Why do we need provision for buses at the new train station?

Better public transport, and seamless connection between different forms of transport, will be key to reducing congestion in and around Oxford. As the petition says, the redesign of the Oxford train station is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform Oxford’s transport system, and buses are an integral part of this.

The planned increase in train services amplifies the need for a station design that includes a proper bus hub to accommodate those travelling to and from the station.

A combined bus/rail interchange would bring more people to the station area, increasing the value and development opportunities of everything around that site, whether part of Network Rails development or others nearby, and increasing the potential number of rail passengers – a win-win.

Why is this urgent?

Network Rail are due to allocate the contract for the design of the train station site on 28 October 2025. A design that omits provision for buses would conflict with the Oxford Local Plan and Oxford Station Masterplan, so decision-makers need to rectify this omission now, before the design work gets underway.

Why have Network Rail omitted a bus hub from the tender?

We don’t know. Previous plans have included provision for bus access and comprehensive bus parking, including most recently the West End and Osney Mead supplementary planning documents.

Oxon4Buses has contacted Network Rail, Oxford City Council, Oxford Bus Company and other stakeholders. A first reply on behalf of Network Rail states “buses are always going to be an important part of the future of Oxford station’” but does not explain why buses have been omitted from the tender document.

How to help pedestrians?

Relatively few bus services come to the present station, partly because of limited space. This means most people have to trundle their cases and buggies along narrow, uneven pavements (such as Hythe Bridge Street) to find the bus they need, whatever the weather and despite limited mobility in some cases. This is not the welcome we would like to give our visitors and fellow travellers. 

Do we need a multi-storey car park?

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to reducing congestion from cars in the centre of Oxford, by introducing a congestion charge on 29 October, followed by traffic filters when Botley Road bridge is open. If these policies are successful, as we hope they will be, then there should be many less cars parking at the station. 

Is a multi-storey car park a good economic choice?

It seems odd that Network Rail should prioritise a multi-storey car park over buses, when most parked cars have resulted in just one person coming to the station, once a day, whereas buses are continually delivering many passengers, throughout the day. 

What about Gloucester Green?

The airport buses and other long-distance services use Gloucester Green on George Street as their terminus. This is an awkward and unattractive site, so we want consideration to be given to moving these services into the bus hub at the Oxford rail station. Let’s have joined up thinking about joined up travel. 

Why now?

Oxfordshire County Council are designing improvements to movement around the centre of Oxford and to creating a better sense of place for our historic city. The bus and cycle networks are already under consideration. These would be facilitated by new bus routes going to the station and freeing up space. 

Can a bus station ever be attractive?

Yes, look at this one in Portsmouth (The Hard).

Photo by Daniel Wright, 2017 [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]