Engineering work means there will be no trains between Didcot Parkway and Oxford from Tuesday 27 December 2011 to Monday 2 January 2012. This is to enable Network Rail to replace points at Didcot East and Didcot North Junctions.

What does this mean?

No trains will be able to run between Didcot Parkway and Oxford in either direction. First Great Western services on the North Cotswold line will start from and terminate at Oxford, CrossCountry train services from Newcastle and Manchester will also terminate at Oxford. First Great Western local stopping services to and from Banbury will operate as usual along with the
services on the Bicester Link operated by Chiltern Railways. First Great Western services running through Didcot will continue to operate providing connections from Didcot to London Paddington,
Reading, Bristol and destinations in the West of England and South Wales.

Replacement bus services

There will be three different bus services:

1. A direct Oxford to Didcot Parkway service taking approximately 30 minutes. Up to four departures per hour in each direction.
2. A ‘local stopping service' between Oxford and Didcot Parkway calling at Radley, Culham and Appleford. Up to four departures per hour in each direction.
3. A direct Oxford to Winchester service taking 80 minutes connecting with Cross Country services to and from Bournemouth, Southampton and Basingstoke.

Car park changes

In order to operate the replacement bus services, the short stay and disabled car park at Oxford and the West Car Park at Didcot Parkway will closed from 02:00 Wednesday 21 December 2011 to 02:00 Wednesday 4 January 2012.

Alternative short stay and disabled parking facilities will be provided in the Long Stay car park at Oxford (off Becket Street). This car park offers step-free access to and from the station and is approximately five minutes walk away. No waiting, loading or unloading will be permitted on Oxford station forecourt and customers being collected or dropped off at Oxford should also use the long stay car park.

Customers who are permit holders for Didcot West Car Park will be permitted to park in either the East or Foxhall car parks at Didcot without additional charge for the duration of the rail closure.

If you hold a valid car park season ticket for Oxford station car park, you can park at Didcot Parkway at Foxhall Car Park, for the duration of the line closure, should you wish to avoid travelling by replacement bus to/from Oxford. There are three car parks at Didcot Parkway, but please note that due to capacity issues, you may only park at Foxhall Car Park with an Oxford station season ticket.

One bit of good news

The good news from First Great Western is that the time restrictions which normally apply to Off-Peak, Off-Peak Day, Super Off-Peak, Ranger and Rover tickets will be waived from 24 December 2011 to 2 January 2012 inclusive, allowing people to travel at any time of day with cheaper tickets during the holiday period.

Pocket timetables will be available from your local station from Friday 25 November or First Great Western website from Friday 11 December 2011. Further information and timetables

Leaflet (PDF 160kB)

Radley Station