Following a thorough tendering process, Oxfordshire County Council has designated SLC Rail to create a strategic outline business case for the reopening project of Wantage and Grove Station. The completed document is expected by the end of September 2025.
A dedicated campaign group, Wantage and Grove Station Supporters, is strongly advocating for the station’s reopening. A petition initiated by Andy Holding has garnered over 2,100 signatures, demonstrating significant community backing.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy at Oxfordshire County Council, expressed the council’s longstanding support for the proposed Wantage and Grove Station. She emphasized, “This region has experienced rapid population growth in recent years, and meeting the ambitious targets set in our Local Transport and Connectivity Plan requires essential rail improvements. Providing fast, regular, and reliable transport options is crucial for supporting our communities, economic centers, and climate change initiatives.”
The proposed station aims to cater to the region’s growing population by offering residents a sustainable and high-quality alternative for travel. Oxfordshire County Council is at the forefront of promoting this initiative and will collaborate closely with Network Rail, Great Western Railways (GWR), and South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils to move plans forward.
Claire Mahoney, Network Rail’s industry programme director, remarked, “We welcome the feasibility study for a potential new station in Wantage and Grove. The Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study, a joint effort by county and city councils, Network Rail, and the Department for Transport, highlighted opportunities for railway expansion in Oxfordshire, which could support the creation of new stations.”
The original Wantage and Grove station, having opened in 1846, witnessed its last train in 1964. GWR’s business development portfolio director, Tom Pierpoint, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are proud of our ongoing efforts to connect communities to the railway, as seen with new stations in Bristol, Devon, and Reading. We look forward to contributing to the study, focusing on line capacity, rolling stock, and crew needs.”
These proposals are part of Oxfordshire County Council’s evolving OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail strategy, expected to be adopted later this year. If reopened, the station is anticipated to become Oxfordshire’s fifth busiest, potentially serving over a million users annually and offering a significant economic boost, generating an estimated £2.48 for every £1 invested.
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