Oxfordshire's ambitious rail and road plans are on track after experts told the Government to back them with £62m.

Under the £88m plans, two extra platforms would be built at Oxford rail station, bus lanes would be put in on the A34, along with sophisticated 'real time' traffic systems on the city's approach roads.

Yesterday the South East England Regional Assembly's transport board announced it was backing the schemes by recommending to the Government it should fund the bulk of the cost.

David Robertson, county council executive member for transport, said he would be "very surprised" if the proposals were not nodded through and said the money could mean exciting times ahead for Oxfordshire.

He said: "Oxfordshire has never seen this amount of money before. We are delighted.

"It recognises the scale of transport problems we have got and recognises we need the infrastructure to cope with the amount of housing which has been allocated to us."

The work would be carried out between 2011 and 2016 and would involve a range of improvements, including expanding and improving Oxford station.

Mr Robertson said this might involve another platform being built on the other side of Botley Road so that more express and through trains be accommodated. Improvements would also be made to the Didcot-Bicester line.

On the county's roads, the money would be spent improving access to Oxford from the north and south on the A34 and A44.

Mr Robertson said: "We are still in the process of fleshing out the details, but we have been looking at intelligent traffic systems which could give motorists real time information, telling them, for example, about availability of parking in Oxford.

"There are also other sophisticated systems which can ease congestion and make traffic flow smoother. We have already looked at doing this at the Wolvercote Roundabout."

The money is part of an £800m regional transport programme.

Oxfordshire was one of 16 authorities which the regional transport board has recommended receive the cash.

Mr Robertson added: "We met all of the criteria set out. Obviously now we have to make sure we do the work to get the plans in place so we can deliver for the motorists and users of public transport in Oxfordshire."

Leader of the county council Keith Mitchell said: "We are quietly confident of receiving the money, but we are not getting the contractors out with their bulldozers just yet.

"It's not money for tomorrow, but it would help us to sort some of Oxford's traffic and transport problems. It's all quite exciting."

Nick Skellett, chairman of the transport board, said: "The board agreed a multi-million pound transport package to be invested in much needed infrastructure in the South East.

"This is good news for every part of the region."

The Government is due to make a decision in the spring.