New Oxford - Bristol direct service, ongoing developments and discussion

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Given some of the five car London Paddington-Oxford services have a lengthy layover at Oxford I was wondering if there is some scope for inter-working. 

I assume it’s not possible to arrive and go back from Oxford without the time consuming trip to the sidings and return. 

[ChrisB]

All through platforms are bi-di....

[IndustryInsider]

Given some of the five car London Paddington-Oxford services have a lengthy layover at Oxford I was wondering if there is some scope for inter-working. 

It's possible, but largely depends on the timings.  If, for example, they stick with an xx:03 departure time from Oxford (as per the Saturday trials) then that wouldn't work as it stands, but if they went with an xx:33 it might.  However, the negatives to doing that are that not all of them are 5-cars (especially at weekends) and they arrive from London as DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) whereas the Bristol services will need a TM^▸ (Train Manager, or Ticket Machine, or Temple Meads (Bristol), depending on context), so you start to create problems getting staff in position.

I assume it’s not possible to arrive and go back from Oxford without the time consuming trip to the sidings and return.

As Chris says, no need to go to the sidings, though until Platform 5 opens (a couple of years away still, even if being optimistic), there's very little time before the next service is due into either of the through platforms.  I would images, as per the current Saturday trial services, most will arrive on Platform 4, shunt to Down Carriage Siding 3, and then return to depart from Platform 4.  A late arrival might mean that the train can be kept in the platform.

[grahame]

Wobble.   Hope not too many people got directed away.

10:18 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 11:27
12:02 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 13:13

12:02 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 13:13 will be reinstated and will now run as scheduled.
Last Updated:11/04/2026 08:23

[grahame]

10:18 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 11:27

10:18 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 11:27 will be reinstated.

This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 5. First class not available. Catering is not available. There are no reservations on this service.

[IndustryInsider]

The new Oxford<>Bristol service is still awaiting sign off from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) AIUI^▸ ('as I understand it') - so the timings aren't in RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) or anywhere public yet.  But this is the very likely weekday timings and headcodes assuming it does...though they are leaving it late to start in May, so perhaps it will be later in the summer?

Ones in BOLD I am pretty certain about, the ones in Italics involved a little bit of guesswork!  Note the headcodes jumping in increments of four, i.e. 1N51 then 1N55, which is to allow the hourly service to be slotted in next year, so there would be a 1N53 at around 08:00 from Oxford to Bristol for example - keeping odd numbers for services to Bristol and even numbers for services to Oxford.

07:00 OXF^▸ (Oxford station)-BRI^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (that is the formal station code - see also BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative))), or Bristol Royal Infirmary (hospital), depending on context) (08:20) - 1N51
09:xx OXF-BRI (10:xx) - 1N55
11:03 OXF-BRI (12:13) - 1N59
13:03 OXF-BRI (14:15) - 1N63
15:04 OXF-BRI (16:13) - 1N67
17:00 OXF-BRI (18:18) - 1N71
19:04 OXF-BRI (20:16) - 1N75
21:xx OXF-BRI (22:xx) - 1N79

07:xx BRI-OXF (08:xx) - 1N52
09:08 BRI-OXF (10:25) - 1N56
11:xx BRI-OXF (12:xx) - 1N60
13:09 BRI-OXF (14:29) - 1N64 (via Bristol Parkway?)
15:16 BRI-OXF (16:30) - 1N68
17:12 BRI-OXF (18:29) - 1N72
19:15 BRI-OXF (20:32) - 1N76
21:10 BRI-OXF (22:27) - 1N80

[bobm]

I was checking RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) earlier to see if there was any sign of them.  As II^▸ (IndustryInsider - a respected member of this forum) says they have yet to appear.

However on the 13th June (a Saturday) there are trips from Bristol to Oxford and back.

Also on both that day and the previous week, there is a through service from Exeter St Davids to Oxford.

RTT has been known to produce false alarms but this is puzzling.

[Bob_Blakey]

The through EXD^▸ (Exeter St Davids station ) > OXF^▸ (Oxford station) service, which is part of a Stoke Gifford > BRI^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (that is the formal station code - see also BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads station (strictly, it should be BRI) but BTM is a commonly used alternative))), or Bristol Royal Infirmary (hospital), depending on context) > EXD > BRI >TAU^▸ (Taunton station) > BRI > EXD > OXF > Stoke Gifford diagram, appears to be due to a temporary recasting of the normal Saturday timetable consequent upon the 23/05 to 08/06 Severn Tunnel closure. The normal EXD <> CDF^▸ (Cardiff Central station) Saturday services restart on 13th June.

At least that is according to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website)!

[IndustryInsider]

However on the 13th June (a Saturday) there are trips from Bristol to Oxford and back.

And, interestingly, they are on the alternative hour to the proposed weekday service (with the different headcodes).  So, perhaps that's how the Saturday service will shape up?

[ChrisB]

Rich Wilcox has tweeted/x'd -

The ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) has approved GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s bid to run two-hourly Weekday and Saturday services from Bristol to Oxford.

However, Network Rail has to implement risk measures at 13 level crossings before any GWR services can start

This only for a trial period - to end 2027 & ORR is quite clear that a "strong presumption of continuation of rights does NOT apply"

Suspect that level crossing work will delay the service starting....

[ray951]

Rich Wilcox has tweeted/x'd -

The ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) has approved GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s bid to run two-hourly Weekday and Saturday services from Bristol to Oxford.

However, Network Rail has to implement risk measures at 13 level crossings before any GWR services can start

This only for a trial period - to end 2027 & ORR is quite clear that a "strong presumption of continuation of rights does NOT apply"

Suspect that level crossing work will delay the service starting....

And they wonder why the railways cost so much to run.

[bobm]

Given those crossings were flagged in paragraph 12 of this document a year ago, I wonder how far that work has got.

https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-11/gwr-ltd-s22a-301st-sa-network-rail-representations.pdf

[ellendune]

Rich Wilcox has tweeted/x'd -

The ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) has approved GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s bid to run two-hourly Weekday and Saturday services from Bristol to Oxford.

However, Network Rail has to implement risk measures at 13 level crossings before any GWR services can start

This only for a trial period - to end 2027 & ORR is quite clear that a "strong presumption of continuation of rights does NOT apply"

Suspect that level crossing work will delay the service starting....

By 2027 we can expect that GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) will determine whether these services continue not ORR.

[TaplowGreen]

From where will the additional rolling stock and crews be found to run these services without shortforming/cancelling others?

[grahame]

From where will the additional rolling stock and crews be found to run these services without shortforming/cancelling others?

175s in Cornwall cascading some IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)).   Who knows - Hungerford / Kintbury / Bedwyn may get back their hourly London train.   Not sure on crews - perhaps staff will feel patriotic and be prepared to do more overtime if they're working for the nation.