley, and possibly in the future as a link, via Oxford station, to Milton Keynes and Cambridge. Given the proposed relative infrequency of rail services into and out of Oxford city (and the likely higher ticket costs) compared with the local bus services, however, I doubt the line will be used a great deal by locals. The lengthy overrun of works on Botley Road just north of the city, while installing a new railway bridge at Oxford railway station, also give pause - railway-associated projects never seem to be completed to schedule despite the building-in of 'buffer' periods (no pun intended) to accommodate unfoeseen issues!

[@EdgyNumber1]

It makes sense if: High density housing is directly next door to the station, along with commercial activity. Passing loops is installed for a more metro-like frequency service (one every 15mins). The trains are battery operated, with charging sections at stations.

[@biscuit715]

Surely one every 15 minutes conflicts with battery trains, designed to be used on low frequency rural lines to give them time to charge.

[@highpath4776]

@@biscuit715 3 tph might work. run one in to Plat A , charge for 15mins, run out run in one to Plat B( will need a 2nd platform which appears shown) repeat in sequence. Given journey time is 20 mins this should be doable ?

[@MostlyBuses1]

Why not just go for overhead electrification instead of batteries?

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

@@MostlyBuses1 cost. the current electrification scheme is already massively behind schedule because of it.

[@peterharris3563]

I read somewhere that if the Cowley branch was to be reopened, that extension to Wheatley should be considered as Wheatley is a large village with poor bus conncetions. I am old enough to remember the line between Thame and Cowley being an active railway, albeit freight only. This part of the line finally closed in 1968-69. The twin truss bridges over the A40 were removed in 1970.

[@Simon-ui6db]

That would need major investment in the horsepath tunnel. Its in a pretty bad way, and has been infilled on the Littleworth side, aswell as alot of the trackbed between Wheatley and Horseparth being either built by the Littleworth caravan park, some houses extending their gardens on the trackbed in Littleworth itself, and where the original station in Wheatley there was a large bridge on ladder hill that was destroyed. Having gone to Wheatley primaray in the 80s and Wheatley park I used to play down the track bed with friends. Would be great if they redone the entire route let alone to just Wheatley.

[@tomdg13]

​@@Simon-ui6db I remember thinking it would be great to reopen the whole thing (back when I noted that the tracks still went as far as Thame) and would provide an alternative route to London. The latter less of a benefit now Chiltern can get to Oxford via Bicester.

[@mothmagic1]

The Cowley end of the tunnel is clear but there is a housing estate built across the other end

[@carlcaulkett3050]

I remember the bridge over the A40. I ued to see it whenever my family drove from London to Gloucester. I distinctly remember it had graffiti which read "Max Planck is God". Of course, I didn't know what this meant! Nor, disappointingly, did my parents :o

[@highpath4776]

@@tomdg13 But would provide a loop operation which might be efficient,.

[@AndrewMartinOxford]

I think your analysis is right: as a link from the city centre it's not a compelling case really, unless the frequency can be raised. Connecting to Redbridge would allow a lot of extra flexibility - and reduce journeys into the city to get a London train. It's been talked about so long already that I'd be very surprised if it does get delivered in two years, even if the infrastructure needs are pretty modest.

[@omorinishi]

The plans for the new housing development just South of Heyford Hill Sainsburys included a possible halt accessible from both Littlemore and the new housing. This was used to promote the housing but is never mentioned now.

[@rogerevans425]

Many years ago I worked at Unipart, alonside the Mini plant , and travelled there daily from Princes Risborough. The route alonside the A418 between Thame and Wheatly was still basically useable, albeit the old goods yard at Tiddington had housing built on it, and the bridges over the 2 arms of the M40 would need to be replaced.. The route between the Mini plant and Wheatly tunnel would be relatively easy to reinstate. The main problem would be the Wheatly tunnel which has the problem in that it is now home to that most protected of species, bats (just as well there aren't newts as well!). I don't think it would be viable to try to reinstate back through Thame, but extending the line as far as Thame would be viable..

[@andrewrussack8647]

It’s always great to see new and reopened rail. Service frequency ‘really’ needs to be 20 mins or less in peak to be useful. Passing loops at most stations should be a minimum requirement to allow this.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Depends on where we are discussing but in this case yes, the addition of passing loops would be a sensible idea as you could extend something further south (ie EWR to add capacity)

[@simoncoppingongoogle850]

I think any aspirations of heading further north east of Horspath Halt are pie in the sky. There have been so many houses build on the track bed. If it's this hard to re-open a train line that's already open, Wheatley might as well be on the moon.

[@willhemmings]

This is a perfect documentary about a subject I know a little about because I lived in Cowley through the 1990's and early 2000s. I thought the project was overdue then, so I am confused by the delay making it happen; it is not exactly expensive. I think the frequency of the trains might be increased with passing loops; and I would suggest another station between Cowley and Littlemore on the Blackbird Leys Road. Still, I have my doubts about the viability of anticipated passenger numbers when it was well known that inhabitants from Blackbird Leys only took the bus a mile into the Cowley shopping centre and scarcely all the way into Oxford

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

IIRC, it was something to do with the requisite track & signalling upgrades, plus the size & location of the new stations to be agreed.

[@sarahtipper1997]

Great video, thank you for taking the time to make it. I would be delighted to be able to get a train from Cowley into Oxford. I really hope this happens!

[@ianstokes291]

Much needed transport link. Buses are fairly hopeless and the area is expanding. Impossible to drive anywhere with bus gates and LTNs, hope this goes ahead.

[@William-ty2lt]

Very enjoyable and informative video! I have never seen one of your videos before but I've seen this one now. Subscribed as well, keep up the great work! Cannot wait to see what the increased Reading to Newcastle and Newcastle services via Banbury and Oxford will look like in May 2025.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Thanks ever so much! Yes the increased service pattern sounds logical for XC, those Voyagers do get packed!

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

as an ex BB Leys resident, i'd hope the the project is started asap for the reasons outlined. Oxford to Thame is a non-starter as outlined, plus the tunnel at Horspath is closed , there being a substantial at colony rooting there all year round.

[@kaitlyn__L]

I expect journeys from Cowley will probably tend to mostly head toward Littlemore, rather than Oxford. Although it was always somewhat walkable, it’d be valuable to take it down from 30 minutes to 10. Not to mention, the longish walk from Littlemore and Cowley to the Kassam (with the cinema, bowling, etc, unless those have closed) could be reduced which might be useful for people who’d done a bit too much celebrating at the restaurants. Not just on football days. Then, it’s just a bonus if you’d started off in the city centre to maybe stop off at Cowley on the way back if you’ve friends or family nearer to that station. (Though everyone I knew who once lived there were still quite a ways from the Premier Inn, if it’s on the same location.) However, Littlemore was in even more dire need of trains 20 years ago. At weekends or in the middle of the day you were lucky to get an hourly service, so most just walked into Cowley. I’m not surprised at all to hear it’s well within the bottom 10% of transport connections. I’m surprised there’s even two buses an hour now! Having family live there for a while really cemented my love of living in towns and cities proper - even a flat in Cowley seemed exciting and connected compared to Littlemore! Every child seemed equally as bored as me when I visited, and willing to bike all the way to Headington or Jericho if necessary to meet their pals. (Since there were absolutely no buses past a certain point in the evening.) Though there were some lovely family-friendly pubs, namely the King’s Arms, next to a nice riverside (canalside?) bike/walking trail. That made a nice summer afternoon and evening if you liked the pub food, and biking.

[@jimthorne304]

There's a pretty considerable elephant in the room here, in the form of Oxford station not being very near to the centre of Oxford! Travellers from Cowley and Littlemore will have a fairly lengthy walk to central Oxford!

[@somenorthlondoner]

Yep, that might be what holds it back. Useful if you want the station but not so useful if you're wanting Central Oxford!

[@arch9enius]

It's better as a link to further afield.

[@MichaelCampin]

Please please Beeching was the scapegoat it was the Minister of Transport Marples who had interest in both motor transport companies and road construction companies that wanted rid of the railwsys

[@somenorthlondoner]

Yes it was and Harold Wilson/Barbara Castle followed through on many of the cuts during Wilson’s first term (1964-1970) in office

[@Mrthetube1guy]

Nice video Thanks for the crucial details

[@somenorthlondoner]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Mrthetube1guy]

Yes you post monthlt?

[@somenorthlondoner]

@@Mrthetube1guy I try to post more often but it’s not always possible.

[@Mrthetube1guy]

@@somenorthlondoner oh ok

[@Crepello100]

Very good vid! I'm in two minds on this, maybe more! I guess it comes down to whether the freight service is set to continue and if so, could it co-exist with a new passenger service? If climate predictions are true then rail freight will have to become a priority, tied in with the '15 minute city' idea aimed at reducing car travel. If they also did something about London house prices then people might not need the huge commutes they do now. Unfortunately politicians wouldn't have a clue what I'm talking about and the World's going to pot, so in that case, yes run the passenger service! I'd guess it would form part of East-West Rail (to Milton Keynes etc. and maybe one day Cambridge) rather than Marylebone.

[@aDifferentJT]

I think it'll be useful for people going to London, but not into Oxford. From Cowley the frequent buses take you to the high street, a far more convenient location than Oxford station.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Yes I thought so too. It is a bit of a trek from the shopping area to the station!

[@RoadkillbunnyUK]

As somebody who lives in Botley the trip between the station (well it’s Osney in reality) and the city centre is painfully etched upon our minds for more than the last year and likely another year into the future due to the replacement of the rail bridge over Botley road next to Oxford train station. That project has just been nightmare fuel. I’m so glad of my power wheelchair or I would really be stuck!

[@jackmartinleith]

"people going to London" As well as destinations throughout England, Wales and Scotland..

[@ricktownend9144]

Really enjoyed this - an interesting one! I agree that there is not much chance of re-opening the whole line to include Wheatley and Thame: in fact the X20 Redline bus (every 15 minutes for much of the day, and some early and late buses) serves that route pretty well: though it is 'X' it's not really an express bus, and doesn't extend to Oxford station, however. I think you are right - a half-hourly service is not going to attract much local custom (like the half-hourly trains throughout much of south London), and will mainly be used as a better way to get to Oxford station for through journeys elsewhere - and of course to Marylebone. When I was in Oxford back in the 1960s the buses - strangely beautiful in their weird Maroon/Cream/Green livery - were every few minutes to Blackbird Leys and other suburbs, but still didn't serve the station well. Indeed in those days the staff seemed to regard the trains as 'the enemy' and it was common to see the no 1 bus shooting off from the station just as a crowd exited off a train from London. I used the Parkway station a few years ago, and was very disappointed by the layout, which made changing from train to bus difficult and slow. Hopefully that has all changed now. Look forward to your next video

[@biscuit715]

I don't know what parkway was like back then, but the busses still park up far away from the station and trains aren't all that frequent. Unless I was going out of Oxford, I'd use the park and ride instead.

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

@@biscuit715 prior to the Said College being built, there was an ideal (missed) opportunity to create a truly integrated Transport Hub on the old station yards & sidings - moving both the Gloucester Green & Oxpens bus & coach parks out of their respective bottlenecks.

[@katrinabryce]

People who live in Oxford will probably still take the bus to Oxford Science Park, they likely don't live next door to the station. However, people who currently take a train into Oxford, then interchange for a bus will definitely take the train, and people who currently drive from outside Oxford might well shift to rail. The stations should be built with two platforms even if the line between them is single track, to allow for a more frequent service, and passing loops should be considered. Electrification can come later, like happened with the Goblin in London after it became part of the Overground network.

[@somenorthlondoner]

I don’t think there’d be much point building two platforms if there’s no plans for doubling. Electrification could come later (and most likely will), but if it’s viable and on the table prior to opening then avoiding another Oxford fiasco is advisable 😅

[@katrinabryce]

@@somenorthlondoner The point of having the two platforms would be to enable a train to sit in one of them while waiting for the train going the other way to pass.

[@simontay4851]

Of course it will be a success. Other freight only lines reopened to passengers have always been more successful than expected. They always underestimate. It doesn't have to be electrified now, they can electrify the line later if there is enough demand. Also Its stupid that there are road bridges over cuttings with lots of houses either side yet there are no steps down to a platform (not even a small halt). There is a bridge like this about 5 minutes walk from my house. Its over the wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line. I would definitely use it if a halt existed. Its good to see that Oxford council is pro rail and will be funding new stations. I hope Shrewsbury Meole brace parkway is eventually built. Its needed. There is STFC football stadium right next to the line, 100s of new houses recently built and more still being built, a large retail park and an existing park and ride and the roads are very congested. People would use it.

[@aiq680]

in my personal opinion, it would really be a waste opening this line in the state described in the video, perhaps extend it to somewhere like wheatley which isnt as easy to get to oxford from there, the only issue then would be passing loops also, happy birthday :)

[@somenorthlondoner]

thanks very much aiq! wheatley would be a nice idea, although how viable is it? maybe it could co-incide with the construction of a park & ride site just off the A40, to tap into another market and to reduce congestion into oxford altogether?

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

@@somenorthlondoner i'd love that. Wheatley is a daily rat-run from the M40/A418 to & from Mini plant and surroundings.

[@tedcopple101]

Impeccable researched video

[@somenorthlondoner]

Thanks ever so much! :D

[@glbotu]

I think the frequency issue might not be as much of a problem as you might expect. Yes, the 1/5 run every 5 mins all day (although doing the "competition" thing, where you have to use separate tickets for Stagecoach v. OBC or buy a slightly more expensive "SmartZone" ticket), but they run up Cowley Road, which is notoriously congested. At this sort of strategic level, transport planners tend to look at "Generalised Journey Times" to see if this sort of thing makes any sense, which is calculated as the average wait time (calculated as half the interval), plus the journey time. Well, with a 10 min journey and a 30 min frequency, that gives you a 25 min GJT to the station, which is very competitve with the 1/5 which can take up to 40-45 mins, especially during morning/evening rush, whereas the train won't be stuck in any traffic.

[@biscuit715]

Yup, the busses are frequent but congestion is a nightmare. Any direction other than north out of the city and you will be sat in traffic.

[@somenorthlondoner]

All depends on where you’re travelling to and from really. If you’re close enough to the planned stations then it will be convenient but if you’re slightly further away but live closer to routes such as the 1, 5 etc. then it’s less convenient.

[@jimclennett2827]

I'm a little sceptical that many locals would use it. The train journey might take half the time ─ ten minutes as opposed to twenty ─ but, with a ten-minute walk from Oxford station to the city centre plus however long it would take to reach Littlemore or Cowley stations from home, most users would still find the bus quicker and more convenient. For that matter, Oxford station can barely cope with its existing services without adding any more. Incidentally, for the record, "Stagecoach in Oxfordshire" ceased to be some while ago ─ it's now part of "Stagecoach West" ─ while Arriva's 280 service to Aylesbury expired several months ago, being replaced by Carousel's X20/120.

[@MikeWillSee]

First time hearing of this project, but it seems very logical given that the tracks are already in place and that extensive development is planned along the route! I just hope it's able to secure funding from the Government, as with the scrapping of the Restoring Your Railways fund, and the continual dithering over HS2, I fear they may not end up being as pro-rail as many people had hoped!

[@malcolmpym507]

Connectioms also to the East West Rail

[@pete6645]

The reopening of the Oxford to Cowley branch line is very much a 'nice to have'. Far more important would be to get an Oxford to Witney rail link re-established.

[@Stipperstone]

But remember that Kennington Junction is a flat junction on to a very busy main line. It would be great to have the branch opened to passengers but I doubt that it will happen.

[@tofaratiadeniran3477]

Clear and informative video

[@somenorthlondoner]

Thanks :)

[@davidwhite9159]

Why not also put a station next to the Redbridge Park & Ride as this would also cut down congestion? Even better if a station was installed next to the Pear Tree Park & Ride as well because then a shuttle could run between the two via Oxford station.

[@leplessis8179]

Far too sensible

[@somenorthlondoner]

Yes it would be a nice idea but given the frequency of the 300 from the site is quite low, wouldn’t a more logical first step be increasing the frequency of that?

[@williamevans9426]

I think the idea of a station near Redbridge P&R was mentioned.

[@donsharpe5786]

There is great scrutiny for re-opening railways. There has to be 'value". There was little scrutiny about closing lines. It was all done in great haste and figures were not challenged at the time because it was almost impossible to do so. Figures were weighted to make them look worse than they were. There were no "value" equations put in railway closures only the amount of money that would be saved. Most railways when re-opened have far exceeded expectations, such as the Waverley and Okehampton lines.

[@carolinepaige217]

In my very early years I used to live in a house that overlooked the railway in Littlemore. I remember being captivated by the steam trains that used to travel along the line.

[@roderickmain9697]

Interesting. It should be theoretically successful but its one thing to plan it, and another to see it operation. Personally, I'd have preferred the reopening of the Oxford - Witney line maybe as far as Carterton/Brize Norton. Given the amount of new housing built along that corridor since 1963 not to mention the regular congestion into Oxford, I'm sort of surprised it hasnt been on the cards before. Of course, with so much building, the original route probably isnt available anymore. Id have said that had potentially more customers than opening the Cowley branch. I am old enough to remember seeing a (steam) train crossing the bridge over A40/M40 ...and that would likely be quite expensive to re-instate 60 years on.

[@bradw8102]

I'd extend 1 or 2 of the E-W rail services from Oxford to Cowley as well as Marylebone services. I don't think they all should be though, others should be extended further west towards Swindon and Bristol.

[@somenorthlondoner]

I did think of addressing EWR but thought it best not to to keep the video shorter than 20 minutes. I do hope to do a video on EWR, but I should imagine that if EWR were to be extended down the Cherwell Valley Line it'll be towards Didcot Parkway, potentially continuing further on.

[@biscuit715]

To those that don't live in the area, yes the bus is frequent, but the traffic is diabolical. The line wouldn't just be competing with the bus, but it would be very competitive with commuters who don't want to be stuck in unpredictable traffic. I'd like the line to go ahead, and tbh I think the small scope is good. We don't need anything underground style here, we're basically just looking for a way to cut down traffic. Just opening it again would pave the way for future improvements if needed. Battery trains or tram trains with cheaper ole would be nice but diesel isnt the end of the world, remember it's not just taking from the bus but from cars too, especially as the zez is expanding soon.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Yes I think it should be added too! As you say, it does have the benefit of not being stuck in peak hour traffic but would the bus still remain more convenient during the peaks? Especially as if you don’t live near either station it would take time to reach it and then you might be embarking on a journey you could’ve done on the 1, 5 etc. in a much shorter timeframe.

[@conradharcourt8263]

Oxford City Council need to ensure that the line is not lifted when the Mini plant closes down in 2030. They should also refuse the new stadium so the existing one can be rail served.

[@somenorthlondoner]

As another commenter stated (and I think I did in the video too), the stadium closer to Oxford Parkway is larger and is more strategically located when it comes to match days at the new stadium, once EWR is up and running the frequency will be higher between Oxford and Parkway so will be much easier to carry the crowds between the EWR & existing Chiltern service whereas Littlemore would only be served by the half hourly Chiltern service I can’t see the tracks being lifted, the project might be opened as early as Dec 2026 so there might be a possibility Plant Oxford to the proposed Cowley station site could see the tracks between them lifted but heavily doubt the rest would be!

[@williamevans9426]

Is the Mini Plant closure a certaintly? If so, how many jobs will be lost?

[@conradharcourt8263]

@ BMW announced some time ago that the majority of EV production would be done in China and some in Germany. Therefore, when petrol and diesel cars are no longer being produced the plant will close with the loss of, i believe, around 4,500 jobs. Sadly now we have lost our role in Europe it no longer makes any kind of economic sense to have a factory in the UK, even if heavily automated and prospective employees were prepared to accept low wages compared to those on the mainland.

[@williamevans9426]

@@conradharcourt8263 Thank you for the (unwelcome) explanation.

[@tomwatts703]

The branch would be a good place to extend EWR services to free up capacity at Oxford station, as well as increasing the frequency on the branch.

[@MercenaryPen]

Chiltern seems to be looking towards discontinuous electrification more generally- so the likelihood is that by the time the line is brought into passenger use it'll likely see Battery+EMU rolling stock in a similar vein to stock being used by Merseyrail

[@somenorthlondoner]

Yes I did read about discontinuous electrification but there hasn't been anything set in stone as of yet in relation to electrification unfortunately :( It's tough - Marylebone isn't possible due to the WCML passing over the top and therefore it would be an absolute pigs ear to try and fit overhead wires into the tunnel into Marylebone, although maybe once OOC is up and running (providing its been double tracked too, there's bits of the NMML that are single track in parts) then it could be attempted?

[@hashbrown1392]

@@somenorthlondoner Actually it passes under, not over it by South Hampstead station. The more likely issue I reckon is the fact the Amersham line uses 3rd rail due to track sharing with the Metropolitan tube line, whilst the government does not want any new 3rd rail at all. I believe it’s now been banned Said track is unusually not owned by NR but rather LUL

[@EM-yk1dw]

@@somenorthlondonerNothing is impossible, the clearances on the Widened lines were tight but electrification was still carried out.

[@somenorthlondoner]

@@EM-yk1dwdifference there being you were reopening a disused railway in the case of the electrified widened lines, line into Marylebone is still operational!

[@hashbrown1392]

@ No, it doesn’t. It passes *above* the West Coast Mainline at South Hampstead, and also in Wembley

[@esmeephillips5888]

Bet the project will be watered down to some wretched compromise like the Cambridge-St Ives guided busway. The Huntingdon-Cambridge rail line was destroyed for it, and the chance of an alternative route into London if the ECML was blocked was chucked away. When Adrian Shuter ran Chiltern he proposed reopening the Great Central north of Aylesbury all the way to a park-and-ride at Rugby, amid the motorway intersections. If the Rugby-Leicester line had been restored, we could have had new links from the MML into the "tech arc' and another approach to London from the East Midlands and the North. Instead Chiltern settled for a chord at Bicester and a roundabout way into Oxford. No strategic thinking; too many councils cooking up parochial plans for sorting traffic jams. Has Rachel Reeves even confirmed that the Aylesbury arm of the East West line is on again?

[@jonguiry5999]

10:30 The stadium will go ahead. The Kassam is not fit for purpose and the single line, small train, two trains an hour branch line wouldn't cope with size of football crowds all looking to arrive in 2 hours of kick off, so would probably need to be closed on match days (e.g. the line at Coventry stadium). Its in no way comparable to the links to Oxford Parkway with multiple, large trains going to site of new stadium from both Oxford to Oxford Parkway and from London / Bicester to Oxford Parkway offering route from fans from north / east of county without them needing to touch the city centre.

[@somenorthlondoner]

It may very well go ahead, I don't support Oxford United so unfortunately I don't have much in the way of personal experience with Kassam Stadium but the planning application isn't to be considered until Jan 25 so figured best to just say that it might open but obviously it isn't confirmed. But you clearly know better than I do re football crowds, Parkway would be more useful especially when EWR is up and running as it would mean a higher frequency into Oxford as well as offering better connectivity to surrounding towns such as Winslow and Bletchley where supporters may be travelling from. As you say re station closure during football matches, sounds like a similar setup to Drayton Park during Arsenal home games!

[@highpath4776]

Interesting that Littlemore doesnt see more frequent and comprehensive bus service. I think this must be due to lack of space in Oxford City Centre to accomodate more vehicles. If the rail service takes enough passengers that Blackbird Leys service can reduce to every 6 mins that might be enough to free up vehicles and drivers to cover more comprehensively Littlemore which should give the expanded economic area enough public transport between all modes

[@somenorthlondoner]

It is a bit strange that Littlemore gets such a raw deal when Templars Square and Cowley around the corner see a much higher service level (sure, the areas served are more populous but you would think a 10 minute service to Oxford would suffice) but the combined frequency gets much higher after navigating Littlemore Roundabout with the 3, X40 etc. so will assume that extra resources between Littlemore Roundabout and Oxford City Centre are seen as unnecessary.

[@icdgyixifyinstereo]

This branch needs a tramway. Manchester, Tyneside, Croydon and Sheffield have shown how useful old railway tracks can be.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Not too sure whether it does because the examples you cited don't share tracks with other rail services (unlike Cowley which when opened would share the Cherwell Valley Line with GWR and XC services towards Didcot Parkway down to Kennington Junction)

[@CurrabegOb]

Definitely open a Redbridge halt …they want to rebuild the bridge beside it…why not a new slip road into it..station for bmw..defo..only a short extension to horsepath

[@somenorthlondoner]

BMW is close to the proposed site in Cowley though, theoretically it can without any track being relaid, reach Horspath Village but is there enough demand to justify adding an additional station there?

[@CurrabegOb]

@@somenorthlondoner it’s. Still quite a distance away

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

@@somenorthlondoner with a Halt at Horspath and another by BB Leys/speedway track there would be quite a gap. The question would be whether BMW would want passenger trains passing through it's factory grounds to go ahead.

[@CurrabegOb]

@@kathrynwhitby9799 if it stops in a secure station. It can serve workers via turn styles and then go onto Horspath village where a small horse could serve the area around Wheatley as well.. I can do attitude is required can be very inexpensive to carry out

[@Woday3-SCR]

This was a really interesting video. Thank You

[@somenorthlondoner]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Woday3-SCR]

@somenorthlondoner it's in my local area so it was good to see all the information together

[@hughbradby4706]

it will be a great success if the oxford to cowley branch reopens by late 2026 from robin

[@barttheanorak]

It's a shame the line's only single track as I imagine that's what limits the number of trains they can run along it. As station names go I prefer the Oxford South and East ones that were mooted earlier.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Yes they do sound like better names it has to be said

[@PaulJaYmes]

Running through to the Chiltern line seems silly, a battery powered shuttle between Oxford and Cowley surely makes more sense?

[@somenorthlondoner]

I don’t think it does, is there the terminating capacity for this shuttle with the existing Chiltern services which wouldn’t be extended, this shuttle and future EWR services?

[@michaelgamble296]

Is there any connectivity with the Oxford / Cambridge re-opening?

[@somenorthlondoner]

Yes it will do, and depending on how quickly this project gets going may even open around the same time

[@andrewwoodgate3769]

As a former resident of Littlemore, until 2017, I can confirm that public transport links to the city are poor. Any expansion on that side of the city will benefit from rail connections.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Yes the connections aren’t brilliant sadly. At least compared to Cowley that’s for sure

[@janeknight3597]

Where is the parking going to be??

[@bistacrank1173]

Well.......they'll need something to liven up Cowley once BMW close the Mini plant in a few years.....🤷‍♂️

[@stephenharper9961]

If this was in the north of England it would have already been cancelled

[@somenorthlondoner]

Against which examples in the north though?

[@CurrabegOb]

The track is a quarter of a mile further on

[@CurrabegOb]

It would allow a new halt inside the factory then ..pass through..this would then give me momentum for it to go Wheatley Ann and time Thame .. Princess Risborough

[@triggerwarning7662]

This line should run like the DLR (not a light rail - but the same autonomous running using wheel resolutions and a polarising wire, with block signals to allow dual freight). This would allow high frequency metro style driverless service shunting up and down the line, making the line viable for use and reducing costs of 100k door openers always striking... the DLR style signalling is remarkably cheap and very old but amazing technology.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Interesting

[@craiglogistics2092]

If this line is to be reopened then it should go to Wheatley for better connectivity

[@somenorthlondoner]

Could do, maybe build a park & ride off the A40 in Wheatley?

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

@@somenorthlondoner as per your video, how would the planners "square the circle" of the missing track-bed, and bridges, and the state/closure of the Horspath tunnel? All of which would be essential to reopen that section.

[@simoncoppingongoogle850]

How hard could it be to re-open a train line that's already open... In Oxford next to impossible. Anything that requires planning is handled by herbert's with the reverse Midas touch. Oxford station is not particularly central and to the west. Since the introduction of the low traffic neighbourhood's the roads to the east of Oxford are gridlocked as all the traffic is forced onto far fewer roads. At peak times passengers get off the busses to walk the last mile into town because it is faster! So re-opening an already open train line that joins the east of oxford to the west of oxford would be brilliant... Except instead of a dedicated shuttle line parallel to the majn line, from Cowley to a platform 50 metres from the main station in the old long stay car park, they have started a prestigious project that requires the widening of the Botley Rd bridge and an extra platform at the main station. Guess what, the project has failled, over complicated and undelivered. All it has succeeded in doing is cutting of the only access to the west of the city and forcing numerous local businesses to go bankrupt. Dunning Kruegers with the reverse Midas touch. The inhabitants of Oxford are sick of being "represented" by them.

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

with Andrew Gnat (music teacher & choir master) in charge of transport planning it'll be a dog's-breakfast of an implementation.

[@rsqyoung]

The project is mightily interesting idea but nowhere near as good as your video. Having been born in Cowley and my parents later moving to Littlemore, I remember Steam Locomotives on the Cowley Branch even seeing one in Wheatley! I also worked for City of Oxford Motor Services/ Oxford South midland Having been born in the heart of Cowley, Cowley Station or Horspath Halt was nowhere near Cowley at Littlemore staion equally miles away. In the 1960's/70/80's getting fro Cowley to either of those station from Cowley was nigh on impossible as you would have had to get to "The Swan" and change for a Watlington bus for Cowley or get a Sandford Bus to Littlemore from the Cowley Centre/Crowell Road ( or a Reading/Wallingford Bus on the Iffley Road) which ran hourly at that time. The Michery farm bus was too far away to be convenient. In short getting to Oxford Station on the No 1 (every 5-10 mins) was far easier and cheaper than a two journey option and would toake 15-30 mins end to end had the bus companies services been reliable enough especially in the 1970's! I would never want to go back and live in Oxford now, it is ***** horrible. Cowley was destroyed first betwenn 1958 and 1965, then further destroyed after i left, then they destroyed Littlemore too. The original line to Princes Risborough really opens up opportunities but in todays climate Oxford City Council needs to reel its neck in and look after better what its got instead of keep expanding and destroying a once wonderful city. Sadly this City is infested with serious Wokery and stupidity. In days gone by, a station could have been built with a simple platform and Bus Shelters costing very little. Today people expect everything for something simple! Total disabled access, CCTV, Electronic ticket machines toilet facilities, bad weather warning systems (passenger safety information!!!!). Online information systems, high level track maintainance, Electronic Signalling, WIFI etc etc The cost of these provisions just puts it cost out of reason

[@philipashbourn1538]

Go ahead but go to Switzerland, eg Geneva, and see how bus/tram and rail operators do not compete with each other but complement each other, not running buses or trams to compete with trains and vice versa. Land use planning and transport planning need to a integrated policy to ensure that the upgrade supports sustainable development. Train power needs to be sustainable. Stations and trains need to be disability friendly. We need to get drivers out their cars if we are to challenge climate change.

[@alexisdespland4939]

whu onlt trains south to lond a but not k north to the midlands.

[@somenorthlondoner]

To Cowley? I suspect because Bicester Village, Princes Risborough, High Wycombe and London are likely going to be places of interest to those living in Littlemore, Cowley, Blackbird Leys etc.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I remember doing that line behind steam in the mid 1960s. I hope that the Nimbys will not stymie this one's re-opening.

[@biscuit715]

If theres one thing the councils good at its pushing past the nimbys. Though round here it's more not in *your* backyard, given most people annoyed about the ltns don't live in them.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Hopefully not, judging by people's comments it sounds as if the project would be welcomed in the city and so I wish Oxford City Council and Network Rail all the best with pushing the project through and delivering it!

[@DavidNewmanDr]

I know a bit about this project as I am the transport representative of the Blackbird Leys Parish Council. Tesco and the new Cowley station are in Blackbird Leys, not Cowley. It is almost as if the city council is ashamed of our ward. The city council staff working on the business case approached us about the design of the foot and cycle bridge from Blackbird Leys to Tesco for Cowley station. They are working on active travel accesibility to the new stations on the line. The foot and cycle bridge will run over the line from near the scout hut on Sandy Lane to west of the Tesco Superstore, making it easy to walk to the station and cycle along the cycle path that runs along the ring road. From Greater Leys it will be easier to get to the new Littlemore station - if the Science Park stops closing gates at 5 p.m. I don't know yet what they will do about the level crossings. The one at 13:47 is a good cycle route from the new houses off Knights Road and the nature park into town. I will put separate points in comments to this post.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Well thank you for watching this video and hope I’ve done the project justice! I’m not from the area so, admittedly, not the most clued up on which ward is what in the city, but given the name in the diagrams is “Cowley” thought I’d just refer to each stations by the names “Littlemore” and “Cowley”. :)

[@DavidNewmanDr]

On service frequency, there is also East-West Rail. According to maps I have seen as transport representative, they are planning to reverse their trains on the Cowley branch line. If they could continue and stop at the 2 stations, that could add another 2 or 4 trains an hour on the line. And eventually people could travel from the Science Park all the way to the better university in Cambridge.

[@DavidNewmanDr]

Consider the economic effects on the area. The science and business park developments will create more jobs. But given the skills needed, it will only be for local technicians and cleaners. But as more people move in, house prices and private rents will rise, making them less affordable for the 50% not in social housing. It is worrying that the city council is planning even more local housing, even taking over a sports ground, used by women and girl footballers, next to the Cowley station. These are some of the issues we need to consider as we make a neighbourhood plan.

[@DavidNewmanDr]

@@somenorthlondoner Historically, the Morris Motor works and the area near it was part of Cowley. Oxford, Iffley, Littlemore and Cowley used to be separate towns. Blackbird Leys was fields until the 50s and 60s. So at the time the railway was built, it went through Cowley to Princes Risborough.

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

as an ex BBL resident (60s-80s) i agree the the estate is a poor relation to the rest of the city.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

A couple of observations: The paucity of services via Bicester seems likely to be addressed come reintroduction of services on the line to Bletchley and MK (and Cambridge ... eventually). Those through lines will come in very handy for increased freight traffic. No mention was made in this clip of a serious proposal to reinstate a portion of the branch to Fairford as far as Witney, the erstwhile junction for which lay North of Oxford at Yarnton, on the line to Worcester and (even if station capacity issues likely don't feature in rail reopening CBAs) would dovetail very well with Cowley proposals. Whilst Oxford Station has seen substantial remodelling since the days when passengers from the south were able to watch an unreachable connection departing onwards to Worcester from the comfort of the Down Home signal immediately south of the formerly cramped station, I'd still be interested to know if any capacity issues might impede reopening to Cowley and/or Witney. Are there any current electrification proposals.for routes radiating from Oxford (beyond tentative mention of doing what should have been done on the East-West line in the first place!!)? OK, purely speculative, this ... but what options might Class 398 Tram Trains open up for rail transport locally? Do I fancy another cup of coffee? Yes ... that seems more likely than not!

[@somenorthlondoner]

Witney is on a different branch to Cowley hence why it wasn’t addressed in this video but have heard about the plans to reopen the OWF Railway as far as there before, who knows, maybe I’ll have a look at that next time? :)

[@TheHoveHeretic]

​@@somenorthlondonerIndeed. The reason I brought up the Witney scheme was that I've seen no mention of either that or Cowley on websites ... which given their proximity and the implications for Oxford as even more of a local rail hub always strikes me as strange. I really can't regard these proposals as either/or (any more than considerations for reopening Lewes - Uckfield in my neck of the woods) Oddly, proposals for full reinstatement of the Cowley branch through Thame to Princes Risborough rate the same Railfuture reopening priority as the more readily achievable Witney scheme and the 'just get on with it ffs!' Tesco Cowley* reopening. *am I allowed to call it that? 🤔

[@somenorthlondoner]

⁠@@TheHoveHereticSurprised Cameron didn’t push for it whilst he was MP for Witney (think that’s the only thing I know about Witney 😅) to be honest!

[@Isaac-cc9tm]

The trains in Oxford suck. Every time I go north they massively overbook the trains to the point where people can’t even fit in the doors

[@AFCManUk]

This makes no sense. Places like Cowley and Wheatley already have very good and frequent bus connections to Oxford City Centre There seems to be a 'Brookes Bus' in Wheatley every 10 minutes or so from what I've seen, not to mention the Arriva and Redline through services to and from Aylesbury. Surely the better long term option would be for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Councils to work together to reopen the currently freight-only branch from Aylesbury Vale Parkway to the junction at Calvert, allowing for train services between Oxford and Aylesbury and beyond, and Aylesbury and Milton Keynes, along that section of the former Great Central Railway via Quainton. It's currently only a single track, but space has been left along much of the route so that double track could be reinstated.

[@MorrisTart]

The 'frequent bus services', are severely affected by having to compete for road space inside the ringroad with car traffic, such that it can take 90mins to get out from central Oxford. That's my experience, having been a victim of the uncomfortable nauseating unsanitary bus service for 30 years. The freight-only line north of AVP was wiped out in 2022 by HS2 / EWR works and the junction at Calvert turned / turns exactly the wrong way to be of any use to get to Oxford, to say nothing of the Bicester Chord which already goes in the correct direction.

[@Bazroshan]

Those freight trains pass the back of my house. The amount of visible filth that comes out of the diesel locos is disgusting. If they were lorries on the road, a prosecution would result. Off topic but I just had to say.

[@biscuit715]

Freight electrification really needs to happen over passenger imo. The passenger diesels arent nearly as bad as the knackered old freight stock. Though freight companies really dont like paying the extra money for the electricity, see db cargo.

[@Bazroshan]

@@biscuit715 The electrics would have to run into freight yards. Aren't some of them on factory property? If they could just get the engines to run cleanly! If Delhi buses can do it, so can Brit Rail.

[@somenorthlondoner]

Maybe complain to your local MP?

[@rsqyoung]

Can I respectfully point out a little error regarding the BMW/Mini Plant. This site has never been Morris's! Morris's, was the other side of the Dual carriage way. The BMW site was Pressed Steel Ltd, later Pressed Steel Fisher (Fisher and Ludlow). This got brought into BMC along with Morris's and the various other marques to form British Motor Corporation. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressed_Steel_Company It is correct that William Morris had an interest In Pressed Steel Ltd as it was a joint venture. Pressed Steel never though themselves part of Morris's. It was locally also known as the Body plant and made bodies for many companies including Rolls Royce. It eventually became part of British Leyland, my dad worked there for c35 years. Pressed Steel Employees thought their company far superior to Morris's who were always putting them out of work as Morris's strike record was awful The Morris site has all been knocked down

[@somenorthlondoner]

Sorry about that! Very small mistake on my part 😨 but thanks for informing me! I wonder what your father would think of the railway to Cowley reopening then given he worked at the plant for 35 years?