Oxford Corridor Phase 2 & Platform 5 updates

[djox]

According to the latest Network Rail update firstly good news NR and Kier confirmed that the new pedestrian walkway will be opening this weekend, so actually hitting target of 31 August, which is a surprise but welcome.

The other main update is there will be planned reductions in service of GWR and Cross Country around Oxford travelling on the through railway lines on Sundays over September and October and full closure on 2 Sundays in November, as well as the better publicised closure in February.

Can anyone see details of this as GWR and Cross Country websites don't seem to be mentioning it, planner websites seem to have it though.

 

[BlueLeanie]

The *first* new pedestrian walkway.

The second will open on the opposite side of the road.

 

[oxfordrelayer]

The new platform canopy has been scrapped

 

[davetheguard]

The new platform canopy has been scrapped

In terms of additional railway infrastructure, given the cost & time overruns, what exactly will now be delivered by this scheme other than a wider decked Botley bridge allowing space for an extra track to a planned new down platform?

The new downside entrance has been dropped, hasn't it?

Will the new down (northbound) platform & track still be delivered as part of the present works?

 

[djox]

In terms of additional railway infrastructure, given the cost & time overruns, what exactly will now be delivered by this scheme other than a wider decked Botley bridge allowing space for an extra track to a planned new down platform?

The new downside entrance has been dropped, hasn't it?

Will the new down (northbound) platform & track still be delivered as part of the present works?

At the moment the plan is a new walkway under bridge (open by this weekend), replace railway bridge adding new spans (Feb 2026) open Botley Road(Aug 2026?) then redevelopment of station up to 2029, which should include a new Western entrance and 5th platform, but don't hold your breath as the money may have run out by then.

 

[davetheguard]

At the moment the plan is a new walkway under bridge (open by this weekend), replace railway bridge adding new spans (Feb 2026) open Botley Road(Aug 2026?) then redevelopment of station up to 2029, which should include a new Western entrance and 5th platform, but don't hold your breath as the money may have run out by then.

Thanks for the update.

The new bridge & walkway underneath it are very welcome. But it looks like the railway will not really gain very much at all from the pared-down scheme as it stands. Jam tomorrow.
And at a cost of huge disruption in Oxford.

Still I guess the station redevelopment & expansion will be easier & cheaper with the new bridge in place if the money can be found in future.

Let's hope the present platforms can cope with the extra trains off East West Rail.

 

[swt_passenger]

Let's hope the present platforms can cope with the extra trains off East West Rail.

They do for the initial 2 tph service, as far as is shown in RTT if you make the cancelled services visible.

 

[Nicholas43]

The presentation to councillors in July 2025 (available on Network Rail's Oxfordshire Connect webpages) included this (reformatted for legibility, I hope):

Future works to enable East West Rail
These are expected to include the provision of new Platform 4/5 and a Western Entrance required to support increased train services and passenger numbers.
Construction of remaining rail: scope paused to allow full focus on re-opening Botley Road as early as possible.
Works [i.e. planning?] progressing well to re-phase future rail works.
Key areas of focus:
• Validation of value for money following historic cost increase (associated with Botley Road), whilst maintaining core functionality.
• Validation of programme and price ahead of securing funding. [my italics]
• Increasing delivery certainty – undertaking additional surveys and progressing key areas of design.
Indicative Schedule - subject to funding release:
2025 to mid 2026:
• Increase delivery confidence
• Validate scope, price and programme
• Secure funding
2026 to 2029:
• Onboard contractor
• Complete Western Entrance design
• Construct Platform 4/5, Western Entrance and associated highways works.

It seems that we will have to be patient.

 

[WilloughbyGC]

All up a fairly catastrophic case study in rail/road/utilities project management. Years late, staggering levels of local disruption, and so overbudget that the whole purpose of the project - a fifth platform and western entrance to relieve current congestion (not just future EWR services as the NR spin suggests) may now never happen. Its no wonder that Treasury is sceptical of such 'enhancements'.

 

[cle]

What a cluster. All that and no second entrance or additional platform / capacity. Laughable.

Really does feel like a big bang project should take its place (Cowley, wires to Didcot, two new through platforms inc main rebuild) - if there was ambition enough.

It feels like this type of development gets successfully completed in Cambridge.

 

[Mikey C]

All up a fairly catastrophic case study in rail/road/utilities project management. Years late, staggering levels of local disruption, and so overbudget that the whole purpose of the project - a fifth platform and western entrance to relieve current congestion (not just future EWR services as the NR spin suggests) may now never happen. Its no wonder that Treasury is sceptical of such 'enhancements'.

It's a mini HS2...

 

[Xavi]

Some people need to remember the facts before criticising the project team.

During the excavation, they uncovered previously undocumented water mains, a large inverted brick drainage structure, and numerous unknown utility cables. These weren’t in any plans.

The team had to:

• Divert a critical trunk water main that supplies much of Oxford.

• Coordinate with Thames Water on design approvals and connection points, which caused delays.

• Work around environmental constraints and structural weaknesses near Osney Bridge.

These are not failures—they're unforeseen engineering challenges. And the people managing them are doing so under intense public scrutiny, political pressure, and logistical complexity.

Yes, the timeline has shifted to June 2026. But that’s because they’re prioritising safety, reliability, and long-term resilience. Criticising the delivery team doesn’t help—it demoralises the very people working to fix the problem.

 

[BrianW]

It's a mini HS2...

Low Speed surely; a classic xxck-up; a 'car crash'??? How much 'saving' will be made by making 'customers' wait on the platform without a canopy?

 

[BlueLeanie]

During the excavation, they uncovered previously undocumented water mains, a large inverted brick drainage structure, and numerous unknown utility cables. These weren’t in any plans.

I believe that they were all documented on plans that weren't made available to Network Rail.

Indeed over 100 years ago Oxford Council refused to allow GWR to widen and deepen the the bridge due to a large brick sewer just under the surface.

Likewise the University had their power station just off Mill Lane, and the cables are all documented on University records.

 

[BrianW]

Some people need to remember the facts before criticising the project team.

During the excavation, they uncovered previously undocumented water mains, a large inverted brick drainage structure, and numerous unknown utility cables. These weren’t in any plans.

The team had to:

• Divert a critical trunk water main that supplies much of Oxford.

• Coordinate with Thames Water on design approvals and connection points, which caused delays.

• Work around environmental constraints and structural weaknesses near Osney Bridge.

These are not failures—they're unforeseen engineering challenges. And the people managing them are doing so under intense public scrutiny, political pressure, and logistical complexity.

Yes, the timeline has shifted to June 2026. But that’s because they’re prioritising safety, reliability, and long-term resilience. Criticising the delivery team doesn’t help—it demoralises the very people working to fix the problem.

Does your understanding of the 'project team' not include those who did not commission or carry out a fuller site investigation. Were no lessons learned from the changes made on the GW Electrification consequent upon such, including the cancellation of wiring to Oxford?? The things you list as 'the team had to ...' could have been considered earlier, and some might think should have, and would have given good project management.

I believe that they were all documented on plans that weren't made available to Network Rail.

Indeed over 100 years ago Oxford Council refused to allow GWR to widen and deepen the the bridge due to a large brick sewer just under the surface.

Likewise the University had their power station just off Mill Lane, and the cables are all documented on University records.

... as this posting seems to support.

 

[Xavi]

Does your understanding of the 'project team' not include those who did not commission or carry out a fuller site investigation. Were no lessons learned from the changes made on the GW Electrification consequent upon such, including the cancellation of wiring to Oxford?? The things you list as 'the team had to ...' could have been considered earlier, and some might think should have, and would have given good project management.

... as this posting seems to support.

Not as simple to trace all underground assets as you appear to believe.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2025 ==

I believe that they were all documented on plans that weren't made available to Network Rail.

Indeed over 100 years ago Oxford Council refused to allow GWR to widen and deepen the the bridge due to a large brick sewer just under the surface.

Likewise the University had their power station just off Mill Lane, and the cables are all documented on University records.

Indeed. Not made available.

 

[SynthD]

Really does feel like a big bang project should take its place (Cowley, wires to Didcot, two new through platforms inc main rebuild) - if there was ambition enough.

That sounds like the future plan specified, plus Cowley. It’s not a new idea, it’s in that NR unfunded-dreams holding area.

I believe that they were all documented on plans that weren't made available to Network Rail.

Are those plans available to us now?

 

[InOban]

Each of these utilities belongs to a different private company who will use their own contractors and may well insist that their guys have the site to themselves for H&S reasons, They will also turn up when it suits them, not NR

 

[cle]

That sounds like the future plan specified, plus Cowley. It’s not a new idea, it’s in that NR unfunded-dreams holding area.

Are those plans available to us now?

Yes but I meant now folding in p5 which would have come from this project.

Also wires were not part of it. But a full master plan could cover off all of these pieces.

 

[74A]

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

 

[Nicholas43]

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

Welcome news: thanks for the update.
Maybe this thread should be renamed 'Botley Road, Oxford, highway improvements and utilities diversions'? With a separate speculative thread about a hoped-for new platform 5, new west entrance, and new bridge over the Sheepwash channel?

 

[swt_passenger]

Welcome news: thanks for the update.
Maybe this thread should be renamed 'Botley Road, Oxford, highway improvements and utilities diversions'? With a separate speculative thread about a hoped-for new platform 5, new west entrance, and new bridge over the Sheepwash channel?

I think that would be mistaken. The Platform 5 works have always been discussed in this thread, and who’s to say P5 is speculation? Some members being pessimistic doesn’t make something cancelled. The track changes south of Botley Rd for P5 were completed a while ago and are covered in this thread?

 

[gallafent]

What a cluster. All that and no second entrance or additional platform / capacity. Laughable.

Really does feel like a big bang project should take its place (Cowley, wires to Didcot, two new through platforms inc main rebuild) - if there was ambition enough.

It feels like this type of development gets successfully completed in Cambridge.

This. It's just abject. The dumping / "rescheduling" of the western entrance (which would have been / will eventually be, we all hope) one of the main benefits of the whole thing, especially for everyone approaching the station from the west, but for all users in fact, by reducing congestion in the existing facilities (thank goodness for the new entrance by platforms 1 and 2, at least!), has been very very quiet, unsurprisingly.

I was just searching for the original press releases which I remember in particular talked about a new improved project management approach (I hesitate to use the word "agile" here) which was employed in the first attempt at this project, before the more recent "reset". I wasn't able to find any such resources. I wonder if anyone here has better recollection / knowledge / documentation that talks about that project management approach, and I wonder if it has been abandoned with extreme prejudice by NR, as it clearly deserves to have been.

Looking at the internet archive for the project from less than three years ago is quite interesting:

Key benefits​

• New platform with improved passenger facilities to significantly improve station capacity from 2024.
• New secondary station entrance on the western side of the railway to improve accessibility and passenger experience.
• Replacement and upgrade of Botley Road bridge, with addition of 4-metre cycle/footway on each side to encourage walking and cycling.
• Additional height clearance of new bridge will mean standard size double-decker buses will be able to pass underneath for the first time.
• Realignment of Roger Dudman Way to create safer road layout for junctions with Botley Road.
• Closure of level crossings at Yarnton Lane and Sandy Lane, as well as creation of three high-speed crossovers at Oxford North Junction. This will:
  
  1. Improve safety of the line
  2. Create capacity for additional Oxford to Birmingham passenger services
  3. Reduce journey times by up to two minutes
  4. Increase in capacity to accommodate an additional 12 freight trains per day

Look at the top two "key benefits". Grim.

 

[quantinghome]

Not as simple to trace all underground assets as you appear to believe.

Yes, it costs money to do a thorough utilities search, and even more money to do GPR and intrusive site investigation. But as this project shows, and as a competent project team should understand, you always pay for a high quality site investigation - whether you do one or not.

 

[Brush 4]

Why would there be different quality investigations? It has to be 100% or it's pointless.

 

[geordieblue]

Some people need to remember the facts before criticising the project team.

During the excavation, they uncovered previously undocumented water mains, a large inverted brick drainage structure, and numerous unknown utility cables. These weren’t in any plans.

The team had to:

• Divert a critical trunk water main that supplies much of Oxford.

• Coordinate with Thames Water on design approvals and connection points, which caused delays.

• Work around environmental constraints and structural weaknesses near Osney Bridge.

These are not failures—they're unforeseen engineering challenges. And the people managing them are doing so under intense public scrutiny, political pressure, and logistical complexity.

Yes, the timeline has shifted to June 2026. But that’s because they’re prioritising safety, reliability, and long-term resilience. Criticising the delivery team doesn’t help—it demoralises the very people working to fix the problem.

Is this AI written?

 

[Xavi]

Is this AI written?

No. I happen to know the facts. It’s not one of my projects though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Aug 2025 ==

Yes, it costs money to do a thorough utilities search, and even more money to do GPR and intrusive site investigation. But as this project shows, and as a competent project team should understand, you always pay for a high quality site investigation - whether you do one or not.

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

 

[takno]

No. I happen to know the facts. It’s not one of my projects though.

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.

 

[Xavi]

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.

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!

 

[The exile]

I assume the question came from the use of em-dashes, oxford commas ….

Well, it is an Oxford thread!