Network Rail Announce Botley Road to Reopen August 2026
Redevelopment scheme in Oxford now scheduled to reopen almost two years later than planned.
The £161m redevelopment of Oxford station was expected to be completed during October last year, however, a new completion date has been set for August 2026.
Work on the project began on the 11th of April 2023, meaning the Botley Road, a key route through Oxford, has been closed for almost two years.
Today Rail Minister Lord Hendy and representatives from Network Rail visited Oxford to meet residents and businesses affected by the disruption.
Lord Hendy was met by more than 100 protestors outside the King's Centre in Osney Mead as they urged him to reopen the road as soon as possible.
Many businesses and residents have continued to express frustration over the multiple delays and disruption the work has caused to the area.
Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West & Abingdon and Baroness Deech set up the website ‘Network Hell’, where visitors can read about the impacts the delays have had on those within the area.
Owner of massage therapy business Knead Me, Ferhat Durmusoglu, said: “I’ve lost about 35% of my business. I used to have customers from all over Oxford. Many still come, but what is so difficult is building up new clients, which is so important to a business. People enquire, look at the map, then don’t come.”
Franchise Owner of the courier service Pack and Send, Srihari Bodi, shared a similar experience: “We chose this place for its location [at the eastern end of Botley Road, just the other side of the blockade from the station]. The closure made a big impact. Over a whole year, takings were down 18% — but in our busiest period, May-August, they were 24% down.”
Not all businesses share the same sentiments, as a representative from The Jolly Farmers Pub on Paradise Street said: “3 years+ for a serious piece of infrastructure alteration and improvement isn’t that long.
“We feel that in a world of instant gratification, and individualistic demands, we are losing sight of the longer term needs of our city. Building things takes time. Fixing things takes time.”
Network Rail announced that the proposed timeline includes the building of a new rail bridge alongside a new upgraded flood defence system to keep out rising groundwater and a new pumping system to deal with surface water run off.
During the summer they have also promised vastly improved access for pedestrians and cyclists. This comes in the form of an improved walkway giving more space for pedestrians and cyclists to get in and out of the city as the project is completed.
Additionally, as of today Network Rail has launched a feedback scheme, welcoming suggestions on further improvements which can be made as work continues. Passengers, residents and members of the local community can email OxfordFeedback@networkrail.co.uk.
In response to the announcement of the new reopening date, Layla Moran, who has been actively advocating for compensation for those businesses affected, stated:
“Network Rail have asked our community to live with enormous levels of disruption and I am unconvinced they have done everything possible to support residents through this period.
“As we embark on another year and a half of disruption, I will be pressing them to properly listen to residents and deliver the mitigation measures that so many have been asking for, along with delivering on financial help for businesses who have been so badly affected.
“While I am glad that we have August 2026 in the diary as a date for re-opening, I will be watching closely to make sure they stick to it.”
A further public information event for residents will be held at the West Oxford Community Association Centre on Botley Road on 29th January.