Passengers travelling through Oxford station could benefit from new entrances, better onward travel connections, and a station designed to handle the city’s rapid growth, as Network Rail appoints a masterplanning team led by Hawkins\Brown, in collaboration with 5th Studio.
Oxford station already sees over 8 million passengers travel through the station a year and 24,000 customers daily. With peak passenger demand forecast to double by 2036, driven by East West Rail, services to Cowley and Bristol and a growing customer base, a new future is needed for the city’s main transport hub.
The masterplan will be led by Network Rail in collaboration with Network Rail’s property development company, Platform4 working closely with both Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. It will take a transport-first approach considering the growing rail demand and interchange requirements, alongside delivering supporting development.
The brief for the new masterplan prioritises three things: a high-quality station ready for future growth; new entrances providing a welcoming gateway to the city; and improved transport solutions for onward travel.
Together, Hawkins\Brown and 5th Studio bring extensive experience to the project, through their work on regional interchanges such as Stratford, Bury and Solihull and major infrastructure projects that include St Pancras International, the Elizabeth Line and East West Rail.
Following a detailed review of future capacity, including how the station and its wider transport links are used by visitors and the community, the team will undertake a programme of public and stakeholder engagement.
This masterplan supports the government’s Plan for Change mission to rebuild Britain and improve the infrastructure that people rely on every day.
Tom Pierpoint, industry programme director, Network Rail and Great Western Railway said: “Oxford station is a vital transport interchange for both the city and the wider region, and it needs to be ready for the growth that’s coming. Appointing Hawkins\Brown marks an important step in shaping a long-term vision for the station, one that improves the experience for customers while creating the capacity and connectivity we’ll need as demand grows. We’re looking forward to working closely with the local community and stakeholders to get this right.”
Image credit: Network Rail
