Oxford City Council has said it remains “confident” of securing the necessary funding to reopen the Cowley Branch Line, despite the absence of any mention of the project in the government’s recent spending review, according to coverage by Local Democracy Reporter Esme Kenney.
The scheme, led by the central government, would introduce two new stations near Oxford Science Park and ARC Oxford, linking them to Oxford Railway Station via a 10–12 minute journey.
A local contribution of £20 million, shared between Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, and other stakeholders, is required to unlock central government investment.
Funding for the project was not included in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ comprehensive spending review, which was announced on Wednesday, 11 June. However, a briefing note seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service suggests this omission was anticipated.
“We always knew that the spending review was largely about allocating funds to government departments,” the city council wrote in the note. “In relation to transport, while some key schemes have already been referenced by the Chancellor, we understand that the Department for Transport will now be working to confirm their wider portfolio of rail enhancements.”
“This will be published in due course, as part of the government’s commitment to set out its overall infrastructure pipeline,” the statement continued. “I want to reassure you that our conversations with government remain positive.
“The Full Business Case will be submitted at the end of June, and based on a strong benefit cost ratio, alongside the growth potential of the area, we continue to be confident that there is a good chance of securing government support for this key project.”
Funding to develop the Full Business Case is being sourced from several local organisations, including ARC Oxford, The Oxford Science Park, Ellison Institute of Technology, Oxfordshire County Council, and Oxford City Council.
City Council Leader Susan Brown clarified that the transport schemes referenced in the spending review are “entirely separate from, and unrelated to”, the Cowley Branch Line project.
She added: “The project aims to enhance public transport options into and around Oxford, increase local transport capacity, ease congestion on our roads, and contribute to a stronger and more connected rail network across Oxfordshire and the wider region.
“As well as improving travel, reopening the line to passengers would also support the sustainable development of new homes and commercial spaces already proposed near the planned stations.”
Brown also expressed hope that Oxfordshire would receive similar funding agreements to those granted to other city regions, particularly once it has a mayoral authority.
Oxford City Council has earmarked £2.5 million in its 2025/2026 budget for the Cowley Branch Line, but this will only be committed if the full project moves forward and other local partners contribute at least £17.5 million.
Construction of the line is also contingent on the completion of Platform 5 at Oxford Railway Station, which has been delayed until the reopening of Botley Road.
Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds added her support, saying: “Reopening the Cowley Branch Line to passengers would make travelling into town far easier for many residents in Cowley, the Leys and Littlemore – and it would reduce congestion on our roads for everyone else.
I’ll keep pushing the government to support the reopening, as detailed financial allocations are made following the spending review.”
Meanwhile, the spending review confirmed £2.5 billion for the next phase of the East West Rail project between Oxfordshire and East Anglia.
The Department for Transport has been contacted for comment.
