Reopening of Botley Road, Oxford
Oxford Station expansion and area upgrade
Botley Road has been closed at the railway bridge since April 2023 as part of the expansion of Oxford Station to enable an increase in train services. After several delays, it is due to reopen to traffic on Sunday 20 September 2026.
Travel guidance from 20 September 2026
Buses
Oxfordshire’s main bus companies have announced service improvements to coincide with the reopening of Botley Road.
Stagecoach is enhancing its bus services and providing a new hospital link between Oxford and west Oxfordshire as part of a series of changes, giving customers more frequent services, improved connectivity, and better access to key destinations. Details can be found here, including updated timetable information:
Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel are also making changes to their bus network from 20 September 2026, following the reopening of Botley Road. These changes are designed to improve connectivity across Oxfordshire, with more frequent services, new cross-city connections, and more buses during evenings and on weekends, as well as revised timetables to improve punctuality and reliability. Details are available on the link below:
During the road closure, the Botley Flyer has provided an accessible, free minibus service between west Oxford and the city centre. The final Botley Flyer services will run on Saturday 19 September. From 20 September, it will be replaced by commercial bus services.
Bus stops and services from 20 September 2026
- S1 – route changed to run in and out of Oxford via Botley Road. Terminates at Magdalen Street East (inbound) and commences from George Street (outbound). This service operates to Farmoor, Eynsham, Witney and Carterton.
- S1A – new route, the same as S1 at the Oxford end, but only runs as far as Witney (Windrush Estate) at the other end.
- S2 – New route running between Oxford Railway Station and Carterton, via Woodstock Road and Witney.
- S2X – withdrawn.
- S3 – No change to the route in Oxford
- S3A – New route, the same as S3 in Oxford, but is for the Charlbury leg only. (S3 is now Chipping Norton only)
- S4 and X4 – no change
- S5 – no longer a limited stop service. Normal stopping over full route.
- S6 – Extended past Botley Road to terminate at Gloucester Green Bus Station (Bay 13).
- S7 – no change
- S9 – Extended through Botley Road to John Radcliffe Hospital via the City Centre, replacing Service 14 using the old route between Oxford and John Radcliffe Hospital.
- H5 – now operated by Oxford Bus Company.
- 14 – withdrawn, see S9 for replacement.
There are no changes to other local routes.
Seacourt Park and Ride
Following the reopening of Botley Road, buses from Seacourt Park and Ride will operate directly into the city centre rather than stopping at Osney Island, making it a much more attractive option for travellers.
Oxford Bus Company’s 400 service will be reintroduced to Seacourt Park and Ride, providing a frequency of up to every 10 minutes. The 4B and 600 have been retained. The 4B will extend into Oxford upon the reopening of Botley Road.
A combined ticket for parking and bus travel costs £3. The ticket covers return travel for up to five people of any age and up to 16 hours of parking for one car. Details are available here:
Walking and wheeling
Two new, four-metre-wide walkways/cycleways will run under the rail bridge, one on either side of Botley Road.
The walkways will be two-way. The cycleways will be one-way, in line with the direction of traffic. To cycle from west Oxford towards the city centre, use the northern walkway (on the station side of Botley Road). To cycle from the city centre towards west Oxford, use the southern walkway (past the Westgate Hotel, on the Becket Street side of Botley Road).
The pedestrian walkway is paved and the cycleway is tarmacked.
The new walkway/cycleway on the southern side is already open, running between Frideswide Square and Botley Road. Network Rail is working to bring the northern walkway opening date in line with the reopening of Botley Road on 20 September. The opening date for the northern walkway/cycleway will be confirmed week commencing 14 September.
Cyclists and scooter users have been asked to dismount on the walkway while construction works have been taking place. When both walkways/cycleways are open, bike and scooter users will be able to cycle/scoot under the bridge on the new cycleways.
Trains
The reopening of Botley Road does not impact train services.
For more information about train services visit:
The temporary passenger assistance gate between Platform 4 and Roger Dudman Way will close from 20 September.
This was temporarily made available while Botley Road was closed, to provide access to the station for people with reduced mobility, with a temporary drop off and collection point next to this gate. When Botley Road reopens on 20 September, this access will no longer be available, and the gate will not be staffed after 9pm on 19 September.
Motorists
While drivers will be able to use Botley Road to access and exit Oxford city centre from 20 September, they should be aware of changes since it was last open in 2023.
There is a temporary Congestion Charge in place, including a charging point on Hythe Bridge Street every day from 7am - 7pm. Details are available here:
However, from Monday 28 September this will be replaced by the traffic filters trial which will operate in a similar way to the current congestion charge scheme, with traffic filters remaining at the same six locations and a permit scheme available.
The key difference is that, from 28 September, car drivers will no longer be able to pay the £5 congestion charge to go through the traffic filters. Cars with valid permits and all other vehicles can travel through the filters at all times. However, with Botley Road open, everywhere in Oxford will be accessible by car without driving through a traffic filter.
The trial will run under an experimental traffic regulation order and could remain in place for up to 18 months. Details are available here:
Thames Water is continuing repair work to its mains pipe on Osney Bridge, Botley Road. From 19 September it will switch to night-time working only (8pm - 6am) to finish the project, with a lane closure and traffic management in place during these times.
The parking spaces in Becket Street car park that have been used during construction of the new rail bridge and road will be reinstated from 20 September.
A new footbridge will open on 20 September, linking Becket Street car park to the front of Oxford station.
Large vehicles
The raised height of the new bridge is suitable for most vehicles on the road, including all local double decker bus services. Warning signs will be in place to advise of the 4.4 metre height clearance, including on the ring road.
Useful links
Sign up for email updates about Network Rail’s Oxford Station improvements at:
For further information about Oxfordshire Connect, visit:
If you’re using sustainable or active travel, download and use the BetterPoints app to earn reward points that have monetary value: