During the next four weekends until 1st and 2nd October, Oxford station will be closed and there will be no train services between Oxford and Didcot, Banbury, and Hanborough.

On the weekends of 10th/11th, 17th/18th, 24th/25th September, and 1st/2nd October, there will be regular buses operating between Didcot Parkway, Oxford station, Oxford Parkway, Banbury, and Hanborough.

On Saturday 10, and Sundays 11th and 18 September buses will be extended to Leamington Spa.

Train tickets will be accepted on the following local bus services:

Stagecoach

• 2 between Kidlington, Oxford Parkway and Oxford
• 7 between Woodstock, Oxford Parkway, and Oxford
• S3 between Charlbury, Oxford Parkway, and Oxford
• S4 between Banbury and Oxford

Oxford Bus Company

• Connector X2 between Didcot and Oxford
• City X3 between Abingdon, Didcot, and Oxford
• Connector X32 between Wantage, Didcot, and Oxford

Chiltern Railways will continue to provide direct services between Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone, and from Bicester to Oxford Parkway. A regular bus service will also operate between Oxford Parkway and Oxford city centre.

The closures are necessary as Network Rail engineers will be working on the railway to create three high-speed crossovers at Oxford North Junction, which is between Walton Well Road and Aristotle Lane bridges. This is the first part of a £161m redevelopment of Oxford station that will see it expanded with an additional platform and track, a new western entrance, and the provision of additional train services for Oxford.

Travel information during the closure and details of the plans for Oxford station can be found at networkrail.co.uk/oxfordphase2

The new crossovers will enable the additional train services for Oxford that are part of this plan.

Train services will also be disrupted by industrial action due to take place on 15th, 17th, 26th, and 27 September, with no services at all on some lines. Passengers should check with their train operator before travelling.

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 overnight 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.”