A Public Transport Hub for Oxford

In 2004 Oxfordshire County Council commissioned studies to establish and review options for improvements to Oxford Railway Station, two of which involved re-location of the station to a new site at Oxpens. However, it was concluded that neither of these options was feasible, owing to the absence of realistic prospects for funding. In the event, none of the options was progressed, and no station improvement has taken place to date.

Late in 2011, a parcel of land at Oxpens, key to any re-location project was presented for sale, and it emerged that there have been dramatic changes in the circumstances surrounding any proposals for station improvements. The potential sale of the land, the enormous increase in both passenger and freight traffic, and the new climate of investment represents a unique and final opportunity to consider construction of a genuine, integrated transport hub for city. Oxford Civic Society has been lobbying for this proposal to be considered seriously once more, before the opportunity is lost forever. The matter was introduced to a House of Commons debate on 17^th April 2012 by Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East, and an undertaking was given by the Under Secretary responsible, the Rt Hon Norman Baker, to look into the relocation proposal. The Society prepared a briefing paper for Andrew Smith setting out the position. which he forwarded to Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for Transport, eliciting positive confirmation that the option for relocation of the station would be given consideration. Her response can be seen here. Meanwhile, Lord Bradshaw received a very similar response from Theresa Villiers, Under Secretary of State for Rail.

On the strength of these encouraging signals, the Society has now collaborated with Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council in the commissioning of an update to the 2004 Arup report, as a first step in the serious review of the Oxpens relocation option.