A spokesperson for Oxfordshire Railfreight Limited said the plans were “a response to the government’s ambitions to maximise the use of rail freight in the supply chain as well as to support economic investment, job creation and growth”.
“…we have undertaken an extensive environmental assessment process alongside consultation with statutory bodies and the public and have worked hard to ensure that the final form of the scheme appropriately manages and mitigates the effects of the scheme on the environment,” they added.
Plans for a new passenger station for Ardley have been announced by Oxfordshire County Council.
As part of a “pre-feasibility study”, the report found a stop on the existing Chiltern Main Line could “significantly enhance rail access for nearby communities currently reliant on road travel”.
Councillor Gareth Epps, cabinet member for transport, said it could also serve a “wider catchment area with appropriate infrastructure, mitigating the effects of wider proposed growth and transport changes”.
The council will look to see if a new station at Ardley, which could cost between £24m and £29m to build, should be added to the existing OxRail 2040 proposals, which includes new stops at Oxford Cowley, Oxford Littlemore, Begbroke and Wantage and Grove.
A possible location would be the site of the historic Ardley station and its sidings, which closed in 1963.