Commuters warned of 10 months of train disruption

Passengers travelling from a small village to Oxford face more than 10 months of disruption while work takes place at their local railway station.

Southbound trains - those heading towards Oxford - will stop calling at Tackley from 12 June until 30 April 2027 while Network Rail installs a permanent footbridge with lifts.

Great Western Railway (GWR) said no dedicated rail replacement service would be provided, but that passengers had several options to complete their journeys.

Residents have raised concerns about the disruption, with a petition launched calling on GWR to lay on a dedicated bus to nearby Heyford station.

Northbound trains towards Banbury will continue to stop at Tackley as normal throughout the works.

Tackley residents have three options when heading to Oxford by train:

1. They can travel to Heyford station - 3.5 miles away by road - and catch a southbound train from there.
2. Alternatively, they can board a northbound train from Tackley to Heyford and then cross the platform to catch a southbound service back towards Oxford.
3. The Stagecoach S4 is also an option, stopping at Oxford Parkway before continuing to Oxford city centre.

GWR has introduced a discounted single ticket of £2.10 between Oxford and Tackley during the closure to ensure passengers are not left out of pocket by using a combination of the bus and train in a single day.

The discount must be claimed at the ticket office at Oxford station.

Passengers travelling to Tackley from the Banbury direction also have three options:

1. They can drive or take alternative transport to Heyford station.
2. They can also take the Stagecoach S4 bus from Banbury bus station - roughly six minutes' walk from Banbury station - directly to Tackley village.
3. They can travel by train to Heyford and catch the S4 from Heyford Bridge bus stop into Tackley.

The new footbridge will replace a temporary structure installed following the death of a woman at a level crossing at the station in 2008.

Margaret Evans, 80, was struck by a high-speed express train after mistaking it for her train to Oxford.

Investigators said plans for a footbridge had previously been rejected by planners, describing it as a missed opportunity.

In 2020, Network Rail warned that people were still crossing the tracks rather than using the footbridge, with CCTV capturing near misses.

Plans for a permanent wheelchair-accessible crossing were discussed at the time.

The new permanent structure will be fitted with lifts, with Network Rail aiming to complete it in spring 2027.

Zach Bailey, GWR regional development manager, said the closure was a "difficult decision" but was necessary to make the station fully accessible.

Passengers with reduced mobility or additional needs should contact GWR's passenger assistance team on 0800 197 1329.