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Monday 2 Nov 2026

Oxford station masterplanner announced to design new gateway to the city

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Great Western

· Network Rail appoints architects and masterplanners Hawkins\Brown with 5th Studio to design a long-term solution for Oxford station

· Alongside the committed new western entrance, the vision would also include a new main eastern entrance and improved onward transport links, with facilities designed to cater for future growth

· Station to be readied for East-West Rail, and the Oxford Cambridge Growth Corridor

Passengers travelling through Oxford station could benefit from new entrances, better onward travel connections and a station designed to handle the city's rapid growth, as Network Rail appoints a masterplanning team led by Hawkins\Brown, in collaboration with 5th Studio.

Oxford station already sees over 8m passengers travel through the station a year and 24,000 customers daily. With peak passenger demand forecast to double by 2036, driven by East West Rail, services to Cowley and Bristol and a growing customer base, a new future is needed for the city’s main transport hub.

The masterplan will be led by Network Rail in collaboration with Network Rail’s property development company, Platform4 working closely with both Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. It will take a transport-first approach considering the growing rail demand and interchange requirements, alongside delivering supporting development.

The brief for the new masterplan prioritises three things: a high-quality station ready for future growth; new entrances providing a welcoming gateway to the city; and improved transport solutions for onward travel.

Together, Hawkins\Brown and 5th Studio bring extensive experience to the project, through their work on regional interchanges such as Stratford, Bury and Solihull and major infrastructure projects that include St Pancras International, the Elizabeth Line and East West Rail.

Following a detailed review of future capacity, including how the station and its wider transport links are used by visitors and the community, the team will undertake a programme of public and stakeholder engagement.

This masterplan supports the government's Plan for Change mission to rebuild Britain and improve the infrastructure that people rely on every day.

Tom Pierpoint, Industry Programme Director, Network Rail and Great Western Railway said:

“Oxford station is a vital transport interchange for both the city and the wider region, and it needs to be ready for the growth that's coming. Appointing Hawkins\Brown marks an important step in shaping a long-term vision for the station, one that improves the experience for customers while creating the capacity and connectivity we'll need as demand grows. We're looking forward to working closely with the local community and stakeholders to get this right.”

Andrew Ferguson, Interim Chief Executive for Platform4 added:

“This is an exciting opportunity to reimagine what Oxford station can be, not just as a transport hub, but as a genuine gateway to the city. Alongside improving the customer experience, there is an opportunity to explore how the surrounding land can support both the local economy and the city’s growth.”

Hawkins\Brown Associate Director Anthony Lazarus said:

“The passenger experience of Oxford station is not as welcoming as it could be as it deals with increasing demand. We look forward to simultaneously thinking wide and in the detail to transform this key transport interchange at the heart of Oxford’s West End.”

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, said:

"Oxford station is our city’s most important gateway and as we continue to grow, it is important that it evolves to support the inevitable growth in numbers of people using it, including passengers for the reopened Cowley Branch Line. This will help to strengthen the local economy by providing easier access to employment and provides a positive first impression of Oxford. Appointing Hawkins/Brown to lead the station masterplanning is an exciting step in that journey.”

Cllr Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said:

“As a part of the delivery of the county's OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail, we are seeing great improvements in services from Oxford, with new and higher frequency services along with additional and modern trains being progressed. The redevelopment of the station is a key priority and desperately needed to provide better facilities and capacity for the people of Oxfordshire – as is providing seamless integration with buses and cycling but also being a key transport hub and gateway to the city.”

Neale Coleman, Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission, added:

“More investment and capacity at Oxford Station is vital not just for the city and the ambitious plans for its West End but also to enable new, enhanced and more frequent services across the rest of Oxfordshire. Getting the station and its connections with bus services right is a necessary condition for all that and for ensuring economic and housing growth is truly sustainable with the prospect of better public transport for all.”

ENDS