Plans for a rail freight park in Oxfordshire are back on the agenda. A new public consultation on proposals for the large new warehouse and rail freight development has been brought forward. A Channel Islands based company, Oxfordshire Railfreight Limited (ORL), is proposing a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) on land situated immediately south and adjacent to the Chiltern Main Line (London to Oxford). ORL is proposing to develop land south-west of a major motorway, and east of a former military air base.
The site is potentially important to industry and exporters in Oxford and is also not far from the East Midlands, generally regarded as the ‘Golden Triangle’ for UK logistics operators. If approved, the site would be developed by Mountpark, a developer with a proven track record of delivering logistics facilities across the UK, Ireland, and Europe.
Create an attractive working environment
The proposal for a rail freight facility was first announced in 2022. It would form part of a new logistics park near Bicester, convenient for the new East West Rail project, which is currently under construction. That line, which will eventually connect Oxford with Cambridge, has already carried some freight traffic. The prospect of a new rail freight park within a few miles of the line would be attractive to operators and help satisfy UK government-backed demands for increased rail freight operations.
RailFreight.com has been following the development for over three years, since it was first proposed.“The vision for the draft proposals is to provide a new, high-quality rail freight interchange which supports a more sustainable economy, and creates an attractive working environment,” said the promoters, Oxfordshire Railfreight Limited. “The proposals respond to the recognised need to create a network of SRFIs throughout the country as part of the Government’s ambition for more freight to be moved by rail to help create a low-carbon, sustainable transport system.”
Government shift of emphasis
The project has moved forward and advanced to a statutory consideration period. The scale of the development had brought some local opposition. The highways and transport mitigation works are complex and costly, and ORL has previously paused work to review those aspects. However, if the project passes the planning approval process, Mountpark is primed to begin work.
“The UK Government’s new Modern Industrial Strategy Policy Paper, published in June 2025, sets out a bold, 10-year vision for economic renewal,” says a Mountpark statement – although, as reported here, rail freight is somewhat overlooked. The company says that there is a shift of emphasis within government, heightening the importance of the sector, and raising awareness of rail freight as an economic driver in its own right.
“Within the paper, logistics is no longer seen as a background enabler,” says the Mountpark statement. “It’s recognised as a strategic growth sector, vital to productivity, infrastructure resilience, and regional development. For Mountpark, this is a welcome shift, reinforcing the relevance of its long-term development strategy and pivotal role in delivering the infrastructure the UK needs to grow.”