Proposal

The proposal for the North Cotswold Line transformation

“This is an output driven scheme, seeking to radically transform and extend the role the North Cotswold Line plays in meeting and stimulating sustainable population and economic growth across five counties stretching from the borders of Wales and the South Midlands to the western end of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc.”

Lord Faulkner of Worcester

Chair of North Cotswold Line Task Force

Select here to read the Strategic Outline Business Case.

Benefits

Supports

50,00 new homes

Adds

£33m GVA to the economy each year

Creates

750 new jobs

Sustains

Tourist economy 90 million visitors each year

Protects

Precious and internationally important rural environments

Scope and Case

Track Doubling

North Oxford-Hanborough
Evesham-Pershore

Stations

Two new platforms at Hanborough and Pershore

Cost

Circa £200 million

High Value for Money

More than £2 for every £1 spent

Improvements

Before 2030

Realising the potential of the North Cotswold Line

Frequent

  • 2 trains each hour
  • Worcester – Moreton-in-Marsh – Oxford – London Paddington
  • Regular hourly services
  • Great Malvern – Malvern Link and Pershore  – Honeybourne – London Paddington
  • Direct and connecting hourly services and Hereford – Oxford – London

Connected up to other developments

  • CrossCountry services: Worcestershire Parkway and Oxford
  • East West Rail at Oxford
  • Elizabeth Line/Crossrail at Reading
  • Heathrow at Reading

Faster

  • Hanborough – London  1 Hour
  • Worcester – London  < 2 Hours
  • Hereford – London  < 3 Hours

Kidderminster & Wyre Forest

  • New service each hour
  • Kidderminster – Droitwich Spa – London Paddington

Future

  • Stratford-Upon-Avon extension options from Oxford – Evesham – Worcester

Progressing Forward to Delivery

  • The ‘Strategic Outline Business Case’ (SOBC) was submitted to the government in January 2020
  • In autumn 2021, Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP supported the scheme moving to the ‘Outline Business Case’ (OBC) stage.
  • Funded by the Task Force local authorities, OBC work started in November 2021.  
  • Using the principles of Network Rail’s new ‘PACE’ process (Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment) the OBC is examining the swiftest, best value-for-money scheme delivery.