Sheepwash bridge upgrades
Bridges over Sheepwash Channel, north of Oxford station, need to be replaced for an increase in trains.
This part of the Oxfordshire Connect programme started in March 2024.
What work is taking place?
Four railway lines cross Sheepwash channel over a railway bridge at the northern end of platform 4. Next to the railway bridge is another bridge carrying road traffic and pedestrians as part of Roger Dudman Way.
Our station expansion programme means we need to widen the railway bridge to allow space for an extra railway line over it, servicing a new platform (platform 5).
To make room for a wider railway bridge we need to also realign the road and pedestrian bridge.
The children’s nursery has been relocated into a temporary building in Becket Street car park and the old nursery building has been demolished.
Next steps will include the installation of a temporary service bridge to relocate pipes and cables from the road bridge, followed by removal of the footbridge and installation of a new road bridge. The old bridge will then be removed and replaced. Timelines are to be confirmed following the ongoing review of the wider programme.
How will this work affect me?
With railway, road, towpath and waterway all passing through the area, there will be closures at times for safety reasons.
- Railway – Any work that poses a risk to the railway, especially the use of a crane, will be done at night or when the railway is closed and trains aren’t running
- Road – When bridges are being installed or removed, Roger Dudman Way will need to be closed overnight for a few hours at a time
- Towpath – Oxfordshire County Council has permitted us to close the towpath as required during the work
- Sheepwash Channel – The Environment Agency is permitting us to close the channel for short periods so that we can install a pontoon below the bridge
Dates and times for closures will be communicated in advance.
Why is the work needed?
Reconfiguring the bridges over Sheepwash Channel is a vital part of the Oxfordshire Connect programme. It is needed to enable the upgrades to Oxford Station and the expansion of the railway infrastructure in the area and without it, the bridges would create a bottleneck, preventing us from realising the full benefits from the wider programme:
- A bigger, better station for everyone
- More services with East West Rail
- Additional rail capacity for the future
- An improved and safer road layout
These upgrades will boost the economy with more rail services to support businesses, residents and visitors to the city. By extending the rail network across Oxford and Oxfordshire, they will also drive sustainability, improving access to fast, sustainable passenger and freight transport.
Sign up for email updates
To stay up to date on this project, please sign up for our regular email updates.
Our privacy notice applies to the personal information that Network Rail collects about you, or that you provide to us. It explains how and why we use your personal information, who we disclose it to and how we protect your privacy.
Contact us
If you have any questions or require more information about the scheme, you can email us at: OxfordPhase2@networkrail.co.uk or visit our contact us page.