Oxford Corridor Phase 2 & Platform 5 updates

[The Planner]

It was once a plan by Chiltern - a Moor St/Oxford service via Banbury and their regular route into Moor St. Likely plenty of interworking with Marylebone services possible. They run locals around Birmingham too now.

And when XC was at its lowest, it felt like a great time to provide another service on this route. May need the new Midlands Connect platforms though.



Chiltern's is bonkers at the peaks... I would think the Cowley single section (if it remains thus, and without any/much signalling) would need something very standardized. Which EWR to MKC will be, no variance in stopping patterns or timings. 2tph all week! Perfect for the branch.

If they have double track or some additional platforms, maybe it can be a bit less rigid - or even more than 2tph in time. But I expect a MVP scenario...

It will likely stay single, keeps it cheap. Chiltern could also standardise the Marylebone if they wanted.

 

[BlueLeanie]

This seems a stretch - the link to Long Marston faces toward Worcester, and I can't see them reinstating the chord that goes toward Oxford.

If you are spending £MMMs on rebuilding the line, then the chord towards Oxford would be buttons.

 

[swt_passenger]

I’ve seen proposals for redoubling Wolvercot to Hanborough, but as far as I’m aware grade separation wasn’t part of it.

Is there enough space to have a flying junction at Wolvercote? It's probably essential for the future ambitions of OxonRail.

An up flyover would run straight into the A40 overbridge, so not without moving major road, I’d have thought. And the present junction is slap bang on top of a canal junction and lock, just to make it even less practical.

 

[fishwomp]

An up flyover would run straight into the A40 overbridge, so not without moving major road, I’d have thought. And the present junction is slap bang on top of a canal junction and lock, just to make it even less practical.

Clearly what's needed is to bring back the old Wolvercote/Yarnton to (approx) Oxford Parkway avoider - which crossed the (Birmingham) mainline at height - . Wouldn't the folks of Charlbury love a competing line into Marylebone. It was a war-time addition (WW2) for freight to connect the Cotswolds line to the Bletchley line. It's clear enough on Google Maps - in parts - but no sign of it where it crosses the mainline. The viaduct over the canal is still in place, although a roundabout and the A4260 have some of its alignment, and the A34 crosses it. Alas I don't see Chiltern picking this up so late in the privatized railways game!

 

[stuving]

Clearly what's needed is to bring back the old Wolvercote/Yarnton to (approx) Oxford Parkway avoider - which crossed the (Birmingham) mainline at height - . Wouldn't the folks of Charlbury love a competing line into Marylebone. It was a war-time addition (WW2) for freight to connect the Cotswolds line to the Bletchley line. It's clear enough on Google Maps - in parts - but no sign of it where it crosses the mainline. The viaduct over the canal is still in place, although a roundabout and the A4260 have some of its alignment, and the A34 crosses it. Alas I don't see Chiltern picking this up so late in the privatized railways game!

It's very much older than that! Marked (complete with the west to south chord) on an OS one-inch map at NLS dated as "Surveyed: 1811 to 1817, Revised: 1830 to 1831, Railways: 1861, Printed: 1863!"

 

[BrianW]

How are you calculating the distribution of cost at a very congested location on the Network?

A delay in Oxford can disrupt services across the country - even more so from when services from Oxford reach MK.

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Is there enough space to have a flying junction at Wolvercote? It's probably essential for the future ambitions of OxonRail.

Who knows whop picks up the tab for this or that cost, including those determining it? A lot of 'costs' of a long period of disruptionto add to the construction costs of the additional track and changed trackwork arrangements and the bridge and new platform ...

I remain unconvinced that these costs are 'worth it' for the rail service disruptions you suggest will be incurred. The through lines don't carry any more the merry-go-round coal trains to and from Didcot; perhaps one or both might accommodate a terminator, though there are 5 'carriage sidings' (Traksy). Even this morning a stopper from Didcot terminated in Platform 4 and departed from there after several minutes of occupation back to Didcot via the Carriage Sidings and Platform 3. Platform 3 is the busy Up platform. Another for Didcot terminated and returned from Platform 4.

Flying junction cost for how few conflicting movements? Dream on. There's plenty of track on which trains can 'wait time' if need be.

How many parking spces for a Park-and-ride at Hanborough- or more onstreet parking? Or perhaps a Duke of Marlborough/ Blenheim Palace contribution?

BTW- how are the bridge abutments thereabouts now?

 

[fishwomp]

It's very much older than that! Marked (complete with the west to south chord) on an OS one-inch map at NLS dated as "Surveyed: 1811 to 1817, Revised: 1830 to 1831, Railways: 1861, Printed: 1863!"

Glad to be corrected! I notice now that the 1876 OS map shows a chord I was thinking had never existed as 'old railway' so perhaps that was already lifted at that point. It'd be the flyover the mainline needs - although at a cost of a level junction on the Bletchley line.

 

[BlueLeanie]

An up flyover would run straight into the A40 overbridge, so not without moving major road, I’d have thought. And the present junction is slap bang on top of a canal junction and lock, just to make it even less practical.

It would depend on how far North(?) a loop would go as part of the flyover.

What is the steepest permitted gradient that a train is allowed to travel down (ie, exclusively down) in the UK?

 

[oxfordrelayer]

Cowley will be up and running 2027

 

[BrianW]

Cowley will be up and running 2027

Is that a statement/ hope/ aspiration/ committment/ promise/ polical 'promise'/... ?

 

[BlueLeanie]

Is that a statement/ hope/ aspiration/ committment/ promise/ polical 'promise'/... ?

I'm not even convinced that passenger services between Bicester and MK will be.operating by 2027.

It took about 4 years for Leven to be rebuilt, and whilst this route is still open for business, there's no way that it can be brought up to passenger standard, planning permission for two/three stations obtained and everything built in 27 months.

 

[The Planner]

Cowley will be up and running 2027

Not a chance.

 

[Kingham West]

Cowley will be up and running 2027

I fear that there are other factors in play, and the go ahead is a matter for the Cabinet Office.
I expect to be catching the No 1 or 5 till 2029.

 

[oxfordrelayer]

Is that a statement/ hope/ aspiration/ committment/ promise/ polical 'promise'/... ?

Commitment- start date of July 2027 plus more work on the Radley to Hinksey stretch- Botley rd might well have drained all the money though!!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2025 ==

Not a chance.

July 2027 with Chilterns running a 2 ph service

 

[The Planner]

Commitment- start date of July 2027 plus more work on the Radley to Hinksey stretch- Botley rd might well have drained all the money though!!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2025 ==


July 2027 with Chilterns running a 2 ph service

Needs the Up Kennington Loop altered to allow 2tph as well as alterations to lock in a train at the Cowley end to allow BMW trains. There is no Network Change for it yet either. I very much doubt its going to be July 2027

 

[oxfordrelayer]

Yep , UKGL, converted to Up Oxford relief, which will be extended to Radley. New signalling on the Cowley line- bet there's no money to do it

 

[BlueLeanie]

Yep , UKGL, converted to Up Oxford relief, which will be extended to Radley. New signalling on the Cowley line- bet there's no money to do it

If they are going to spend £lots, isn't it time that a South facing bridge was built to create a triangle for the BMW line?

Sending the Minis direct towards Southampton without all the running around, and potentially allow a peak-only Oxford-Didcot service to reverse at Ambassador Avenue station.

 

[The Planner]

If they are going to spend £lots, isn't it time that a South facing bridge was built to create a triangle for the BMW line?

Sending the Minis direct towards Southampton without all the running around, and potentially allow a peak-only Oxford-Didcot service to reverse at Ambassador Avenue station.

No. Its not worth the expense for the 30 odd minutes it would save the car train.

 

[Edvid]

Oxfordshire Connect October 2025 update

It's now almost halfway between the January reset and the scheduled Botley Road reopening. Unless noted otherwise it sounds like rotary piling for the southern box abutment began last weekend; here's how the site looked the week before.



As noted previously the abutment sections are being built off-site; west/east sections in Becket Street car park, central section in the former bus turning circle.



Page 12 includes a Gantt chart of the February 2026 possession. In addition it appears the north-facing bay platforms will remain open for rail passengers, including those travelling to/from London.



There's also an update on the Osney Bridge works five months on (completion date still forecast as June 2026). Commissioning of interim main north of the bridge to replace the interim main on the bridge was scheduled for June and still hasn't happened, though it's implied testing is underway. Removal of the dodgy bridge section - to which the northern footpath and broken main are affixed - may commence next month.

 

[td97]

The question mark next to the statement "Project on target for Botley Road reopening August 2026" oozes confidence

 

[getziggy]

Another 3 years to build platform 5, and western entrance, one of the main reasons for going through all this??

 

[BrianW]

Another 3 years to build platform 5, and western entrance, one of the main reasons for going through all this??

Welcome Getziggy- you've got the mood about right! Is the benefit hoped for in the 'end product' worth the hassle/ disruption in getting there?

 

[fishwomp]

Another 3 years to build platform 5, and western entrance, one of the main reasons for going through all this??

There's also a wider/better/safer cycle path, lbetter/safer pedestrian routes, better road - the prior set up was pretty bad all round - everything route is under a wider rail bridge.

The pre-work had to happen, regardless of how long the rest of it takes. Now that that bit is almost done, the rest _can_ come, money permitting.

 

[swt_passenger]

Another 3 years to build platform 5, and western entrance, one of the main reasons for going through all this??

The work is required for platform 5, if there was no platform 5 project it wouldn’t have ever started. The western entrance was not a reason, but a useful byproduct.

 

[getziggy]

There's also a wider/better/safer cycle path, lbetter/safer pedestrian routes, better road - the prior set up was pretty bad all round - everything route is under a wider rail bridge.

The pre-work had to happen, regardless of how long the rest of it takes. Now that that bit is almost done, the rest _can_ come, money permitting.

I am aware of this, I support the project; however, once the road opens, we won't even have Platform 5, never mind the new entrance. The Oxfordshire Connect project was to deliver extra capacity through the station; therefore, Platform 5 was the 'main' reason for the works.

We're talking about 6 years to deliver something that was planned to take 1 year.

 

[JamesT]

I am aware of this, I support the project; however, once the road opens, we won't even have Platform 5, never mind the new entrance. The Oxfordshire Connect project was to deliver extra capacity through the station; therefore, Platform 5 was the 'main' reason for the works.

We're talking about 6 years to deliver something that was planned to take 1 year.

The indicative timeline on page 17 of https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-co...Oxford-Corridor-Phase-2-Public-Engagement.pdf shows 2 years for the project, November 22 to December 24. Platform 5 and the Western Entrance taking a year after the bridge works complete.

 

[hwl]

I am aware of this, I support the project; however, once the road opens, we won't even have Platform 5, never mind the new entrance. The Oxfordshire Connect project was to deliver extra capacity through the station; therefore, Platform 5 was the 'main' reason for the works.

We're talking about 6 years to deliver something that was planned to take 1 year.

The indicative timeline on page 17 of https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-co...Oxford-Corridor-Phase-2-Public-Engagement.pdf shows 2 years for the project, November 22 to December 24. Platform 5 and the Western Entrance taking a year after the bridge works complete.

Once the road opens much of the pressure will be off NR.
Reassessing the cost and benefits of the remaining scope: New track and modifications existing for platform 5, the platform works and the station building given the assumed stating point of bridge finished (with bridge decks in place for all 6 potential through tracks), will produce a reasonable business case. The recent "Cowley" announcement will also help (as pathing northbound will be a nightmare without P5) as will the potential start of EWR service to MK (if the staffing issue get sorted) and the continued positive government mood music for EWR east of greater MK will probably be interesting to gauge as it is only partly and not fully funded yet.
Someone with "how to make business cases look good skilz" has been involved...
It also provides the opportunity to retender and end up with different contractor for the station and platform works.

 

[fishwomp]

Once the road opens much of the pressure will be off NR.
Reassessing the cost and benefits of the remaining scope: New track and modifications existing for platform 5, the platform works and the station building given the assumed stating point of bridge finished (with bridge decks in place for all 6 potential through tracks), will produce a reasonable business case. [..]

Yes - presumably the risk / contingency was high for Botley Road in the first place, and obviously total shot in the end - now it looks a lot different!

The footbridge south of the station (next to churchyard) has been reinforced at the base (concrete) to permit the fifth track, the points laid for it.
The Youth Hostel demolished too.

All of this is cost that has been taken, and so the net cost of the new proposal - when looked at through a new business case - will be so much more glowing and less risk-filled.

 

[Zomboid]

Will platform 4 also serve as a turnback from the north? Maybe such a thing won't be especially essential with 1 & 2 being 6 car north facing bays, though there are some longer trains that head for Parkway, eg https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G02251/2025-10-29#allox_id=0

 

[class ep-09]

Will platform 4 also serve as a turnback from the north? Maybe such a thing won't be especially essential with 1 & 2 being 6 car north facing bays, though there are some longer trains that head for Parkway, eg https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G02251/2025-10-29#allox_id=0

It already can serve as turn back from the North.