Oxford Corridor Phase 2 & Platform 5 updates

[BlueLeanie]

Just so that we don't lose sight of the catastrophic scale of mismanagement of the Botley Road project, this is a quote from the Planning Inspectorate report dated March 2022, quoting Network Rail's "Environmental Statement: Volume 2".

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62b33036d3bf7f0af7e9b038/oxford-station-phase-2-improvements-inspector-report.pdf

Let's go back further to 1906, when the Town Clerk in Oxford stopped the GWR from making improvements to the bridge. Improvements that would have pretty much resulted in the current disruption pretty much unnecessary.

Or maybe lets go back to the mid 19th Century, when the Town Clerk didn't allow GWR to build a station on the opposite bank to Magdalen College.

It's no doubt a mess, but it's a mess that's been almost 200 years in the making.

A normal town or city would have had half a dozen more bridges over the river or railway. If anything it's a lesson on how local Councillors and clerks are often the worst people to manage a town or city.

 

[fishwomp]

Hopefully one of the lessons identified (and maybe learned) from this sorry saga is that the railway in Oxford needs more crossing points so one single point of interruption doesn't reduce the city to a standstill.

Normally it's the council's job in Oxford to be closing off routes and causing traffic jams. They must be a bit annoyed that the railway managed to do it without their help.

In fact - the ongoing work has actually prevented them from trialling more "LTN" gates (local residents only being able to pass 'filters' on the busiest centre arteries) with the result that it'll likely not happen at all as it was causing a lot of flak.

I'm not sure how many bridges you think Oxford should have, but there are plenty of single points of local failure not just those crossing the railway.. from the east, one bridge to the centre (closed on Thursday this week from 2am to 9am for revelry!)

 

[AeM]

Normally it's the council's job in Oxford to be closing off routes and causing traffic jams. They must be a bit annoyed that the railway managed to do it without their help.

In fact - the ongoing work has actually prevented them from trialling more "LTN" gates (local residents only being able to pass 'filters' on the busiest centre arteries) with the result that it'll likely not happen at all as it was causing a lot of flak.

I'm not sure how many bridges you think Oxford should have, but there are plenty of single points of local failure not just those crossing the railway.. from the east, one bridge to the centre (closed on Thursday this week from 2am to 9am for revelry!)

I'm just in awe of how easy it is to cause utter mayhem and chaos in the name of efficiency and value for money for the taxpayer. If there were a few more pedestrian and vehicle crossings/underpasses of the railway in the local area, then a closure such as the Botley Rd one would have less of an impact on peoples lives and businesses.

BTW, I do like your suggestion the idea that the Botley Rd closure gives everyone a taste of how the LTNs will probably wreak a same level of havoc.....!

 

[Zomboid]

Closing Botley Road is nothing at all like LTNs. It might resemble the traffic filters though, but I've long since given up on the idea of driving into town anyway.
Central Oxford just doesn't work with cars, and since demolition of a few colleges to sort that out is unlikely to fly, it never will.

 

[fishwomp]

I'm just in awe of how easy it is to cause utter mayhem and chaos in the name of efficiency and value for money for the taxpayer. If there were a few more pedestrian and vehicle crossings/underpasses of the railway in the local area, then a closure such as the Botley Rd one would have less of an impact on peoples lives and businesses.

There are ample pedestrian ones - the footbridge 150 yards south of the station, and Sheepwash canal just north of the station (although that has had related closures during the botley rd closure).

There are not ample vehicle ones though - hauling a bike over the footbridge is not appealing to most but is doable but other road vehicles have no alternative.

 

[reddragon]

Records, plans etc are often incomplete and inaccurate, failing to be kept up-to-date and perhaps diagrammatic at best. Changes are often made on site while work is underway; delays and extensions of time cost money and 'as built' drawings often a 'low priority'. There can be further 'complications' if a contractor goes bust because they bid too low in order to get the job. As seen with the Carillion Liverpool Hospital, who 'carries the can' for possibly defective work?

IIRC, GWEP got going when Grayling got the Ok from his bosses at Nos 10 and 11; 'the rail industry' when asked when can you start- we all know the only ok answer is straight away, if not 'yesterday'. Whose fault is that?

Everyone's to blame- we get the government that promises what we want to hear.

We are still suffering from the well-documented GWEP fiasco, including the development of the bi-mode and all it offers in terms of 'intermitant electrification' and tri-modes to come. So not all bad?

In the case of the sites I'm dealing with, all were correctly mapped & marked out on site. Almost as if they pile drivers used them as targets!

Reading Station with all the piles through the station drainage is a classic (not my job)

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

Let's go back further to 1906, when the Town Clerk in Oxford stopped the GWR from making improvements to the bridge. Improvements that would have pretty much resulted in the current disruption pretty much unnecessary.

Or maybe lets go back to the mid 19th Century, when the Town Clerk didn't allow GWR to build a station on the opposite bank to Magdalen College.

It's no doubt a mess, but it's a mess that's been almost 200 years in the making.

A normal town or city would have had half a dozen more bridges over the river or railway. If anything it's a lesson on how local Councillors and clerks are often the worst people to manage a town or city.

Not as bad as Abingdon that banned the railway altogether, got bypassed & lost its status of county town to Reading as a result!

 

[crablab]

but I've long since given up on the idea of driving into town anyway.

That's the point. Take the bus or cycle

 

[BrianW]

Let's go back further to 1906, when the Town Clerk in Oxford stopped the GWR from making improvements to the bridge. Improvements that would have pretty much resulted in the current disruption pretty much unnecessary.

Or maybe lets go back to the mid 19th Century, when the Town Clerk didn't allow GWR to build a station on the opposite bank to Magdalen College.

It's no doubt a mess, but it's a mess that's been almost 200 years in the making.

A normal town or city would have had half a dozen more bridges over the river or railway. If anything it's a lesson on how local Councillors and clerks are often the worst people to manage a town or city.

This is Oxford, special and (self) important in every way!

There is little to nothing to the west of the river to connect Oxford with. Clue in the name: Ox Ford? Flood plain. The next bridges upstream: Aristotle Lane- to nowhere/ Trap Grounds/ allotments; Marston Ferry Road/ Marsh Town/ Marsh Lane; the A40/ Northern Bypass. Downstream: Wiers Lane/ Donnington Bridg connecting two North-South Roads Cow-ley Road and Abingdon Road; the Southern Bypass ... Nearly all these are 1950s-ish concrete spans, new in their day, and seeking, relatively successfully, to keep traffic away from the historic centre.

IMHO, this Botley Road underbridge did not need 'improving'. A stream of single-decker/ low-deckers from the Seacourt Park & Ride and/or a lowish mutl-storey car park in the Osney/ Station/ Roger Dudman Way area? HGVs if really needing to be there could access via North/ East/ South instead. Oxford easily walkable/ cyclable/ busable ...

 

[Zomboid]

It's the platform 5 span that's led to it, putting that in without lowering the road would most likely have just created something to be hit - and given the lack of alternative crossings it would have been hit frequently.

Botley Road was a very busy artery for the regional bus services, such as to Eynsham, Witney, Farringdon and various other places out that way, and single deckers wouldn't meet the demand on these routes (presumably they'd use them if they did). A lot of them have been taking a different route since the bridge closed, and it'll be interesting to see how many return to the Botley Road route. The Witney bus has been using Woodstock Road and the horror show that is the A40.

 

[JamesT]

This is Oxford, special and (self) important in every way!

There is little to nothing to the west of the river to connect Oxford with. Clue in the name: Ox Ford? Flood plain. The next bridges upstream: Aristotle Lane- to nowhere/ Trap Grounds/ allotments; Marston Ferry Road/ Marsh Town/ Marsh Lane; the A40/ Northern Bypass. Downstream: Wiers Lane/ Donnington Bridg connecting two North-South Roads Cow-ley Road and Abingdon Road; the Southern Bypass ... Nearly all these are 1950s-ish concrete spans, new in their day, and seeking, relatively successfully, to keep traffic away from the historic centre.

IMHO, this Botley Road underbridge did not need 'improving'. A stream of single-decker/ low-deckers from the Seacourt Park & Ride and/or a lowish mutl-storey car park in the Osney/ Station/ Roger Dudman Way area? HGVs if really needing to be there could access via North/ East/ South instead. Oxford easily walkable/ cyclable/ busable ...

Remember that the railway bridge is being widened with a new span for platform 5 and provision for a future span if platform 2 becomes through. Would you still have enough clearance with road as it was?
Going under that bridge as a cyclist was always a horrible experience, relatively narrow with just paint to segregate from the motor traffic.

 

[oxfordrelayer]

31-01-2026 is the instalation start date for the bridge

 

[djox]

I wonder if Network Rail are finally realising that they do have some duty to help the Botley Road businesses.

Botley Road businesses being 'supported', says Network Rail - BBC News

Network Rail says it is supporting those affected by the extended closure of Botley Road in Oxford.

www.bbc.co.uk

Or are they getting worried about the look if some of those business owners go to prison for refusing to pay business rates until something happens.

Oxford business owner 'willing to go to jail' over rates boycott

Botley Road has been closed at Oxford's train station since April 2023 and could reopen next year.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[BlueLeanie]

I wonder if Network Rail are finally realising that they do have some duty to help the Botley Road businesses.

It's only offering lightweight "legal advice".

Or are they getting worried about the look if some of those business owners go to prison for refusing to pay business rates until something happens.

Definitely not. Nobody is going to gaol for failing to pay business rates.

It's amazing that East Oxford MP, Anneliese Dodds, is stepping up to the plate and taking over some of Layla Moran's constituency work whilst she is off on bun leave after dropping a sprog recently.

 

[djox]

It's only offering lightweight "legal advice".


Definitely not. Nobody is going to gaol for failing to pay business rates.

It's amazing that East Oxford MP, Anneliese Dodds, is stepping up to the plate and taking over some of Layla Moran's constituency work whilst she is off on bun leave after dropping a sprog recently.

Yeah sounds like Annelie Dodds is fed up with the ex Network Rail boss now rail minister still thinking NR haven't done anything wrong by closing a main A road in Oxford for 3 years.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 May 2025 ==

Does anyone know what the record is for the longest A road closure due to building a railway bridge? 3 years seems likely to be a long way over the record.

 

[BlueLeanie]

Yeah sounds like Annelie Dodds is fed up with the ex Network Rail boss now rail minister still thinking NR haven't done anything wrong by closing a main A road in Oxford for 3 years.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 May 2025 ==

Does anyone know what the record is for the longest A road closure due to building a railway bridge? 3 years seems likely to be a long way over the record.

They are having excavate more than a century's worth of City, County, and University current and abandoned utilities first.

Can you name another UK City where the next nearest road crossing of the railway is 4.5km North or 3km South

 

[Snow1964]

DfT has published updates on level crossings in Oxford area, related to the improvements in Oxford corridor.

Long document written in legal format, but is minded to refuse Tackley level crossing closure

1. 21 May 2025
   Minded to refuse letter and report added.

Tackley level crossing: Transport and Works Act order

Application for approval to acquire land and close Tackley level crossing as part of the Oxford Phase 2A enhancement works TWA application.

www.gov.uk

 

[Zomboid]

Can you name another UK City where the next nearest road crossing of the railway is 4.5km North or 3km South

Most of that is because there's nothing on the other side, apart from where Botley Road crosses. To the north there's Port Meadow, and to the south there's Hinksey meadows going into whatever the rest of it's called.

I imagine that if there were a reason to provide a rail crossing, it would have been done, but with all the floodplains in the area there just isn't.

 

[fishwomp]

DfT has published updates on level crossings in Oxford area, related to the improvements in Oxford corridor.

Long document written in legal format, but is minded to refuse Tackley level crossing closure

Tackley level crossing: Transport and Works Act order

Application for approval to acquire land and close Tackley level crossing as part of the Oxford Phase 2A enhancement works TWA application.

www.gov.uk

It's a good job it's been closed for a few years whilst everyone has had the chance to think about it!

Bit of a long read, but I think the gist is: procedural challenges - consultation not seen as done right, and a few new mods to gates on the new route. A small bit of objection with 'oh, it's safe with a crossing'.. and most of it coverage about how NR have considered horses (quite extensively IMHO), but the horses seem to have objections still - more sugar lumps required.

 

[Edvid]

Lord Hendy and Sir Andrew Haines are scheduled to visit Oxford again this morning, with residents in a particularly delightful mood as a water pipe burst on Cripley Place yesterday and houses in the area + the Botley Road walkway have been flooded.

Thames Water were testing the second pipe requiring diversion (125mm water main) and had to replace an air valve. It's not clear if that was a factor.

 

[getziggy]

The flood yesterday was quite dramatic, and almost certainly related to the testing and fixing of the new ‘small’ pipe. When it happened there were Thames Water contractors everywhere.

The visit of the great Lord Hendy would explain the legions of well dressed network rail and Kier contractors crawling the site this morning. You only see them when someone special comes, otherwise we are left to deal with the mess. Also all busses are still turning and boarding on Ferry Hinksey. Actually not a bad long term plan….

 

[BrianW]

The flood yesterday was quite dramatic, and almost certainly related to the testing and fixing of the new ‘small’ pipe. When it happened there were Thames Water contractors everywhere.

The visit of the great Lord Hendy would explain the legions of well dressed network rail and Kier contractors crawling the site this morning. You only see them when someone special comes, otherwise we are left to deal with the mess. Also all busses are still turning and boarding on Ferry Hinksey. Actually not a bad long term plan….

Welcome to the Forum!
A contribution to the flood of good news for delivering renewal of the City of Dreaming Spires' infrastructure.

 

[Edvid]

The government have agreed to set aside a goodwill pot of £850,000 for small businesses affected by the ongoing works; Network Rail will write to them in due course.

In addition it was revealed the project cost has risen by almost two-thirds to £261 million half to £231 million.* Based on the FAQs linked in post #416 I believe that new figure just covers the Botley Road works rather than Oxfordshire Connect as a whole.

[* BBC correction]

Botley Road: Goodwill cash over three-year road closure in Oxford

Some local firms impacted by the Botley Road closure will be eligible for one-off payments.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[sidesprinter]

The government have agreed to set aside a goodwill pot of £850,000 for small businesses affected by the ongoing works; Network Rail will write to them in due course.

In addition it was revealed the project cost has risen by almost two-thirds to £261 million half to £231 million.* Based on the FAQs linked in post #416 I believe that new figure just covers the Botley Road works rather than Oxfordshire Connect as a whole.

[* BBC correction]

Botley Road: Goodwill cash over three-year road closure in Oxford

Some local firms impacted by the Botley Road closure will be eligible for one-off payments.

www.bbc.co.uk

No chance it's £230 million just to lower a road and replace a bridge. The costs have gone up but that is a hilarious number.

 

[Zomboid]

No chance it's £230 million just to lower a road and replace a bridge. The costs have gone up but that is a hilarious number.

The whole project includes a new entrance to the station a new platform. I could believe that the whole job being that kind of money might be true.

No doubt things taking so much longer then planned has added a lot of cost though.

 

[themiller]

New bridge(s), establish new platform, track remodelling, signalling modifications, station building modifications, regrading Botley Road and not forgetting the costs involved when the station’s unavailable because of the aforementioned. It all adds up!

 

[BrianW]

No chance it's £230 million just to lower a road and replace a bridge. The costs have gone up but that is a hilarious number.

Welcome Sidesprinter to the Forum.

One must wonder whether the 'improvements' and the hoped for benefits will be worth it. Who pays? We all do- whether it's a pound on each of 230 milion journeys, or so much per Oxford Council Tax payer, or howevermany soon to be former beneficiaries of benefits payments, or ...

It's certainly the case though, as Themiller points out, there are a lot of associated costs to take into account, as well as consideration of what the money could have been spent on instead, so-called 'Opportunity costs' IIUC.

 

[Nottingham59]

One must wonder whether the 'improvements' and the hoped for benefits will be worth it.

With hindsight, they would have been better off building the new bridge at a higher elevation, leading to a new platform island on the West side of the station around 2m above the level of the exsting.

 

[Zomboid]

With hindsight, they would have been better off building the new bridge at a higher elevation, leading to a new platform island on the West side of the station around 2m above the level of the exsting.

That would have been a much bigger rebuild of the existing, though with hindsight not digging up the road might have been worth it.

 

[JamesT]

With hindsight, they would have been better off building the new bridge at a higher elevation, leading to a new platform island on the West side of the station around 2m above the level of the exsting.

How wide a bridge are you suggesting would be built? Only two tracks for this new island, or taking any of the other lines?
The new bridge currently being built will have provision for a future through platform on the East side of the station, how would you handle that?
The station is also a relatively constrained site, if you’re putting tracks at an elevated level then you’ll need a long gradient to get them back to the same level as the existing railway. Especially to the North with Roger Dudman Way and the canal bridge is there space for that?
Not replacing the existing bridge means you’re still stuck with a low bridge that can’t take standard double deckers.

 

[Nottingham59]

How wide a bridge are you suggesting would be built? Only two tracks for this new island, or taking any of the other lines?

One track would add capacity, but two would be better. All I'm saying is that with hindsight they should have left the current bridge where it is.

The new bridge currently being built will have provision for a future through platform on the East side of the station, how would you handle that?

With an extra two tracks to the west, and a new island platform, you don't need a through platform to the east.

The station is also a relatively constrained site,

Not as constrained as the space beneath Botley Road ....

if you’re putting tracks at an elevated level then you’ll need a long gradient to get them back to the same level as the existing railway.

Raising the elevation by 2m requires 200m of incline at 1%. That's not so much

Especially to the North with Roger Dudman Way and the canal bridge is there space for that?

You mean the station staff car park? Probably. Again, there's a lot more space over the canal than there is under Botley Road. Whoever signed off the work without adequate ground investigation does not deserve to keep the title Civil Engineer.

Not replacing the existing bridge means you’re still stuck with a low bridge that can’t take standard double deckers.

There are plenty of new models of double decker that can fit under Botley Road bridge. It was a myth that buses of the right height weren't available.