Green light to improve Oxford Railway Station

The Government confirmed it has awarded £78.6m to Network Rail to support the redevelopment of Oxford station and railway, helping provide a bigger and better station, more services for passengers and freight, and improved journey times for passengers in the future. 

The funding follows the granting of a Transport Works Act Order (TWAO) and will enable Network Rail to significantly transform Oxford station, the railway in Oxfordshire and nearby road network, boosting the number of passengers the station can serve, accommodating new services including freight and improving the accessibility of the station. 

The key changes include: 

• The introduction of a new track and platform to be added alongside the existing platform 4, creating an island platform on the west side of the station 
• A new western station entrance that will be built next to Botley Road and will link up to the new platform via a subway, stairs and lift. The new entrance will make the station more accessible to people living to the west of the station, reducing walking time. 
• Improvements to the nearby road network and replacement of Botley Road bridge including the lowering of the road to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time. The new bridge design will also include a four-metre-wide cycle/footpath on each side to encourage sustainable transport and improve safety 
• Reduced journey times thanks to three new crossovers, which allow trains to switch tracks at Oxford North Junction 

The track work to create three high-speed crossovers at Oxford North Junction will take place over four weekends in September and October. This will mean that there will be no services in or out of Oxford on 10 and 11, 17 and 18, and 24 and 25 September, as well as 1 and 2 October. 

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