Botley Road to reopen August 2026 says Network Rail

Network Rail has announced that a key route through Oxford will reopen in August 2026.

It means that the Botley Road will have been closed at the railway bridge for nearly three and a half years since April 2023.

The company said it would introduce "vastly improved" access for pedestrians and cyclists in the summer.

Rail Minister Lord Hendy visited the area today to speak to residents and businesses.

The project was due to be completed in October 2024 but has been repeatedly pushed back.

In July 2024 Network Rail said it could not confirm when it would be finished.

It has been creating disruption for residents and businesses, with some saying they were "shut off from the rest of the world".

Protesters gathered in front of The King's Centre on Osney Mead ahead of Lord Hendy's visit.

Vernon Orr who lives on East Street said he "feel most" for the elderly and people with disabilities who "have to funnel through what we call the tunnel of doom"

"And the poor souls that are stood in the rain on the bus stops which have sprung up along the Botley Road because of the station access being closed," he said

"In the tunnel, when there's a motorbike coming towards you, albeit they are not actually riding it, it is just very hard for old folk.

"So there are older people in West Oxford and beyond that are not coming into town. It's affecting businesses."

Tom Rainey, who owns The Porter House restaurant and hotel and The Punter pub, said they were "financially, 10% down".

"It means a lot less hiring of staff, a lot less hours for the staff," he said.

"But in reality, you keep your long term staff [and] your overheads are staying the same, so … it really means losses for the business."

He had two messages for Network Rail.

"One is get this road open asap, potentially, by the summer.

"And secondly,... I believe there should be some form of grant, akin to a Covid grant passed down from the government to the county council who have already set a precedent by paying local bus companies for loss of revenue.

"And this should be passed out to local businesses who are struggling, some have gone bust."

John Mair, a Jericho resident, called the continuous road closure "outrageous".

"No openness, no transparency," he added.

"Who will compensate the people of Oxford for the disruption? It's beggars belief!"

Lord Hendy, Network Rail's CEO Sir Andrew Haines and senior company representatives joined Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran at a public information event today to outline the new plans and provide updates for residents and businesses.

Lord Hendy said he had wanted to hear "first-hand" from those affected.

"I tasked Network Rail with producing a robust plan for its completion, which included additional measures to minimise and mitigate disruption as much as possible while still allowing this work to progress," he said.

"I'm pleased they have acted and I can assure residents and businesses that there is light at the end of the tunnel."

His visit follows a meeting with Moran in December.

At the time, she was assured the project would be completed but the due date would not be known until January.

Speaking after the announcement, she said the community "has lost all faith in Network Rail to deliver this project" and that it was now "vital" for the company to stick to the new timetable.

Susan Brown, Labour leader of Oxford City Council, called the further delay "bitterly disappointing for residents and businesses in Oxford".

"I welcome Lord Hendy's active involvement in driving things towards a resolution," she said.

"I asked for improvements in access to the west of the station, better stewarding of the pedestrian tunnel, an issue I have raised on a number of occasions, and in light of previous broken promises on timelines, was clear over the importance of keeping to the latest opening date."

She added that the redevelopment was "essential" that would bring "real long-term benefits to the city".

"Without it, proposals to reopen the Cowley Branch Line to passengers or increase the capacity on East-West rail services will not be feasible."

A round-table meeting, including Moran, Labour MP for Oxford East Anneliese Dodds, councillors from Oxford City, Oxfordshire County and Vale of White Horse Councils was also held today.

Network Rail said the new timeline would deliver "the necessary utility diversions", along with enhancements to Botley Road, the replacement of Sheepwash bridge to accommodate more rail services and the new platform 5.

It has also promised "a much-improved walkway - almost 4x the size of the old one" to open in the summer for "much more space to get into and out of the city".

"A new upgraded flood defence system will also be installed, which includes a new concrete layer well below ground to keep out rising ground water and a new pumping system with huge retention tanks to deal with surface water," the statement reads.

Western route managing director Marcus Jones he was "sorry" for the disruption caused to residents, communities and businesses.

"We are very confident in this plan.

"We've had experts and over a dozen agencies work together to develop this.

"The complexity we saw once we started the works meant we stopped to ensure we didn't cut off 60,000 homes with water and sewerage, but we are now confident we have a plan.

The project was originally estimated at £161m but with the delays Network Rail did not provide an update on its cost, but Mr Jones said they had "developed the plan and we are working with the Department of Transport to make sure we will have the funding in place".

A further public information event for residents will be held at the West Oxford Community Association Centre on Botley Road on 29 January.

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