'Pretty lousy' rail station needs more investment

Plans to transform the site are only due to start in to 2031

The man in charge of bringing growth to Oxfordshire has described Oxford Railway Station as "pretty lousy" and says it will probably need more public money to bring it up to standard.

Neale Coleman, chair of the Oxford Growth Commission, has called for an "ambitious" programme to redevelop the station to make it a "first class entry to the city".

Network Rail said it would "look in detail" at both the opportunities and challenges of the site and what could potentially be delivered.

The first part of the redevelopment programme is due to be completed by next summer, including upgrades for trains to run on the East-West Rail service and the reopening of Botley Road.

Chair of the Oxford Growth Commission, Neale Coleman, has called the current Oxford Railway Station as "pretty lousy".

But plans to transform the site into a "landmark station and gateway" are only due to start in to 2031.

According to Oxfordshire County Council's OxRAIL 2040: Plan for Rail, if everything stays on track, the fully redeveloped station and surrounding area should be ready by 2037.

Mr Coleman confirmed he was working with Network Rail, Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council to bring in a new design team to work out the details, including establishing the potential cost of the wider development.

"Crucially, we probably will need more public funding, but it must be a key priority. That station is not good enough for Oxford, it's not good enough for any city frankly, but certainly not one with the ambitions we have," he said.

Suggestions include a new underpass between platforms, the extension of the Marylebone platform and two new buildings on either side of the station to welcome passengers.

Alongside calls for more practical improvements to the station, members of pressure group, Oxon4Buses, say the designs should include a new bus hub for the area.

They have started a petition, signed by more than 1,400 people, calling for Network Rail to leave a "positive legacy" at Oxford Station and include "a public transport interchange that allows seamless transfer between rail, bus, cycling and walking".

A spokesperson for Network Rail said "We are at the very start of the process for the station masterplan with the appointment of an architect being part of the first stage.

"Ahead of any design work starting, we will look in detail at both the opportunities and challenges of the site and what could potentially be delivered.

"This will include the type of development that is most appropriate for a station masterplan, and also provision of parking and wider infrastructure connectivity for buses, cyclists and pedestrians."

The company has confirmed it will work with user groups, the local community and station customers to help shape the programme as it progresses.

Members of pressure group, Oxon4Buses, are calling on Network Rail to leave a "positive legacy" for Oxford