New rail station at Begbroke?

OCS supports the proposal for a new station serving Begbroke/Kidlington

2 April 2021

Oxford Civic Society supports the facilitation of attractive alternatives to car use in Oxfordshire, and is greatly encouraged by the recent decision of the Oxfordshire Growth Board to promote new railway stations at Grove and Begbroke.

The provision of a new station to serve Begbroke and Kidlington in particular is an excellent step forward.  It would provide an attractive train service to Oxford and beyond for the people of Kidlington as well as those living in the planned new developments, and link them with other research and innovation campuses.

In their work with the local authorities to develop both rail links in the Oxford Corridor and Oxford Station, Network Rail intends to create the infrastructure allowing additional train services.  We look forward to seeing  how these proposals might be integrated in a way that would enable a station at Begbroke to be served.

Two new train services for the county are already under discussion – one for a second half-hourly service between Oxford and Birmingham (in addition to the present fast Cross-Country service), the other a new Banbury to Paddington service via Oxford.  Both of these could be timetabled to call at Begbroke, greatly enhancing its connectivity.

Oxford Civic Society would urge the Oxfordshire Growth Board, the railway companies, Oxford University and other interested parties to give priority to developing the new station at Begbroke so that it can open up a wide variety of travel options.

 

Jonathan Scheele

Oxford Civic Society Transport Group