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Friday 19 Jul 2024

Passengers in and around Oxford reminded to check before they travel ahead of vital railway upgrades

Region & Route:

Wales & Western

| Wales & Western: Western

Crucial railway engineering work is taking place to the north and south of Oxford at the end of July, while the station expansion scheme also continues with platform construction and signalling.

On Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July Network Rail is replacing a section of track to the south of Oxford. Work at Culham, on the line between Oxford and Didcot Parkway, will replace around 350 metres of track, comprising four long rails, 550 sleepers and 1,620 tonnes of ballast.

At the same time, with the railway closed for the track work at Culham, the Oxfordshire Connect station expansion programme is continuing preparations for the construction of the new platform for the station.

The teams will be installing cable route ducting and drainage, and removing an access ramp on platform 3 that will become redundant.

To the north of Oxford, work is taking place between Bicester and Leamington Spa, with various projects underway between Saturday 27 and Wednesday 31 July. This includes:

• Replacing a railway bridge spanning the River Cherwell near Banbury
• 500 metres of railway upgrades, including replacing sections of track and drainage north of Banbury Station

More information about these improvements which will also affect Chiltern Railways journeys on Sunday 21 July can be found here.

Network Rail lead portfolio manager Mark Parker said: “Throughout the weekend there will be a hive of activity with a mixture of crucial maintenance and upgrades to enhance the railway for the future taking place side by side in and around Oxford Station.

“To the north of Oxford, a broad range of work is taking place over a five-day period. Passengers are advised to check before they travel while we carry out this essential work.”

GWR station manager for Oxford Billy White said: “We would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience while this essential works takes place.

“Buses will replace trains between Didcot and Oxford on Saturday and Sunday, and we would urge customers to check their journeys before travelling.

“I would like to thank those in advance for their patience while this work is conducted.”