Great Western Railway London to Oxford line upgrade

Work affects rail journeys during first two weeks of August

Great Western Railway passengers' journeys during the first two weeks in August will be affected by flood protection work between Oxford and Didcot Parkway.

Great Western Railway (GWR) has advised the work, to raise the height of tracks to protect them against flooding, will take place between Oxford and Didcot Parkway and starts on Saturday July 30 and continues until Sunday 14 August.

Additional signalling improvement work will also see the railway between Oxford and Banbury closed from Saturday July 30 to Sunday August 7 (for signalling improvements), and for bridge repair work between Oxford and Hanborough from Wednesday August 3, to Sunday August 7.

Buses will replace trains between Oxford and Didcot Parkway, while some other services will be diverted around the work.

Oxford Station Manager Richard Fry said:

“We’ve worked closely with Oxfordshire County Council and Network Rail to make sure customers can still get to where they need to go while the work is happening.

We’re encouraging people to plan their journeys ahead of time through National Rail Enquiries to make sure they pick the route that is best for them.

Interim travel arrangements:

Oxford to Didcot:

Rail replacement coaches will operate in both directions up to every 12 minutes taking approximately 30-40 minutes; where customers can connect for onward services.

Oxford to London:

In addition to usual services between South Wales, Bristol and Cheltenham Spa (calling at Didcot), the following services will also operate:

· An hourly service between London Paddington and Didcot calling at Slough and Reading

· Two stopping services an hour calling at London Thames Valley stations between London Paddington and Didcot

Oxford to Hereford:

· One service an hour between Oxford and Worcester Foregate Street, with connecting London Midland services to Hereford

· Peak hour trains in both directions between London Paddington and Worcester will be diverted via Cheltenham Spa extending journey times by 40 minutes

GWR rail tickets will be accepted on Chiltern Railway services and a number of local bus routes.

BUS SERVICES

The Thames Travel T2 service from Oxford to Abingdon via Cowley, Berinsfield and Culham will run to an amended timetable for the duration of the works.

This service will also provide a new peak time connection from Cowley and Oxford City Centre towards Hinksey Hill and Bagley Wood to Culham and Berinsfield.