Network Rail explores plan to build railway from Northampton to Banbury

A railway line could potentially be built between Northampton and Bedford.

An early plan to open a railway line between Northampton and Banbury is being explored by Network Rail.

The railway provider is considering a "Northern Arc" to link north Oxfordshire (Banbury) with Northampton and Peterborough after studying which stations and towns in England lacked direct services.

However, the plan would likely mean constructing the link to Banbury from scratch and cut across rural South-West Northamptonshire.

Currently, travelling to Banbury by train from Northampton means transferring at Coventry.

Additionally, the idea is just one of 10 plans being investigated by Network Rail, who announced the "Northern Arc" at the England Economic Heartland strategy forum last month.

A report on the arc reads: "A rail corridor in the north of the region would make significant connectivity improvements to communities.

"It would reduce reliance on travel via the West and East Midlands; provide a rail alternative to the A43; improve access to places of high population growth not on the rail network, such as Daventry; provide Corby with more journey options; and provide a route into the West Midlands via Leamington Spa, avoiding Leicester."

Network Rail is now considering whether the route between Banbury and Northampton - or any of the other nine plans - will be economically viable.

It comes as the England Rail Transport Association is petitioning the borough council to investigate whether it could reopen a derelict line to Great Houghton and create a shuttle train from Northampton town centre to Brackmills.

Richard Pill, chairman of the English Rail Transport Association, said: "If Network Rail can commit in earnest to this and secure the grassroots support for their route then it has a chance.

"It's good they are thinking of this. The railway companies are starting to realise they need to have physical rails put back and offer people choices.

"They need to know the grassroots issues and that's where we come in. We can provide suggestions to help planner."