Trains to Oxford - Station Details and further Information on Oxford Train Services
Oxford is a mainline train 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 CrossCountry and occasionally Chiltern Railways trains.
The Great Western Railway was first opened to Oxford in 1844, with a station in what is now Western Road, Grandpont. The passenger station moved to its present site in 1852. Major subsequent changes were removal of the last 7 ft ¼ in (2,140 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. |