Great Western Coffee Shop

I note the diggers and workers compounds are now on site and work has started on this most welcome expansion.

Small reduction in spaces whilst the work is done but the car park is slightly quieter over summer, so that hopefully won't cause too many headaches.

Attended a Railfuture meeting in Reading this evening where the speaker Tom Pierpoint, one of GWR's Route Development Managers.

In his presentation he stated the car park at Kingham had seen a 60-70% increase in usage in the first six weeks the extension has been available.

Jane at Charlbury station said last week that she'd not noticed any reduction in passengers since Oxford Parkway opened, and evidently Kingham's keeping busy too (which is unsurprising). Any reports on how Hanborough has been affected?

I'm ashamed to say a figure was quoted but I don't remember it - but it was up.

I'll see if I can find out.

Wot? And I was sure the closure notices would have been out for the stations by now, having followed btline's predictions for some years now. 

Hanborough is well up, can't remember the exact figure Tom P gave CLPG a few weeks back.

As forecast, no one wants to tackle the A40/Oxford roundabouts in rush hour to get to the Parkway station. BTLine was wrong again.

I've just been reminded that the current numbers are listed in a recent housing planning application at Hanborough - some 240,000

Does anyone know when the new bridge will be finished?

Welcome to the forum, Philip.

I think I heard that lifts were being installed next year sometime, so perhaps the old bridge will be kept in use until then?  Perhaps one of our posters with connections to the CLPG might know more?

I've heard a rumour that there are funding issues with the planned installation of the lifts on the new bridge.  Work seems to have pretty much stopped recently meaning the footbridge isn't quite finished and temporary lights still illuminate the car park extension, suggesting there are currently some issues.

I can expand on this -

The electricity supply to the car park is going in on Tuesday (tomorrow). The temporary lights will then be removed.

The new overbridge is awaiting a handrail fitting in a couple of weeks & the old bridge will then be demolished. The lifts are a Network Rail funded second stage part of the project.

New car park and footbridge officially opened:

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14311060.New_parking_spaces_at_footbridge_unveiled_at_Kingham_railway_station/

Details regarding the lift still much more sketchy!

Network Rail need to find the money....

The old bridge has already been removed.