Network Rail is expected to start nine days of track work around Oxford Train Station on Saturday, 29 July, which means the station will close until Monday, 07 August.
During these dates (Saturday, 29 July and Sunday, 06 August), buses will replace trains on all routes serving Oxford while Network Rail upgrades to track and signalling in readiness for future services to and from Milton Keynes.
Holders of car parking passes specific to Oxford or Radley stations can continue to use Didcot Parkway station car park until 06 August.
Read more: Changes in bus services due to Botley Road rail bridge closure
This weekend, though, will see further work taking place on Osney Lane footbridge, including some tasks taking place overnight (Saturday night into Sunday morning) as they need the line closed for safety reasons.
Unfortunately, this task is expected to produce noise, and the contractors apologise for any inconvenience it may cause. It’s a safety requirement that vehicles operating at night need to use their horn to make people on the ground aware that it’s going to be moving.
There were plans to close access to the footbridge from this weekend to allow for part of the walkway to be removed, but that has now been postponed until the following weekend. That means it will remain open for another week.
Later in the week, on Tuesday (25 July) night, to be precise, there is going to be some work at the entrance to the Oxpens site on Osney Lane, between the Student Castle and Royal Mail buildings.
Read more: Closure of Botley Road at the rail bridge gets off to a positive start
The work is to improve the entrance and make it accessible for vehicles that are low to the ground which will need to use the site over the coming weeks, including buses.
The work will be carried out at night when traffic in the area is low. Like the work on the footbridge, this can generate some noise at times, and the contractors apologise for any disruption caused.
Work in the Frideswide Square area is continuing and has now extended down Becket Street towards the station car park. People travelling through the location are being asked to be mindful, especially as the cycle lane is temporarily closed at the junction onto Frideswide Square.
Space in the area is becoming restricted because of the size of the work area. The entrance/exit point from the walkway onto the road in Frideswide Square, near Domino’s, has become particularly challenging. As such, the signage around the area has been moved around to clear more space around the tactile paving.
If you are a cyclist that travels through that area, do be extra cautious when approaching the closure point by the station in Frideswide Square along the road. Please slow down as you approach the pedestrian area, dismount before proceeding into the walkway and look out for people coming in the opposite direction.
Finally, train operator GWR (Great Western Railway) held passenger engagement sessions in the station this week to help increase awareness and answer questions from people.
They also posted letters to houses located right by the railway line between Walton Well Road bridge and Aristotle Lane footbridge to remind them of the work that will take place near them. This includes the installation of three new high-speed crossovers and signalling work.
Planned industrial action on 22 and 29 July.
The RMT union has announced strike action that will affect rail services on Thursday, 20, Saturday, 22, and Saturday, 29 July.
In addition, there could be further disruption from Monday 17 to Saturday 22 July and from Monday 31 July to Saturday 05 August due to industrial action short of a strike by the Aslef union. This is likely to cause some short-notice alterations or cancellations. Please check your journey before setting out.
