Three designs have been chosen to be the template for an ‘ambitious’ redevelopment of Oxford station.
A Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) competition to find a concept design for the new station was launched before Christmas. The brief: to create a station that will support economic growth and better reflect the city’s heritage.
The winning designs were chosen by a panel which included Network Rail, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, the Department for Transport and Great Western Railway.
Out of the six entries, submissions from Wilkinson Eyre, Allies & Morrison and AHR were selected. AHR’s entry was the public’s favourite, winning more than 70 per cent of the vote.
Announcing the results, Fiona Piercy, chair of the judging panel, said: “The ideas will help us set the benchmark for architectural quality standards and raise ambitions for a new world class gateway station for Oxford…
.@RIBA Winners of Oxford Station Design #competition Announced. https://t.co/WL9vCSrpJU #architecture #design pic.twitter.com/nEOfq3rDL4
— RIBA Competitions (@RIBAComps) March 1, 2016
“We now need to work closely with government and Network Rail and the private sector to secure the necessary mix of funding to deliver the next stage of the project. The design ideas will help us promote the best standards of architecture going forward.”
Simon Maple from Network Rail said: “We will continue to work closely with the council on their aspirations for the station and its surrounding area.
“Over the next few years we have an ambitious programme of upgrade work taking place in the Oxford area to provide passengers with a better travelling experience. This includes new tracks and signalling, and electrification in preparation for the arrival of the new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains.
“All of this will help to improve reliability and punctuality for passengers, and enable them to benefit from faster, more comfortable journeys.”
Just after the new Oxford Parkway was officially opened. What about added some extra bay platforms as well revamped and refurbished platforms for longer trains. Plus the East-West rail link will end at Oxford and what about reopening the line to Abingdon-on-Thames.