The Wantage & Grove Station Supporters group today had an exceptionally productive meeting mainly regarding economic benefits of Grove Parkway station. Called at the suggestion of Paul McSweeney in his role at Harwell campus and attended by Olly Glover MP, Andrew Holding of the Wantage & Grove Station Supporters Group and Richard Stow Chairman of Railfuture Thames Valley. Paul stressed the growth of Harwell 15,000 employees within the next five to ten years and that it was the centre of the science base for the Southeast and a new station would boost access for employees and investors as Didcot Parkway is not always being the best option for connectivity. Olly Glover MP Said he had spoken to Lord Sir Patrick Valance, minister of state for science, in his role on the transport select committee about the benefits of extending the Oxford Cambridge Arc corridor to Wantage & Grove and he was pleased to say that he found Lord Valance very receptive to his ideas. Richard Stow Chairman for Railfuture noted the project for a station has universal support and welcomed warmly the support from both Olly and Paul who realise the tremendous economic benefits a new station would give, coupled with the upgrade of transport through the Oxford corridor. Andy Holding thanked all those who attended and noted this transport scheme in particular gives huge economic benefits to not only the Wantage & Grove area but to the UK economy in general. It is hoped to have another meeting when the statement of business case is released for Wantage Station later this year, this is currently being undertaken on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council.
 

27 March 2025 Oxfordshire County Council has commissioned rail development, financing and delivery specialists SLC to produce a key document that will build the case for a new railway station in Wantage and Grove, a growing part of Oxfordshire that has been without a direct rail service since 1964.
After a competitive tendering process, SLC was selected to create the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for the proposed station. This document will look at its case across strategic, market, economic, and operational dimensions, taking into account the substantial population growth in the region in recent years. The SOC will also explore various options for delivering the station.
Ian Baxter, Director at SLC, said: “We’re excited to be appointed to this project, which aligns with our experience in early-stage feasibility work for new stations. We’ve been involved in designing, building and operating stations across Britain and are passionate about the positive economic and environmental impacts such projects have for local communities and regional connectivity.”
Oxfordshire County Council is leading on the promotion of the station and will be working closely with Network Rail, Great Western Railway (GWR) and Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils to progress any plans.
SLC will also be supported by AECOM on this work.

As of December 2025, Abingdon & Witney College support improved public transport services, to & from the proposed Wantage & Grove Station, and improved public transport bus services to & from their campus facilities.
Their facility at Abingdon employs 650 staff, educates c.800 apprentices, and c.8,000 part-time day & evening students.