PLANS to revamp Oxford Station have received a major boost after a railway chief pledged to make the £75m project 'a priority'.

Mark Langman, Network Rail's western managing director, said the city centre landmark was not fit for purpose and called for a 'visionary' scheme to replace it.

In an interview with the Oxford Mail, he said the station was 'slap bang' in the middle of the north-south and east-west rail networks but was not equipped to cope with booming passenger numbers.

  • Questions for Network Rail? Email them to us ahead of an exclusive Q&A with Mr Langman

There are plans to bulldoze the current 1970s building and replace it with state-of-the-art facilities, adding an extra platform, but efforts have stalled due to a lack of funding.

A 'masterplan' for the station's redevelopment was launched in 2014 but officials have struggled to secure cash for the scheme.

It would create a new station building with east, west and south entrances, increase the number of tracks from four to six and add a new bus interchange, twice as much bicycle parking, shops, offices, a hotel and housing.

Botley Road would also be widened to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Senior figures are now lobbying the Government to include the project in the next phase of works starting in 2019 and Mr Langman said he was an enthusiastic backer.

He said: "Oxford is an amazing place, not only as a city but also for its connectivity.

"Investment here is a very attractive proposition – it means more jobs and faster economic growth.

"We need to work with stakeholders to bring those plans to fruition and make sure we get funding, and it has to be more than just a ticket office.

"A railway station should be the shop window for the city it serves and it needs to make a statement.

"Rebuilding Oxford Station is a priority – this is a massive growth area and we have got to be able to cater for that."

Mr Langman's support is significant because Network Rail is currently drawing up proposals for work to be carried out from 2019 to 2024.

It will seek funding from the Department for Transport (DfT), which has become the focus of lobbying efforts by local politicians.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said a key stumbling block was the widening of Botley Road railway bridge to allow the number of tracks to be increased.

He said: "The bridge is crucial from an infrastructure point of view and opens up many possibilities.

"We think the DfT should be supportive of that, and they have previously said they would be prepared to fund it, but clearly ministers change and so we want to get things moving.

"There is a lot of commercial interest in the site and we could develop a partnership tomorrow – but clearly private investors do not want to fund something that is not a commercial part of the scheme."

Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, suggested some work on the station redevelopment could take place without the bridge works.

But he added: "It has got to be one package and the bridge work is essential.

"The potential for growth is clear – not just for Oxford but for the whole south east – and it would create a huge amount of jobs."

A DfT spokesperson said: "We are investing record amounts in our railways, including £5bn on the Great Western Route to improve journeys for people in Oxford.

"In addition, we are working constructively with Network Rail and local authorities to develop plans for Oxford station."

Passenger numbers at Oxford Station have more than doubled to 6.6 million a year since 1997, with even more growth expected.

Network Rail says it will be at 'saturation point' by 2019, as will the the Oxford North junction.

It has proposed increasing the number of tracks between Oxford and Didcot from two to four to meet demand and says an extra platform at Oxford would be essential.