Oxford Corridor Phase 2 & Platform 5 updates

[takno]

Interesting you should notice that, I’ve got into the Alt 0151 habit this year. Once I realised how much more professional it looks it stuck. As for Oxford commas that’s just my preferred grammar. Appropriate for this thread too!

I've always rather disliked them - I've mostly only ever seen them in American newspapers, so they remind me of turgid dry lifeless journalism. Either way an unfortunate habit to pick up in the very year when they are identified as the surest way to spot AI-generated text!

As I'm aware there isn't a forum policy on the use of AI anyway, and apart from the Oxford commas this is getting way off topic!

 

[Xavi]

I've always rather disliked them - I've mostly only ever seen them in American newspapers, so they remind me of turgid dry lifeless journalism. Either way an unfortunate habit to pick up in the very year when they are identified as the surest way to spot AI-generated text!

As I'm aware there isn't a forum policy on the use of AI anyway, and apart from the Oxford commas this is getting way off topic!

Not an unfortunate habit when you work for a global corporation. It is off thread. If only this AI nonsense hadn’t been mentioned.

 

[geordieblue]

Not an unfortunate habit when you work for a global corporation. It is off thread. If only this AI nonsense hadn’t been mentioned.

It was a straight question!

 

[djox]

Is this AI written?

We should ask AI to plan the rest of the project.

 

[Nicholas43]

Walkway seems to be open this morning. Passed over the bridge and people were walking through.

Today Saturday 30 August the new walkway is not open, and the screens each side of it are still being completed. A worker told me that he expects it to be open on Monday 1 September.

 

[74A]

Sorry when I looked down from the train it looked like some people were walking through. I guess it must have been some of the site workers !

 

[quantinghome]

Intrusive surveys are for predominantly for ground conditions not utilities on civil engineering projects.

Obviuusly it will vary from project to project. But inspection pits are pretty common for confirming the location of utilities and buried obstructions.

 

[The exile]

Obviuusly it will vary from project to project. But inspection pits are pretty common for confirming the location of utilities and buried obstructions.

There is of course a vast difference between confirming the location of something you know is there and discovering something completely unrecorded. No amount of “spot checks” is going to guarantee the absence of those. Reminds me of the major resurfacing of the Wellsway in Bath about 10-15 years ago (so nothing to do with the railways). No need to check for buried utilities as they were not going down that far (just the top 6 inches or so). What no one knew was that when the trams closed in the 1930s the rails had been left in place and just asphalted over (several times). Result - one very expensive road chewing machine written off.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

Before I finished work with NWR in 2021 I was the buried services manager for Infrastructure Projects on the Western. It was my job to assist the contractors in locating and identifying buried services. The first thing I would always tell the contractor was that if you dug a trench from one boundary fence to the opposite boundary fence you will find something. That goes for roads as well as railways. I would always insist on trial holes being dug, I agree that they alone will not always find every buried service but trial holes also help to fulfill health and safety obligations.

 

[BlueLeanie]

Obviuusly it will vary from project to project. But inspection pits are pretty common for confirming the location of utilities and buried obstructions.

They'd have to close the road for weeks for the inspection pits there...

Even then they knew that there was (is) a major gas main, water main, sewage, telecoms, electricity main all running under there. All woven around the disused obstacles and between each other.

In a "normal" city there isn't one single critical point with so much infrastructure.

Makes you think back to the days of "the troubles". A single truck device under there at 3am mid-term when nobody was about would have knocked out heat, power, sewage, water, telecoms, rail to a city of over 100,000 people for weeks.

 

[The exile]

Before I finished work with NWR in 2021 I was the buried services manager for Infrastructure Projects on the Western. It was my job to assist the contractors in locating and identifying buried services. The first thing I would always tell the contractor was that if you dug a trench from one boundary fence to the opposite boundary fence you will find something. That goes for roads as well as railways. I would always insist on trial holes being dug, I agree that they alone will not always find every buried service but trial holes also help to fulfill health and safety obligations.

Indeed, but surely unless you dig / survey every square inch there's no guarantee you won't subsequently find something unexpected. A trench from boundary fence to boundary fence will not find a pipe running parallel to it twenty feet away - trenches at 90 degrees to each other will not necessarily find a vertical pipe (or a bomb).

 

[Hellzapoppin]

Trial holes are only part of a whole process which is undertaken prior to excavations going ahead. I would spend hours going through historical plans, rail enthusiasts photos, aerial photos etc etc. You are correct in that you'll never find everything but you have to make every effort. With regards to UXOs there is a separate process for that eventually as well. When I get home later I'll post some pics of stuff we've found on some of my rail projects.

 

[Edvid]

Northern walkway is now open, thank goodness.

Work on track to new timeline at Botley Road as walkway opens to improve access for all

A new and improved walkway has opened at Botley Road in Oxford this morning (Sunday 31st August) as Network Rail hits another key milestone in the revised plan to reopen the road by the end of August next year.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

The new four-metre wide walkway, which links Botley Road to Frideswide Square, will offer a significant improvement to existing access, with much more space for pedestrians and cyclists.

Cyclists will be asked to dismount while using the shared surface until next year to allow for the safety of pedestrians while work continues in the area.

The work at Botley Road is vital to creating a bigger, better station for everyone; providing more services with East West Rail; adding rail capacity for the future; and an improved and safer road layout.

Since the programme was reset in January 2025, the project is delivering to the new schedule and Botley Road reopening by the end of August 2026.

 

[djox]

Northern walkway is now open, thank goodness.

Work on track to new timeline at Botley Road as walkway opens to improve access for all

A new and improved walkway has opened at Botley Road in Oxford this morning (Sunday 31st August) as Network Rail hits another key milestone in the revised plan to reopen the road by the end of August next year.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Confirmed the new walkway is open. Not yet the full 4 metres, (about 2.5-3m) but welcome news nonetheless.

 

[carpo]

less tunnel of doom, more tunnel of mild discomfort. So a good improvement.

 

[gallafent]

I assume the question came from the use of em-dashes, oxford commas and bullet points all in small number of words. Em-dashes in particular are difficult to type, and the forum software doesn't generate them for you.

Not on a mac they're not — ¿see? (option-shift-dash - option-dash gets you an endash – like that, and option-semicolon an ellipsis… right now I can't remember where the vertical ellipsis is, but it's easy enough to find all the special characters by bringing up the onscreen keyboard … iPadOS / iPhoneOS / iOS etc. all make it easy too, with press-hold on the keyboard!) -- apologies for offtopic!

 

[Edvid]

In addition to yesterday's opening, it's also confirmed in today's newsletter that the sewer diversion is complete.

We’re pleased to report that the sewer diversion works beneath Botley Road have been completed, in readiness for operation.

The walkway opening and the completion of the sewer diversion mark two key milestones. Since the programme was reset in January 2025, the project is delivering to the new schedule, which includes Botley Road reopening by the end of August 2026

That means all utility (Thames Water et al.) diversion works relating to Botley Road bridge are finally complete, 28-29 months since the road was closed.

The project teams can now get ready to install foundations on the southern side and build the associated box culvert within the former bus layover area.

 

[JamesT]

I’m not sure I’d clocked this before, but the road is shifting South with this work? The overhead shot shows the new walkway taking up quite a bit of the old roadway.

 

[swt_passenger]

I’m not sure I’d clocked this before, but the road is shifting South with this work? The overhead shot shows the new walkway taking up quite a bit of the old roadway.

Yes - there’s a cross sectional drawing in post #408 in this thread:

Oxford Corridor Phase 2 & Platform 5 updates

One lesson from the Nuneham Viaduct 9-week emergency blockade 3 April - 9 June 2023 was that if it really is as urgent as claimed then a blockade could be arranged with a timeframe shorter than the 18-months quoted. Nuneham affected the train operators - it was in their interest to get it fixed.

www.railforums.co.uk

So the quick summary is that the new west bound carriageway is centred roughly on the south side existing footpath in its subway, allowing the eastbound road carriageway to be where the westbound is now.

 

[stuving]

Network Rail have put out (5 Sept) a tender notice titled "Oxford - Architect Services". The full notice is long, but this is the first section:

Scope​

Reference
project_43822

Description​

Network Rail is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced architectural practice to lead the design and planning application for the redevelopment of Oxford Station and its surrounding area. This commission forms a critical part of the Oxford Station Masterplan, which aims to deliver a new vision for the station environment, supporting Oxford's growth as a national rail hub and global innovation centre.

Scope of Services:
• Masterplanning: Develop and evolve previous scheme proposals to create a new, mixed-use masterplan that maximises value, integrates operational railway requirements, and aligns with Oxford City's development and regeneration aspirations.
• Design Leadership: Act as lead architect for the masterplan, coordinating with specialist consultants and stakeholders to deliver a comprehensive design solution, including station entrances, public realm, multi-storey car park, cycle hub, offices, life sciences, hotel, and residential elements.
• Planning Application: Prepare and submit a detailed planning application for Phase 1, including all necessary supporting documents, reports, and stakeholder engagement as required by the local planning authority.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Network Rail, train operating companies, and other key stakeholders throughout the design and planning process.
• Sustainability: Embed best practice in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives, targeting high levels of certification (e.g., BREEAM, WELL, NABERS, BNG, embodied carbon).

Key Deliverables:
• A new illustrative masterplan for the Oxford Station area, including phasing and delivery strategy.
• RIBA Stage 2+ design report for the first phase of development.
• Full planning application for Phase 1, including all required technical and supporting documentation.
• Coordination and integration of specialist inputs (e.g., transport, sustainability, heritage, engineering).
• Ongoing design and technical support through the planning determination period.
The contract will be let under the NR26 NEC4 Professional Service Short Contract (PSSC).

The scope of this procurement covers the development of the Oxford Station Masterplan and the delivery of a detailed planning application for Phase 1. Phase 2 services are entirely optional and may not be instructed. Any extension to include Phase 2 will be subject to separate approval and explicit instruction by Network Rail. The estimated total value stated in this notice is inclusive of both Phase 1 and the optional Phase 2. The initial contract will be awarded for Phase 1 only, with any extension to include Phase 2 subject to formal instruction by Network Rail.

Full details of the scope, deliverables, and requirements are provided in the procurement documents within the tender Pack.

Of course that does not tell you what they want designed, that'll be in the tender pack.

 

[HerodesAtticus]

Today's update says that they've found more surprises underground while piling (it's been very loud here, about 100m away)

Building the new bridge has begun
Work to build the foundations of the south side of the new bridge has now begun, as the project enters its next phase. On the weekends of 13 and 20 September, the team started digging up to 15 metres into the ground and installing sheet piles.

Sheet piling involves driving interlocking steel sheets into the ground to create a strong barrier, to hold back soil and water, before the foundations of the new bridge are built.

As well as these planned piling works, we have also had to carry out some unplanned work at night during the week. This was needed because during the weekend works on 13 - 15 September, an obstruction was discovered that prevented some of the planned work from taking place.

On the nights of 17 – 19 September, our team excavated down to almost 10.5 metres to remove obstructions that had prevented sheet piles from being installed. This week we are continuing to excavate at night, to identify and remove any obstacles ahead of the planned piling work on the weekends of 27 – 29 September and 4 – 6 October.

Because this piling and excavation work is close to railway tracks, it can only be carried out when trains aren’t running, either at night or at a weekend when trains are not running on the adjacent lines.

This work is essential to allow the foundations for the new bridge to be built so that Botley Road can reopen in August 2026 and the expansion of Oxford Station can be delivered.

Although we have mitigation measures in place to reduce the impact as much as possible, the nature of sheet piling work means that noise is unavoidable.

We understand that this work is close to homes and businesses, and we apologise for the disruption this will cause. Thank you for your patience as we work to expand Oxford Station.

 

[zwk500]

Today's update says that they've found more surprises underground while piling (it's been very loud here, about 100m away)

Blimey, when you think they've found everything that could be there even more pops up! Is anybody liable for failing to maintain/provide accurate records of what's been put in the ground?

 

[fishwomp]

Today's update says that they've found more surprises underground while piling (it's been very loud here, about 100m away)

At 10.5 metres below ground, and something that has to be shifted.. you have to wonder what on that could be - secret tunnel filled with strategic steam engine reserve, Lord Lucan's hideout, a spaceship? It'd be nice for them to share that info.. who could even be down there that far..

Is anybody liable for failing to maintain/provide accurate records of what's been put in the ground?

The Romans? Seriously, unless you know what it was, and when it was put there, you can't know who should have known better

 

[stuving]

10 m is a long way down for a Roman to be digging (or having someone else dig). The railway yard south of the station seems a more likely reason to dig deep foundations. But taking some rough dimensions off the drawing in post #408, and assuming the sheet piles marked there are the relevant ones, they are about 21 m from the northern abutment face. And that is well short of the station yard area - roughly in the middle of the roadway over the level crossing in its last phase. That may be why Keir didn't expect to find anything there.

Maybe it's a rock?

 

[DidcotDennis]

They are excavating from track level (which is elevated in this area) rather than road level, so 10 metres does include a fair bit of built-up embankment. When the tracks were laid on ground higher than the surroundings, would they have dug down and filled with rubble (large lumps of!) to provide a stable base for the embankment? It may only be a similar depth to the Victorian inverted arch that caused so many problems beneath the old road last year.

 

[Nottingham59]

When the tracks were laid on ground higher than the surroundings, would they have dug down and filled with rubble (large lumps of!) to provide a stable base for the embankment?

Many Victorian embankments were laid on the bare earth - topsoil and even turf included. There could be anything underneath.

 

[Edvid]

Said obstruction appears to be a smorgasbord of several materials. See comments on a recent Oxfordshire Connect Facebook post:

Q: What was the initial object you found when you identified it please?
A: Hi, we found metal objects, bricks and concrete during the planned weekend work, hence we are investigating during the week ahead of the scheduled planned weekend works. [...]

I take it the sheet piling will form a cofferdam, within which piling for the southern box culvert/abutment can take place. The extended break between sheet piling weekends (6 October - 16 November) and post-break south-of-Oxford weekend closures imply this work is taking place in two distinct phases.

 

[hwl]

Said obstruction appears to be a smorgasbord of several materials. See comments on a recent Oxfordshire Connect Facebook post:

Sounds like some filled in a "hole" (old sewer/culvert?) with what ever detritus they also needed to dispose of!

I take it the sheet piling will form a cofferdam, within which piling for the southern box culvert/abutment can take place. The extended break between sheet piling weekends (6 October - 16 November) and post-break south-of-Oxford weekend closures imply this work is taking place in two distinct phases.

Agreed

 

[HerodesAtticus]

This bbc article suggests it was another surprise bit of old brick work

[Network Rail] described the obstruction as a large 4m-deep (13.1ft) brick structure which was not mentioned in its records and ground surveys

 

[swt_passenger]

This bbc article suggests it was another surprise bit of old brick work

From the article - “More of this so-called "piling work" is scheduled…”
So are they trying to suggest it’s something else?