Stations
£161 million announced to transform Oxford station The government describes it as one of the inaugural projects under the Rail SPEED scheme, which aims to deliver rail projects quicker at lower costs
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The key changes include: The introduction of a new track and platform to be added alongside the existing platform 4, creating an island platform on the west side of the station; new western station entrance that will be built A next to Botley Road and will link up to the new platform via a subway, stairs and lift. The new entrance will make the station more accessible to people living to the west of the station, reducing walking time; I mprovements to the nearby road network and replacement of Botley Road bridge including the lowering of the road to enable standard doubledecker buses to pass underneath for the first time. The new bridge design will also include a four-metrewide cycle/footpath on each side to encourage sustainable transport and improve safety;
Image: Network Rail
xford station is set for a £161 million revamp, which will deliver quicker journeys, increased freight and passenger services and a new fully accessible entrance. The upgrades are due to be completed by 2024. Rail Minister Wendy Morton said: “This £161 million will truly transform the region, increasing the number of services for passengers, boosting economic growth by connecting people to new opportunities and increasing freight services between the South and Midlands.” educed journey times thanks to three new R crossovers, which allow trains to switch tracks at Oxford North Junction. Mike Gallop, Network Rail’s Western route and strategic operations director, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this significant amount of funding from the Department for Transport, which will enable us to make positive, substantial improvements to Oxford station and the railway for the benefit of our passengers and freight customers. “Oxford station has been near capacity and in need of a transformation for some time, which this funding will now make a reality. A new entrance, new additional track and platform, and improved accessibility will start to transform this station so that is fit for the 21st century and
significantly enhance capacity for increases in passenger numbers and future services such as East West Rail.” The upgrades will play a central role in boosting economic growth and opportunities in the local and surrounding areas and increasing freight services to the equivalent of about 500 lorries per day between Southampton Ports container hub, the Midlands and North West – increasing supply chain resilience while supporting the environment. Oxford station is one of the first projects delivered through the government’s new scheme SPEED (Swift, Pragmatic and Efficient Enhancement Delivery), which aims to halve the time it takes to complete a rail infrastructure project and slash the cost of project delivery, helping local areas to build back better through investment.
Mike SURVEY CONSULTANCY LTD Chartered Land and Engineering Surveyors
36 | Rail Director | September 2022
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