Olly Glover, the MP for the Didcot and Wantage constituency, recently met with Lord Hendy, Minister for Rail, to advocate for the re-establishment of a train station at Grove.
The opportunity for this meeting arose when Mr. Glover raised a question regarding the campaign during Prime Minister’s Questions, directing it to Sir Keir Starmer.
Drawing on his experience from working in the rail industry prior to his political career, Mr. Glover directly outlined to Lord Hendy the importance of the new station. Additionally, they addressed the need for railway electrification between Didcot and Oxford and the inadequacy of five-car trains on Great Western Railway in handling the current demand.
The historic site of the old Grove Railway Station is of particular interest. While Lord Hendy acknowledged the merits of the proposal, he also indicated the challenges associated with securing funding. Encouragingly, an Oxfordshire County Council-funded business case study is in the works, poised to bolster the arguments for the station’s revival.
Post-meeting, Mr. Glover remarked on the significant residential and economic growth in Wantage and Grove, underscoring the clear demand for enhanced local transport options. He expressed optimism in the forthcoming business case study from Oxfordshire County Council, anticipating strategic insights and potential collaborations with local businesses to source additional funding.
Mr. Glover emphasized, “A station serving Grove and Wantage would greatly benefit residents, enhance local business prospects, and positively impact our environment, notably easing travel to and from Oxford.”
The original Wantage and Grove Station saw its closure in December 1964, a casualty of the Beeching cuts which led to widespread railway reductions. Although hopes for the station’s return were reignited earlier this year, the government’s recent decision to scrap the Restore Your Railway fund has clouded its future.
The Wantage and Grove Station Supporters Group has since launched efforts to push for the station’s reopening, while Oxfordshire County Council continues to evaluate the proposition. The council states on their proposal webpage that the feasibility hinges largely on the potential for train services to operate at the new station. Detailed studies assessing its deliverability and affordability are needed, and these factors mean a station is likely several years away.
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