A major transport boost for Oxford has been confirmed with the announcement that the Cowley Branch Line will officially reopen to passengers, and a campaign film produced by Bounce Video played a role in helping secure the approval.
The decision follows confirmation of a £155 million investment package to reopen the line, including £120 million of government funding and a further £35 million from local partners such as the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), ARC Oxford, Oxford Science Park and Oxfordshire councils. Two new stations, Oxford Cowley and Oxford Littlemore, will provide fast connections for communities in Cowley, Littlemore and Blackbird Leys to central Oxford and onward services to London. Under the current timetable, the two new stations are expected to open in 2029.
A film that helped make the case
Bounce Video was commissioned to produce a short film showcasing the economic, social and environmental benefits of reopening the line. The video brought together stakeholder interviews and visual storytelling highlighting how improved rail connectivity would support jobs, housing growth and sustainable travel. The film was used at events, on social media and in partner communications.
A project decades in the making
The reopening of the Cowley Branch Line has been under discussion for more than 20 years, with local leaders, transport groups and community organisations consistently calling for the line, which has been closed to passengers since the early 1960s, to be restored to public use. The project has progressed through numerous feasibility studies, business cases and funding rounds, and has now finally received approval. This milestone has been made possible through the tireless campaigning of Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds and the Leader of Oxford City Council, Susan Brown.
Part of a wider mission to drive the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor
The project is also part of the Government’s wider ambition to develop the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor, a strategic investment zone expected to boost the UK economy by £78 billion by 2035. Improved rail infrastructure in Oxford is central to unlocking that potential. The city is the number one university spinout generator in the UK, with recent breakthroughs in areas including quantum technology, life sciences and AI helping to fuel a rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem. By connecting homes, research centres and science parks more efficiently, the reopened Cowley Branch Line will help support the flow of talent, ideas and investment across the region.
Showing the power of industry and local government collaboration
The project also highlights how effective partnership between industry and local government can drive meaningful progress for Oxford. The city has recently launched a new initiative designed to strengthen this cross-sector collaboration and support long-term growth. Equitable Innovation Oxford (Equinox) is an initiative that brings together industry, universities, local government and the community to accelerate innovation-driven growth in Oxford. Launched on 10 November by Vice-Chancellor Irene Tracey, Equinox reflects Oxford’s ambition to deliver more outcomes like the Cowley Branch Line, while also increasing investment and ensuring that the benefits of innovation are felt across the local community.
Bounce Video Director Grace Gibbons said:
“This project carries huge significance for Oxford’s future, and it has been a privilege to help communicate that story. It is fantastic to see the film contribute to such a positive outcome for the city. As a company that specialises in the innovation sector, this was an exciting project to be involved in, but as someone who grew up in Oxford, it also means a great deal to me personally to see our wonderful city growing, evolving and standing as a beacon of hope for the UK in uncertain times.”
Image credits: Cowley Branch Line announcement press shot courtesy of Network Rail and artist’s impression of the new station courtesy of Oxford City Council.