TRAIN commuters are reminded to plan their journeys for the start of next month as flood protection works between Oxford and Didcot Parkway get underway.

The work will raise the height of the tracks to protect them against flooding and will be carried out from Saturday, July 30 to Sunday, August 14.

Signalling improvements will also see the railway between Oxford and Banbury closed from Saturday, July 30 to Sunday, August 7.

Bridge repairs from Wednesday, August 3 to Sunday, August 7 will also mean the railway is closed between Oxford and Hanborough.

Buses will replace trains between Oxford and Didcot Parkway, while some other services will be diverted around the work.

Richard Fry, Oxford Station Manager, said: “We’ve worked closely with Oxfordshire County Council and Network Rail to make sure customers can still get to where they need to go while the work is happening.

"We’re encouraging people to plan their journeys ahead of time through National Rail Enquiries to make sure they pick the route that is best for them.

“The improvements being made will bring Brunel’s railway into the 21st century providing a more resilient infrastructure and paving the way for the new electric trains.

These improvement works will allow passengers to take advantage of the full benefits of electrification once complete: new trains, faster, more frequent services and importantly, given the growth this network has seen in recent years, more seats.”

Travelling between Oxford and Didcot during the work?

  • Rail replacement coaches will operate in both directions up to every 12 minutes taking approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Travelling between Oxford and London?

  • Hourly service between London Paddington and Didcot calling at Slough and Reading.
  • Two stopping services an hour calling at Thames Valley stations between London Paddington and Didcot.

Travelling between Oxford and Hereford?

  • One service an hour between Oxford and Worcester Foregate Street, with connecting London Midland services to Hereford Peak hour trains in both directions between London Paddington and Worcester will be diverted via Cheltenham Spa extending journey times by 40 minutes

For bus users a Thames Travel T2 service from Oxford to Abingdon via Cowley, Berinsfield and Culham will run to an amended timetable.

This service will also provide a new peak time connection from Cowley and Oxford City Centre towards Hinksey Hill and Bagley Wood to Culham and Berinsfield.