Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership (OxCRP), under the same Community Interest Company as Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership, was launched in summer 2023 to support local communities and visitors alike to benefit from sustainable transport, following on from a feasibility study produced by Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership (GCRP) which was commissioned by Great Western Railway (GWR).  OxCRP's mission is to use the railway to improve the lives of people living in Oxfordshire while giving visitors to the county a high-quality welcome. 

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Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership focuses on improving access to opportunities in the county through grassroots community projects that empower local voice, support the local economy and work to combat climate change.  With a key focus on supporting diverse and less advantaged groups, OxCRP works with local communities and stakeholders, including station adoption groups, council members, researchers, and community centres, to develop rail-based solutions that address short-term needs and enable longer-term change.

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OxCRP’s core projects focus on encouraging hard-to-reach communities to access opportunities via rail, while encouraging new visitors to enjoy the county sustainably.  You can find out more at https://www.oxfordshirecommunityrail.org/.

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Hannah McDonnell, Executive Director of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership, said: 

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"We are delighted to be expanding our work, impact and reach through establishing the Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership. Ready to hit the ground running, our experienced and dedicated team will look closely at Oxfordshire’s specific needs to build and adapt our tried and tested approaches to supporting local people through transport and connectivity. We look forward to working with our new Oxfordshire partners and local communities.”

 

The partnership is pleased to have the support of Great Western Railway and Chiltern Railways and hopes to work with a wide range of local partners as it continues to grow.  

 

Zach Bailey, Stakeholder Manager for Chiltern Railways added:

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“Chiltern Railways is delighted to be joining the new Community Rail Partnership in Oxfordshire. This builds on our track record of effective community engagement across our network. We already have strong community links with stakeholders in the area, from our work with the Junior Citizens Trust on school education programmes, to collaborative partnerships with Bicester Village and Banbury Business Improvement District.

Our focus for this new partnership is to expand these activities to new areas of our network, providing volunteering and engagement opportunities for local people who share our goal of improving the look and feel of our stations for the benefit of the wider community."

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Emma Morris, Community Manager for Great Western Railway, said:

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"Throughout the GWR network, community rail partnerships play a leading role, bringing local people and communities together to add value to projects designed to improve services, and make stations safer, more welcoming and greener spaces. We welcome the commitment to this new partnership, and efforts to further improve access to transport links in Oxfordshire, in support of the local economy."

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If you have any questions about OxCRP contact us at info@oxcrp.org.uk 

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As part of the feasibility study, the Charlbury Walking Trail map (below) was produced. You can download this and more OxCRP resources at https://www.oxfordshirecommunityrail.org/