Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Here are some photos from yesterday; Oxford Station itself was having some trouble coping with all the traffic

Oxford station is stretched to the maximum on weekends these days, and that's with the 'new' gateline by platforms 1 and 2 and without the extra traffice that EWR^▸ (East West Railway (Oxford to Bedford), or possibly East Worthing station, depending on context) and the proposed hourly Bristol service will bring. 

My main concern is that the footbridge and lifts won't be adequate when platform 5 opens and more trains arrive and depart from platforms 4 or 5.  I have a feeling most people will use that route rather than the new western entrance.

Where were you standing to get that last photo?

I'm rather hoping he was standing (or sat) on a train. 

[IndustryInsider]

Here are some photos from yesterday; Oxford Station itself was having some trouble coping with all the traffic

Oxford station is stretched to the maximum on weekends these days, and that's with the 'new' gateline by platforms 1 and 2 and without the extra traffice that EWR^▸ (East West Railway (Oxford to Bedford), or possibly East Worthing station, depending on context) and the proposed hourly Bristol service will bring. 

My main concern is that the footbridge and lifts won't be adequate when platform 5 opens and more trains arrive and depart from platforms 4 or 5.  I have a feeling most people will use that route rather than the new western entrance.

Today was a bit challenging as platform 3 was closed to allow piling work for the new Botley Road bridge.

Where were you standing to get that last photo?

I'm rather hoping he was standing (or sat) on a train. 

Edit - to clarify quoting - Grahame

[stuving]

Network Rail has just issued (26 Sept) a tender for Oxford station phase 2d.  Value £0-40m subject to funding covering
Delivery 26 Oct 2026 to 31 Dec 2028

Network Rail wishes to procure the design & implementation of the following works at Oxford Railway Station.  -
-Platform 4 & 5 Works 
-Sheepwash Bridge Works 
-Western Entrance Building Works 
-Additional design & build scope may also be included.

Here is the tender notice. The description part includes a few warnings:

This procurement will be reviewed after PQQ stage for either onward continuation or termination.

These works are also subject to funding approval and participants must be aware of this aspect.

Proposed form of contract will be NEC4 NR24 terms and conditions with target cost method.

So while the list of works is the same as the original phase 2D from 2021 (2C was the road bridge), we still don't know if any of it is really under threat of cancellation (or deferral sine die).

[ChrisB]

Today was a bit challenging as platform 3 was closed to allow piling work for the new Botley Road bridge.

Just want to check that you didn't mean plat 4? That side is where the new span will fit, rather than the up side.

[ChrisB]

Network Rail has just issued (26 Sept) a tender for Oxford station phase 2d.  Value £0-40m subject to funding covering
Delivery 26 Oct 2026 to 31 Dec 2028

Network Rail wishes to procure the design & implementation of the following works at Oxford Railway Station.  -
-Platform 4 & 5 Works 
-Sheepwash Bridge Works 
-Western Entrance Building Works 
-Additional design & build scope may also be included.

Here is the tender notice.

I'm somewhat surprised that NR^» (Network Rail - home page) feel this project is suitable for -

Particular suitability
....
Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

[ChrisB]

It also appears there is an 8 day line closure starting 31st January 2026 to replace Botley bridge deck.

Not included in the quote - can you indicate where you have seen this info?

[grahame]

It also appears there is an 8 day line closure starting 31st January 2026 to replace Botley bridge deck.

Not included in the quote - can you indicate where you have seen this info?

They don't say what it's for ... but GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) tell us of Didcot to Oxford closure that week
https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/planned-engineering

Didcot Parkway to Oxford – Sun 1 to Sun 8 February

[Chris from Nailsea]

It's on the Network Rail website.

[stuving]

It also appears there is an 8 day line closure starting 31st January 2026 to replace Botley bridge deck.

Not included in the quote - can you indicate where you have seen this info?

There is also this from a presentation to the neighbours:

From 31st Jan to 9th Feb the railway lines crossing the existing Botley Road bridge will be closed. This allows the existing bridge to be removed and replaced with the three new spans. There will be c. 5 days, when access via Botley Road will be unavailable. An alternative route is proposed via the station for pedestrians and walked cycles. Consideration is being given to what provision will be given mopeds. A sub-working, working with key user groups is considering what mitigations are needed to support implementation, especially for people of reduced mobility.

[ChrisB]

That pedestrian route shown during that Jan/Feb closure will be across the tracks. With no trains running in the station, it'll be a safe route

[IndustryInsider]

Today was a bit challenging as platform 3 was closed to allow piling work for the new Botley Road bridge.

Just want to check that you didn't mean plat 4? That side is where the new span will fit, rather than the up side.

AFAIK^▸ ('as far as I know') there are three new spans.  A new one for the track towards platform 5, a replacement one for the current four tracks, and a third (on the up side) to provide passive provision for a future expansion of platform 1, if the main station building is replaced.

Also of course the old footpath underpass beneath the bridge is to be replaced by two pedestrial/cycle underpasses either side of the road and they will require retaining walls.

[stuving]

Today was a bit challenging as platform 3 was closed to allow piling work for the new Botley Road bridge.

Just want to check that you didn't mean plat 4? That side is where the new span will fit, rather than the up side.

AFAIK^▸ ('as far as I know') there are three new spans.  A new one for the track towards platform 5, a replacement one for the current four tracks, and a third (on the up side) to provide passive provision for a future expansion of platform 1, if the main station building is replaced.

Also of course the old footpath underpass beneath the bridge is to be replaced by two pedestrial/cycle underpasses either side of the road and they will require retaining walls.

There is a lot of this sort of detail in the Oxfordshire Connect presentation, and the paragraph I quoted does mention the three spans. It also says that the piling on the down side was done by 22nd September, and the up side piling should be over by 6th October. Those is all described as temporary piles. After that there will be some piles "installed across the track" - I'm not sure how, though maybe they will take up a short piece of track to get access - the line south is closed on these two days (16 & 23 November).

Grahame's pictures (4&7) show the northern abutment for the P5 span, and how it is a concrete box with the foot/cycle path through it. The one for the main span has also been slid in under the bridge. The other smaller one, on the east side, may be in place or may not yet (I've not seen a picture). I found a diagram of all three "tunnel abutments" and their piled supports (can't say if north or south) in the presentation, but can't link to it in the PDF so it is attached. They are cast on site and were/will be moved into place; the main bridge ones are quite big.

[Mark A]

This has an artists impression of the Botley Road rail bridge from the west, which makes it look far less grim than certain other pictures that have been circulating. Also it shows the box for the north side pedestrian route, which is possibly the one that Graham's caught in one of his photos.

Mark

https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordclarion.bsky.social/post/3lzxm2nvufk2r

[ray951]

Here are some photos from yesterday; Oxford Station itself was having some trouble coping with all the traffic

Oxford station is stretched to the maximum on weekends these days, and that's with the 'new' gateline by platforms 1 and 2 and without the extra traffice that EWR^▸ (East West Railway (Oxford to Bedford), or possibly East Worthing station, depending on context) and the proposed hourly Bristol service will bring. 

My main concern is that the footbridge and lifts won't be adequate when platform 5 opens and more trains arrive and depart from platforms 4 or 5.  I have a feeling most people will use that route rather than the new western entrance.

When the previous western entrance was open during peak times, it was frequently used by commuters as a quicker alternative to using the the bridge/lift, and exiting via the Platform 3 gate lines. Although the route via Botley Road bridge was narrow and not particularly pleasant, it still offered a faster route into Oxford, which made it a popular choice. Occasionally, tourists would use this entrance and then would appear confused and would often return to the main station area, likely due to unclear signage and the unwelcoming environment.

With the new entrance and significantly improved route along Botley Road, there’s a great opportunity to encourage widespread use. Clear and welcoming signage will be key to helping all users—commuters and visitors alike—navigate confidently and make the most of the enhanced access.

My only concern would be whether GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) will have enough staff to manage 3 exits, given that they occasionally don't have enough to manage 2.

[ChrisB]

The intention is to man both main exits and the 'extra' plat 1/2 exit at rush hours.

The original plans for the west side included escalators & lifts to plat 4/5 and a subway across to plat 3, but I suspect that part has been discontinued owing to cost of construction, leaving those needing accessible travel to plat 3 from the west side using the overbridge as now.