Oxford station - facilities, improvements, parking, incidents and events - merged posts

[whole diary]

[bobm]

When it opened the station was in Berkshire and although it moved into Oxfordshire in the 1880s it was still close to the border until 1974.

[stuving]

Last August, the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study got a name check in a post in this thread, but that's the only reference I can find to it. There is a thread with "Oxford Rail Corridor" in its title, but that's about the track rebuild around Oxford station.

I can't find the report of that study either. It came out in January 2020, possibly followed by a consultation of some kind, but the only things I get on line are references in other bodies' minutes or plans, like this from South Oxfordshire. that implies that the Growth Board is hosting it ... but all I can pickup there is this, in a spreadsheet plan:

Cowley Branch Line

Growth Deal funding will contribute towards complementary development work including a nine-day survey and risk assessment of the level crossings, signal sighting assessments, an assessment of structures and ground investigations for a new bridge span over the river near Oxpens. Initial output definition work for the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study has proven that it is technically feasible to reintroduce passenger trains on this freight-only branch line.

The second stage of the Study is now nearing completion with Network Rail identifying likely estimated costs for infrastructure upgrades on the main line south of Oxford station needed to provide extra capacity for an increase in train services, including those that will serve Cowley. A package of further technical work has been agreed to provide more certainty on requirements and a better level of cost maturity, and includes track and signalling design between Kennington and Cowley, analysing topographical survey data and trackbed investigations for new tracks on the branch and over key structures. Outline station design and master planning is also planned to define the type of station, the range of facilities and the land required for each of the new stations to ensure they integrate with the communities they serve and prioritise active travel.

That's dated February 2021, so this Stage 2 appears to follow from the allegedly published study. Finally, what set this off was the following from TransportXtra:

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) is understood to have authorised design work to commence on a programme of rail infrastructure enhancements in and around Oxford.

The proposals have been recommended in the stage two report of the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study for the DfT, Network Rail, councils and England’s Economic Heartland.

Stage one of the study, which reported last January, set out aspirations for additional services through Oxford, including extending East West Rail services to Didcot and, in the...

That was dated 6th April 2021, but I see no other news on it. So how does it fit in? Has this lot of studiers been talking to the ones on the North Cotswold Line? 

[IndustryInsider]

Who knows?  Well, somebody does, but not me!

I miss the Network Rail Control Period enhancements updates we used to get.  Everything seems much more hidden away now.

The driving force might well be East-West Rail as that can’t arrive at Oxford in 2025, assuming no more delays, without further improvements - most importantly platform 5.  Plans are fairly advanced on that, I’ve seen some of them.

How the Cowley branch, Oxford to Didcot capacity, new stations and further Cotswold Line improvement fit into all that, and how many spanner’s the pandemic has thrown into the works, is anyone’s guess!

[ray951]

Good news and looks like it is finally happening, Oxford Station is to be expanded.
https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/boost-to-oxford-rail-travel-following-gbp-69m-funding-confirmation

New Western Entrance
New platform
Extra Tracks

No mention of electrification but look at the artists impression.

[stuving]

Now, hold on there ... what has been announced (and I can't find it from DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) is:

The funding will progress the next stage of development work ...

and then ...

As part of the plans the road network will also be improved near to the station as Botley Road bridge will be replaced and the road lowered to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time. As part of the new design, a four-metre wide cycle/footpath will also be installed on each side to encourage sustainable transport and improve safety.
...
Early consultations about the proposals have taken place with local residents ahead of the plans being formally submitted to Oxford City Council. Further funding is required for the full implementation of the scheme and the Full Business Case for the project will be submitted to DfT later this year, with a decision on final funding expected in spring 2022.

But it is a big step along the way.

[Oxonhutch]

That deepened road bridge is going to need a reliable set of pumps for when the Isis tops her banks.

[ray951]

Now, hold on there ... what has been announced (and I can't find it from DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) is:

The funding will progress the next stage of development work ...

and then ...

As part of the plans the road network will also be improved near to the station as Botley Road bridge will be replaced and the road lowered to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time. As part of the new design, a four-metre wide cycle/footpath will also be installed on each side to encourage sustainable transport and improve safety.
...
Early consultations about the proposals have taken place with local residents ahead of the plans being formally submitted to Oxford City Council. Further funding is required for the full implementation of the scheme and the Full Business Case for the project will be submitted to DfT later this year, with a decision on final funding expected in spring 2022.

But it is a big step along the way.

Sorry I was so surprised by the annoucement that I missed that 

But also it says 'Botley Road bridge will be replaced and the road lowered to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time' but last time I looked standard double-decker buses already go under the bridge.
And there is already a western entrance although it is only open during peak hours.

[stuving]

But also it says 'Botley Road bridge will be replaced and the road lowered to enable standard double-decker buses to pass underneath for the first time' but last time I looked standard double-decker buses already go under the bridge.

There's several standard heights for buses. Two of the commonest are "full" at 4.4 m and "low" at 4.2 m. The bridge is plated at 4.0 m (13'0"), so what goes under it now must be an even lower sort of standard.

[paul7575]

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) version of this announcement doesn’t even mention the word Oxford. For some reason they are spinning it as a Southampton to Midlands freight solution. 

“…and £69 million of improvements to increase freight capacity between the Port of Southampton and the Midlands will boost economic growth.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/401-million-investment-into-upgrades-to-deliver-brighter-rail-future

Paul

[stuving]

This is an unusually long-running thread on the same topic, and there are some previous plans for the station rebuild in it. There was a public engagement exercise earlier this year, presenting the latest version of what Network Rail think they are going to do. It looks as if today's announcement does start that Phase 2 programme as described there, even if the postal order sent to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) will need to be followed by some much bigger ones.

There is a presentation as a PDF, and a video of it as given at the "virtual public meeting".

[stuving]

And, for those who think there's a problem with finding a suitable road profile under the new bridge and into Frideswide Square, here's how that was done. Could it have been done just as easily by drawing it on paper (real or virtual)? I imagine so, but that wouldn't have made a video, would it?

[didcotdean]

The Oxford Rail Corridor study has been published, at least in part on the Network Rail Site. Press release here and summary here and more detail here. Have to wonder though if it has been overtaken by recent events since much of the background appears to be based on the situation in and foreseen from 2018.

[ChrisB]

The Transport for Works Order is expected to be signed off before the summer & application to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) for funding soon after..

[IndustryInsider]

The Transport for Works Order is expected to be signed off before the summer & application to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) for funding soon after..

Announced that Kier has won the contract for that (GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) 5) part of the project:

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/kier-wins-enabling-works-on-oxford-station-upgrade-16-03-2022/

[paul7575]

Can someone remind me, is the present track layout already designed for the addition of P5, so in principle altering the track and signalling should be a relatively straightforward job?

It will presumably be the Botley Rd bridge and new subway that’s the most significant in terms of possessions?

Paul