Updated September 2023
What’s happening
This year Network Rail will be advancing their plans to improve the railway around Oxford station as part of the Oxfordshire Connect programme.
This project aims to provide Oxford with extra capacity for more trains as well as better accessibility at the station itself.
These works involve:
- Extensive signalling and track improvements, allowing trains to run at higher speeds
- Bridge expansion to fit additional tracks
- Building a new platform to help ease congestion
- A new west entrance
The full programme is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. For more details visit Network Rail’s Oxfordshire Connect webpage.
This page will guide you through what’s happening, highlighting when trains will be affected and providing clear advice to help you travel as smoothly as possible during this time.
When are train services affected?
Please be aware that details for work in 2024 are still being planned and agreed. We will update this page with more details once these are confirmed.
How these works will affect trains
No trains will be able to run to or from Oxford. Replacement buses will run instead.
Download a PDF version of this map (PDF, 454 KB).
Great Western Railway services
- Trains will continue to run between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway
- Trains will also run to a revised timetable between Hanborough and Worcester/Great Malvern/Hereford
- A limited number of direct trains will continue to run between London Paddington and Worcester using an alternative route
- Replacement buses will run between Didcot Parkway, Oxford and Hanborough, as well as between Oxford and Banbury
CrossCountry services
- Trains will continue to run trains between Didcot Parkway and Reading/Bournemouth
- Replacement buses will run between Didcot Parkway and Birmingham International to connect with trains
Chiltern Railways services
- Trains will continue to run between London Marylebone and Oxford Parkway
- Replacement buses from Oxford will connect with trains at Oxford Parkway
Our advice
- Check carefully before travelling, departure times may be different to normal
- Journey times on diverted trains or replacement buses will be extended so allow plenty of time to arrive at your destination
- Consider travelling the day before or after for a smoother journey
- If you need to travel, consider starting your journey from a different station. Trains towards London run direct from Didcot Parkway and Oxford Parkway and these stations have plenty of car parking spaces
Replacement buses
Avoiding Oxford
| Route | Frequency | End-to-end journey time |
|---|---|---|
| Didcot Parkway – Hanborough | Hourly | 40 minutes |
| Didcot Parkway – Birmingham International (non-stop, operated by CrossCountry) | Hourly | 1 hour 45 minutes |
To/from Oxford
| Route | Frequency | End-to-end journey time |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham International – Leamington Spa – Banbury – Oxford (operated by CrossCountry) | Hourly | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Banbury – Kings Sutton – Heyford – Tackley – Oxford | 3 journeys a day | 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Hanborough – Oxford | Hourly | 35 minutes |
| Didcot Parkway – Oxford (non-stop) | Every 20 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Didcot Parkway – Radley – Oxford | Hourly | 65 minutes |
| Oxford Parkway – Oxford (operated by Chiltern Railways) | Every 30 minutes | 20 minutes |
Where to catch our replacement buses
Buses will depart from the following locations:
| Station | Bus stop location |
|---|---|
| Appleford | Unmarked bus stops in the village on B4016 near the notice board and post box |
| Banbury | Front of the station |
| Birmingham International | Front of the station opposite the entrance to the long-stay car park |
| Culham | By the steps at the rear of the Railway Inn on the old road |
| Didcot Parkway | Short-stay car park |
| Hanborough | Station car park |
| Heyford | Front of the station |
| Kings Sutton | Kings Sutton village square, near The White Horse |
| Leamington Spa | The bus stop on Old Warwick Road (outside station) |
| Oxford | Beckett Street car park |
| Oxford Parkway | Front of the station |
| Radley | Bus stops on Foxborough Road, near the Boyer Arms |
| Tackley | Bus stops on Medcroft Road by the grass triangle |
Have any questions about our replacement buses?
Some of our replacement bus routes for these works cover a large distance so it’s important to know what to expect when travelling on these services.
Please visit our Replacement Buses page for all the information you need, including:
- Types of replacement buses we operate
- Travelling with animals, bikes, pushchairs or large items of luggage
- On-board facilities
- Changing between train and bus
- Accessibility
Help with your journey
If you are not able to travel on our replacement services, an accessible taxi can be arranged for you. You can do this by:
- booking in advance at GWR.com/PassengerAssist
- speaking to a member of staff at the station on the day of travel*
- use the Help Point available at all of our stations on the day of travel*
*please allow additional time as an accessible taxi may not be available immediately. Booking in advance is the best way to ensure a smooth journey.
Further information
For more specific information on the works or other train operators, please use the following links:
- Network Rail – for detail of the upgrades taking place to Oxford station
- CrossCountry – travel information for trains between Birmingham and Bournemouth
- Chiltern Railways – travel information for trains between Oxford and London Marylebone
Still have questions?
If there is something you would like to ask us, get in touch with our team on social media, on Facebook orTwitter.