| Oxford and Rugby Railway | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Historical |
| Owner | Great Western Railway |
| Locale | South East England |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Type | Rural |
| System | Great Western Railway |
| Operator(s) | Great Western Railway |
| History | |
| Opened | 2 September 1850 (Oxford to Banbury) 1 October 1852 (to Knightcote) |
| Technical | |
| Line length | About 32 miles (51 km) |
| Number of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge (Dual gauge) |
The Oxford and Rugby Railway was promoted by the Great Western Railway as a means of connecting to the West Midlands and the north of England, by joining existing railways at Rugby. It was authorised in 1845, but the GWR soon decided to make its own line to Birmingham, and in 1846 it acquired the O&RR; work had not started on its construction. In the same year the GWR obtained an act of Parliament, the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway Act 1846, giving authorisation for its Birmingham line. The two railways were treated as a single project, to connect Birmingham and Oxford. In 1850 a single line was opened between Oxford and Banbury, and in 1852 the whole line to Birmingham was opened.
The line continues in use at the present day, as an important trunk route.