Oxford Cowley Branch Line is set to reopen by 2030 after its closure in 1963. The move is part of a multi-million-pound investment by the government aimed at turning the region into Europe’s “Silicon Valley,” reported Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy.
Cowley is an industrial district that hosts Plant Oxford, a BMW-owned facility and the city’s largest industrial employer, providing jobs for over 4,300 people.
After more than 60 years of being used only by freight traffic going to and from the BMW Mini Plant, the authorities’ goal is to resume passenger services connecting Oxford to Cambridge. The line is set to receive a major revamp before it opens to the public.
In case you missed the news yesterday, the Cowley Branch Line is to reopen to passengers, with the creation of two new Oxford stations.
— Oxfordshire County Council (@OxfordshireCC) October 24, 2025
Read all about yesterday’s big announcement here (pictures: Network Rail)https://t.co/FLv2PbCP80 pic.twitter.com/GNom1dsIDG
The government has promised to invest £120 million (approximately €137 million) in the project, as well as developing two new stations at Oxford Littlemore and Oxford Cowley, in the south-eastern part of Oxford. The funding is part of a £500 million (approximately €575 million) strategy to improve local infrastructure and allow locals to easily travel around the city.
Part of the scheme is also linking some of the city’s main innovation areas, including the Science Park and the Business Park. The line aims to provide a service every 30 minutes connecting the two new stations with the city centre in 10 minutes. Moreover, there are also plans to expand the network to London Marylebone.
Full steam ahead!
— Oxfordshire County Council (@OxfordshireCC) October 23, 2025
The Cowley Branch Line is to reopen to passengers and create two new stations at Oxford Cowley and Oxford Littlemore after the government today announced £120m of funding for the long-awaited project. pic.twitter.com/SxDu2yG7L8
The initiative was announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves on 23 October 2025 during an event at Oxford Parkway. “We have massive ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, that’s why we’re reopening the Cowley Branch railway 60 years after it closed, why we’re building more affordable housing and investing in business, and how we’ve been able to unlock £10 billion in private investment,” she said.
The reopening, according to the government, is also expected to create up to 10,000 new jobs. Member of Parliament James Murray described this as a “win-win story” where a governmental investment and the private sector in the trainline will create “long-term, well-paid, high-skilled jobs.”
🚦Cowley Branch Line gets the green light!
— EIT Oxford (@EITOxford) October 23, 2025
Today’s announcement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves is a landmark moment for Oxford’s growth and connectivity. After 60 years closed to the public, the Cowley Branch Line will reopen – creating two new train stations in East Oxford. With… pic.twitter.com/AXDxjgQuHN
According to Network Rail, the reopened line will allow local residents to travel faster and greener throughout Oxford. “The main benefits are reducing congestion on our roads,” said the leader of Oxford City Council, Susan Brown. “We expect to see a lot of people move from driving into the science park and the business park to travelling there by train.”
Moreover, the government is launching initiatives in Cambridge to boost affordable housing and encourage business growth. “We have massive ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, that’s why we’re reopening the Cowley Branch railway 60 years after it closed, why we’re building more affordable housing and investing in business, and how we’ve been able to unlock £10 billion in private investment,” concluded Reeves.
