Oxford railway station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oxford | |||
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Location | |||
Place | Oxford | ||
Local authority | Oxford | ||
Operations | |||
Managed by | First Great Western | ||
Platforms in use | 3 | ||
Annual Passenger Usage | |||
2004/05 ** | 3.956 million | ||
History | |||
1852 1971 1990 |
First opened Rebuilt Rebuilt |
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National Rail - UK railway stations | |||
Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Oxford. | |||
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Oxford is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about ten minutes walk to the west of the city centre, and on the line linking Reading with Birmingham New Street. It is also on the line for express trains from London Paddington to Hereford via Worcester. It is the starting point for fast trains to Paddington and for local trains to Reading, Worcester and Bicester Town.
The station is operated by First Great Western, and also used by Virgin Trains.
[edit] History
The Great Western Railway was first opened to Oxford in 1844, but the passenger station moved to its present site in 1852. Major subsequent changes were removal of the last 7 ft 0¼ in (2140 mm) gauge tracks in 1872 and of the train shed in 1890-1. The station was substantially rebuilt by the Western Region of British Railways in 1971, and the new main building and footbridge were added in 1990.
The station has been a busy one throughout its life. In addition to the services seen today, there were others over the former branch lines to Princes Risborough, Witney and Fairford, and Blenheim for Woodstock. Through trains from the north to the Southern Railway also typically changed locomotives at Oxford.
It was for a time known as “Oxford General” station to distinguish it from the London and North Western Railway Oxford Rewley Road station (terminus of the "Varsity Line" from Cambridge) which was adjacent and came under joint management in 1933. This was closed to passengers in 1951 and services transferred to the ex-G.W.R. station.
[edit] Bibliography
- Waters, Laurence (1986). Rail centres: Oxford. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1590-2
- Vaughan, Adrian (1994). The heart of the Great Western. Silver Link Publishing. ISBN 1-85794-026-1
[edit] External links
- Train times and station information for Oxford railway station from National Rail
- Street map and aerial photo of Oxford railway station from Multimap.com
Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
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Reading or Didcot Parkway | First Great Western Intercity services Cotswold Line |
Hanborough | ||
Radley | First Great Western Cherwell Valley Line |
Tackley Terminates at Oxford on Sundays |
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First Great Western Oxford-Bicester Town |
Islip Terminates at Oxford on Sundays |
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Reading | Virgin Trains Cherwell Valley Line |
Banbury |