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Friday 19 Apr 2013

Masterplanners appointed for the proposed redevelopment of Oxford station

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Leading international design consultants, Aedas, have been appointed to develop a number of options for the proposed redevelopment of Oxford station.

In a joint project, Network Rail, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have commissioned the masterplanners to look at what improvements could be made to enhance the station, which is managed by First Great Western, and the surrounding area.

Aedas will look at the wider station area including the forecourt and transport interchange, Becket Street car park, Roger Dudman Way and the Botley Road bridge area. They will also consider how proposed options would link in with the county council's Frideswide Square development.

The latest figures released by the Office for Rail Regulation show that 6.3m people used the station in 2011/12 compared to 5.8m in 2010/11. Over the next few years, a huge programme of investment is planned for the railway in and around Oxford including electrification, resignalling and the opening of new rail routes, which will provide a bigger and better railway including new journey opportunities for passengers.

Patrick Hallgate, Network Rail route managing director, said: "The next few years will see continuous improvement on the railway in and around Oxford as Network Rail delivers a programme of electrification and signalling upgrades to pave the way for new, more reliable trains. Our aspiration is to have a station that will provide better facilities to accommodate future passenger and freight traffic and help to boost economic growth in the region."

Oxfordshire County Council’s director for environment and economy, Huw Jones, said: "Oxford station is a key hub in Oxfordshire’s transport system. This masterplanning work is an important step forward in our ambition to transform the experience in the western part of the city. The work will ensure that the new station will form a truly inspirational gateway to the city, one that complements our planned investment in Frideswide Square. It forms part a key part of a comprehensive and co-ordinated package of improvements that will support economic growth in Oxfordshire.”

David Edwards, Oxford City Council's executive director of city regeneration, said: "Oxford is a world-class city which needs a station to match, however with passenger numbers having more than doubled in the last fifteen years the current station is in need of significant upgrading. Oxford City Council is working with Network Rail and Oxfordshire County Council to prepare a masterplan which will outline the long-term vision for the station taking into account all rail proposals, such as electrification and the East-West Rail link. Appointing Aedas to drive this work forward is an important milestone in delivering our aspiration of a world-class station for Oxford."

Mike Hogg, First Great Western’s acting projects and planning director,said: "It is clear that rail travel to and from Oxford is becoming more and more popular, with an eight per cent rise in passenger numbers over the past year alone. Along with the local councils and Network Rail, we are now engaged in putting together the case for an improved station of a size and stature to handle the increased customer numbers we expect following electrification and the introduction of new services and routes."

Aedas director, Karle Burford, said: “We are delighted to be part of the team that will work on the station masterplan and the approach into the city. Oxford is one of the UK’s most important places and deserves a station and an entrance into the city to match. The new designs will improve operations, increase capacity and create a modern approach to enhance the overall impression upon arrival.”

The proposed redevelopment of Oxford station is at an early stage and funding for this scheme has not yet been identified. The proposals for the station area will be subject to third party funding and are expected to complement other proposed rail improvements.

Network Rail submitted its plan for the railway between 2014-2019 to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in January 2013, which includes proposals for rail improvements at Oxford to increase track capacity and to meet future demand. In October 2013, the Office of Rail Regulation will publish its decision on Network Rail's proposals.

Aedas is expected to unveil a number of proposed options for the station later in the year, which will then be evaluated by Network Rail, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and First Great Western to decide what plan is most suitable to be developed further.