Network Rail has appointed a design team led by Hawkins\Brown, working alongside 5th Studio, to develop a long-term masterplan for Oxford station as passenger demand is forecast to double during peak periods by 2036.
The proposals will explore new station entrances, improved interchange facilities and additional capacity to accommodate future rail services, including East West Rail and proposed connections to Cowley and Bristol.
Oxford station currently handles more than eight million passenger journeys annually, with approximately 24,000 customers using the station each day.
With the city’s population, employment opportunities and rail connectivity expected to grow, Network Rail says a comprehensive approach is needed to ensure the station can accommodate future demand.
Planning for significant passenger growth
The masterplan will be developed by Network Rail alongside its property development company, Platform4, in collaboration with Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council.
The project will take a transport-first approach, prioritising station capacity, passenger experience and connections with other modes of transport while considering opportunities for development around the station.
Three priorities will guide the work: creating a station capable of handling future growth, delivering welcoming new entrances and improving onward connections across the city.
Hawkins\Brown and 5th Studio bring experience from major transport projects, including St Pancras International, the Elizabeth line and East West Rail.
Tom Pierpoint, Industry Programme Director at Network Rail and Great Western Railway, said: “Oxford station is a vital transport interchange for both the city and the wider region, and it needs to be ready for the growth that’s coming. Appointing Hawkins\Brown marks an important step in shaping a long-term vision for the station, one that improves the experience for customers while creating the capacity and connectivity we’ll need as demand grows. We’re looking forward to working closely with the local community and stakeholders to get this right.”
Connecting railway investment with city regeneration
Beyond the station itself, the masterplan will examine how surrounding land could support Oxford’s wider economic development and regeneration ambitions.
Platform4 will contribute its property development expertise, exploring opportunities to integrate commercial and other development with improvements to transport infrastructure.
Andrew Ferguson, Interim Chief Executive of Platform4, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to reimagine what Oxford station can be, not just as a transport hub, but as a genuine gateway to the city. Alongside improving the customer experience, there is an opportunity to explore how the surrounding land can support both the local economy and the city’s growth.”
Hawkins\Brown Associate Director Anthony Lazarus added: “The passenger experience of Oxford station is not as welcoming as it could be as it deals with increasing demand. We look forward to simultaneously thinking wide and in the detail to transform this key transport interchange at the heart of Oxford’s West End.”
Better integration with buses and cycling
Improving connections between rail services, buses and active travel will be another important consideration.
The project aligns with Oxfordshire County Council’s OxRail 2040 strategy, which seeks to improve railway connectivity and support additional services across the county.
Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “As a part of the delivery of the county’s OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail, we are seeing great improvements in services from Oxford, with new and higher frequency services along with additional and modern trains being progressed. The redevelopment of the station is a key priority and desperately needed to provide better facilities and capacity for the people of Oxfordshire – as is providing seamless integration with buses and cycling but also being a key transport hub and gateway to the city.”
The masterplanning team will now undertake a detailed assessment of future passenger capacity and transport requirements, followed by public and stakeholder engagement.
The appointment represents an early planning milestone rather than confirmation of a funded construction programme. The resulting masterplan will help establish the scope of future investment needed to support Oxford’s growing rail network and wider regeneration ambitions.
