Oxford City Station Phase 2C Botley Road
Oxfordshire Connect – Oxford Rail Station and area upgrade.
Network Rail is investing £161 million in expanding Oxford Station with a new platform and western entrance, as well as significant improvements to the area beneath Botley Road bridge. The full replacement of the bridge over Botley Road will also address.
- the vehicle headroom issues below the bridges (by lowering Botley Road)
- the historic local flooding incidents (by improving the drainage provisions)
- the Active Travel issues (by providing new pedestrian and cycleways)
We are working with Network Rail and its contractor, Kier, to deliver the work. Before the bridge can be physically replaced later this year, all utility services that currently run underneath the road need to be diverted. This means the road has been closed at the bridge.
Between Saturday 27 and Wednesday 31 July 2024, rail lines through Oxford will be closed while Botley Road bridge is replaced. For further information about how this will impact train services in the area visit https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/planned-engineering/oxford
Businesses along Botley Road and Osney Mead will remain open as normal during the works.
Travel guidance
Until the end of October 2024:
Motorists who usually use Botley Road to get into the city are advised to use one of the city’s park and ride sites (Seacourt is on Botley Road) or to take an alternative route into the city.
Until the end of April 2024, passengers can take advantage of a combined ticket at a reduced price which covers both parking and return bus travel at a rate of £4 for a car with only one adult, or £5 for a car and two adults. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.
The closure is expected to increase traffic on other main routes into the city, such as Abingdon, Woodstock and Banbury Roads.
Buses are dropping passengers off at Osney Bridge so people can continue their journey to the railway station and the city centre on foot. For more information about specific services please visit
Pedestrians and cyclists will have access to the railway station and onwards into the city throughout the work. Alternate routes include:
- Via Roger Dudman Way and Walton Well Road into Jericho
- Via Osney Lane footbridge (please note this route is not accessible)
- Further information about local cycle routes
National Highways repairs to A34 Botley Interchange
National Highways have installed traffic management around the A34 Botley Interchange so they can carry out essential repairs to keep the structure safe.
There are narrow lanes, lane closures and reduced speed limits in place 24/7 to protect their workforce and the travelling public.
They’ve also put in extra measures to ease congestion levels around the junction, including additional advance warning signs and road markings to help drivers get into the correct lane earlier and changes to the traffic light phasing. They are advising people to take extra care, plan ahead, follow the signs, and leave extra time for their journey.
Accessible transport
For anyone who needs assistance getting to or from the city centre, there is an accessible bus service called The Botley Road Flyer operating from Osney and Botley. It runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, taking people into town via Woodstock Road and Jericho. This includes stops in Summertown, at the Jericho Health Centre and Beaumont Street Surgery, as well as the Westgate Centre.
- West Oxford Community Centre – 10am pick up
- Bus stop by Magenta self-storage – 10.05am pick up
- Bus stop on West Way next to Elms Parade shops – 10.10am pick up.
The timings for return journeys from town start from 1pm but vary depending on number of passengers and where they need to stop etc. Please be assured that the drivers make pick up arrangements with each passenger before dropping them off.
The bus can take 12 passengers at a time, plus space for one wheelchair (please note the vehicle can be adapted to accommodate more wheelchairs but needs advance warning) If you have specific accessibility requirements, then please call 01865 768329 to make arrangements. For more specific information about the service email oxfordphase2@networkrail.co.uk
People who are unable to use public or other transport due to their medical condition can use the non-emergency patient transport service for getting to healthcare appointments. For further information visit www.scas.nhs.uk/what-we-do/nepts/
Local residents' access to their homes will remain at all times, with some diversions in place.
Local businesses on Botley Road and Osney Mead will remain open and accessible to vehicles via the west end of Botley Road only.
Coaches: City centre coach bays for set-down and pick-up purposes will remain in use during the Botley Road closure.
- St Aldate's South (northbound) - just south of the Combined Court OX11TL
- Beaumont Street (westbound) - just outside the Playhouse OX1 2LW
- St Giles' (northbound) - in the lay-by by the Taylorian OX1 3NA
Coach operators are advised to follow the diversion routes, including Abingdon Road, which will be in operation during the closure and advertised via electronic signs.
Electric scooters: These can be used to travel across the works area, although riders will need to push their e-scooters through a small section of the roadworks site - like cyclists.
The nearest parking bays on the west side of construction can be found at Botley Road (between West Oxford Community Centre and Twenty Pound Meadow Allotments) and the corner of West Way and North Hinksey Lane (near McDonalds). Details about how to use them are available on the Voi website.
Trains will operate as normal. Any temporary impact on services will be advertised well in advance. For more information please visit:
For information about the rail replacement services that will operate during this time visit https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/planned-engineering/oxford
Keep informed
For information on the project visit networkrail.co.uk/oxfordshireconnect or for the latest highways information www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxfordstation
Anyone wishing to get the latest information on the project can sign up to receive e-mail updates at lineside.networkrail.co.uk/oxfordshireconnect