ONE of the UK’s oldest train stations is getting a huge, much-needed train station redevelopment.
First announced in 2022, Oxford’s main train station is undergoing a £161million revamp.
Oxford’s main station is undergoing a huge renovation[/caption]
The project will cost £161million[/caption]
The current Oxford station need modernising[/caption]
The four-platform station is getting a new platform 5 with an additional train track.
Four new trains an hour will connect Cambridge to Oxford station via the new East-West Rail link.
It will be the first time the two cities are connected by a direct train route in 50 years.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the new train route will help boost the UK economy by £78million by 2035.
She said: “Oxford and Cambridge offer huge economic potential for our nation’s growth prospects.
“Just 66 miles apart, these cities are home to two of the best universities in the world, two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world and the area is a hub for globally-renowned science and technology firms in life sciences, manufacturing and AI.
“It has the potential to be Europe’s Silicon Valley. The home of British innovation.”
A huge new entrance building at Oxford station will allow more space with outdoor seating and pathways.
New shops include a Pret-a-Manger, Greggs and M&S Food.
The new railway will be four times the size to allow both walkers and cyclists, and will open later this year.
Additional level crossings and upgrade signalling are all part of the renovation as well.
The £161million project includes £72.7million of funding from the local council, with another £78.6million from the UK government.
Another £10.5million has been contributed by Oxford Local Enterprise Partnership,
Oxford‘s main train station welcomed around 8.7million people a year pre-pandemic.
However, complaints have been raised over the closure of Botley Road, one of the main ways to get to the train station.
Having closed in April 2023, it is expected to stay closed until 2026.
Oxford Station first opened in 1844, making it one of the oldest in the UK and it is also the flagship station of Great Western Railway.
New trains will also connect Oxford and Cambridge for the first time in 50 years[/caption]
Why the city needs a new train station
The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey grew up just outside Oxford.
MY early childhood was often spent travelling into the city of Oxford to catch a train to London for trips to the theatre.
However, I also often remembered how chaotic is was trying to get to the station from my home town Witney.
The busy Botley Road was always back to back with cars when travelling at peak times or the weekend.
The 20-minute journey could often take double that, or even more.
And the small station was always overcrowded, making it hard to get through especially if running late.
It became so difficult, I ended up travelling to the alternative Oxford Parkway Station, despite it being a bit further out.
The new Oxford station will hopefully make the beautiful city much easier to visit.
Train routes currently operate to both London Paddington and London Marylebone, as well as to Coventry and Birmingham.
There is also a direct train from Oxford to Manchester once an hour.
The UK is also opening a number of brand new train stations.
Cambridge is getting a new £183million train station, with Cambridge South Station opening this year.
And as part of HS2, the new £2billion ‘super station’ will open in Old Oak Common.
This is alongside the new £460million Birmingham’s Curzon Street Station which will be the first of its kind in the UK in 130 years.
The station was one of the oldest in the UK[/caption]
