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Monday 5 Sep 2022

Rail passengers advised to check before using rail services to Oxford at weekends from 10 September to 2 October

Region & Route:

Wales & Western

| Wales & Western: Western

Network Rail is urging passengers to check before travelling and to plan ahead, with four consecutive weekends of disruption to train services due to start this weekend.

Over the following four weekends – 10 and 11, 17 and 18, 24 and 25 September, as well as 1 and 2 October – there will be no train services in or out of Oxford, between Didcot, Banbury and Hanborough.

During this time, there will be regular buses operating between Didcot Parkway, Oxford station, Oxford Parkway, Banbury and Hanborough. On 10, 11 and 18 September buses will also go onto Leamington Spa. Rail passengers will also be able to use their train tickets on the following local bus services:

• 2 between Kidlington, Oxford Parkway and Oxford (Stagecoach)
• 7 between Woodstock, Oxford Parkway and Oxford (Stagecoach)
• Connector X2 between Didcot and Oxford (Oxford Bus Company)
• City X3 between Abingdon, Didcot and Oxford (Oxford Bus Company)
• Connector X32 between Wantage, Didcot and Oxford (Oxford Bus Company)
• S3 between Charlbury, Oxford Parkway and Oxford (Stagecoach)
• S4 between Banbury and Oxford (Stagecoach)

Passengers wanting to travel directly between London and Oxford can use the Chiltern Railways service that operates between Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone. There will also be regular trains to Bicester from Oxford Parkway. A regular bus service will also be operating between Oxford Parkway and Oxford city centre. 

The industrial action announced for 15, 17, 26 and 27 September will also severely disrupt train services, with no services at all on some lines. Passengers should check with the relevant train operator before travelling.

Network Rail has been working closely with its train operator colleagues and partners including the city and county councils, universities, and businesses to ensure passengers are still able to get to their destinations and to help reduce disruption as much as possible.

Over the coming four weekends, Network Rail’s team of engineers will be working to on the railway to create three high-speed crossovers, allowing trains to switch tracks - at Oxford North Junction (between Walton Well Road and Aristotle Lane bridges). This is the first part of Network Rail’s  £161m redevelopment of Oxford station and railway that will see the station expanded with an additional platform and track, and a new western entrance. The three new high-speed crossovers will enable the additional train services for Oxford that are part of this plan.

All travel information and details of the plans for Oxford station can be found at networkrail.co.uk/oxfordphase2

Mike Gallop, Network Rail’s Western route and strategic operations director, said: “I’m sorry that we’re having to stop services into and out of Oxford over these four weekends. There is never a good time to close the railway, but we have to close it so that we can make the changes to the train track layout to enable more services and faster journeys.

“The work involved is too big to schedule over night when the railway is closed. This is far from ideal, but we’ve worked with train and bus operators to ensure alternative bus services are available including to Oxford Parkway where trains will still run between London and Oxford.

“I’d like to thank Oxford residents, businesses and passengers for their patience. This is brilliant, much needed rail investment for Oxford and we will work hard to minimise the disruption to roads around the station and rail services as we deliver the project.  

“We would like to ask anyone with family, friends or visitors who are planning on visiting Oxford during this time to please help us spread the word about this planned disruption and ask everyone planning on travelling by train over these weekends to go online, check and plan your journey using the bus and rail services that are operating.”

GWR Station Manager, Billy White, said: “We thank customers in advance for their patience as Network Rail commences work which is crucial to the wider redevelopment of Oxford station.

“No train services will operate in and out of Oxford over these four weekends. We will run a limited replacement bus service, but we expect these to be extremely busy, so we urge customers to consider alternative routes and allow extra time to make their journeys.

“The work taking place is an essential part of Network Rail’s plan to transform Oxford station and we look forward to welcoming our customers to a bigger, more welcoming station, befitting of a destination like Oxford.”

CrossCountry’s Regional Director, Huw Margetts, said: “It’s great to see the start of this important work at Oxford station.

“We are sorry for any disruption customers may experience while this first stage is completed and have worked hard to minimise its impact. However, when finished it will deliver a better and more reliable service for all rail users at Oxford.”

Eleni Jordan, Commercial and Customer Strategy Director at Chiltern Railways, said: “We will ensure that customers are well-informed about the short-term impact these significant improvements will have on their journeys. We apologise for any inconvenience caused while these works take place.

“The work that Network Rail are embarking on will enhance Chiltern's customer offering on services between Oxford, Bicester Village and London Marylebone with some trains benefitting from faster journeys. It will ensure that the station and railway are fit for purpose as passenger demand continues to increase post-pandemic.

“When complete, Chiltern customers at Oxford will be able to enjoy a station and railway with improved accessibility, facilities and capacity.”