Media centre

Thursday 8 Apr 2010

NEW PLATFORM AND STATION LINK FOR OXFORD - HAVE YOUR SAY

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail and Oxfordshire County Council have launched a public consultation on their plans for a new platform at Oxford station.

The proposed enhancements would meet increasing demand for rail travel, and are an important part of Oxfordshire County Council’s aim to make the city more accessible by train as part of its wider Access to Oxford project.

Central to the proposed improvements are Network Rail’s aspirations to create a new bay platform at Oxford station. This would be located on part of the long-stay car park in Becket Street and used by trains terminating at Oxford from the south. It would increase capacity and improve reliability by freeing up the existing platforms for through-services.

Pedestrian and cycle bridge
The new platform would be linked to the existing station site by a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over Botley Road. The bridge would replace the existing footbridge to the car park. It would be larger, covered and lit and provide a seamless link between the new platform and the existing station.

The bridge would be split along the middle with one side allowing ticket holders to access the new platform from the end of Platform 1 and the other side available for the public to cross Botley Road to get to and from the car park. The design and architecture would act as a ‘gateway’ to Oxford from the west.

Chris Rayner, Network Rail route director, said: “Oxford station is a vital transport hub handling almost five million passengers each year. If we’re to continue to provide the level of service that rail users expect and deserve then important changes need to be made.

"Our plans for a new platform and the accompanying new pedestrian link will make a lasting difference to passengers in Oxford and pave the way for further improvements at the station in the coming years.”

Oxfordshire County Council's director for environment and economy, Huw Jones, said: "We are very excited about this project and looking forward to hearing what people think about the plans.

"The possibility of expanding Oxford station and improving the experience for all those who travel to and from the city by train, has been a subject of conversation for some time, and we are now at the stage where it could become a reality."

Exhibition
An exhibition of the plans will be on display in the concourse at Oxford station between 1st and 26th April with opportunities available for people to comment on the plans. Comments can also be made online at the county council's consultation portal: http://myconsultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Following consultation the plans will be refined and submitted to the City Council for approval in the summer. Subject to securing funding, it is envisaged that both the platform and bridge could be operational in early 2012.