PASSENGERS faced long queues at Oxford Railway Station and Didcot Parkway as engineering works on the train tracks began.

Hundreds will be forced to use alternative public transport from today as the line between the two stations closes for two weeks.

Extra helpers from GWR were on-hand to signpost users to bus replacements waiting at the car park in Becket Street, with directions and tannoy announcements helping to avoid confusion. 

The journey from Oxford to Didcot took an Oxford Mail reporter 25 minutes without traffic, though there are fears delays will worsen on Monday when commuter congestion is factored in. 

Work is being carried out to raise the tracks at Hinksey to protect against flooding, shutting the line until Saturday August 14.

Tomorrow the line between Oxford and Banbury will also be closed for a week for signalling improvements, and bridge repairs will shut the railway between Oxford and Hanborough for five days from Wednesday August 3.

Chiltern Railways services are also affected today with closures from Oxford to Leamington Spa, Banbury and Bicester North lasting until August 8.

Rail replacement coaches are running between Oxford and Didcot Parkway every 12 minutes, with additional hourly services between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway.