TRAIN passengers will face delays from today as workmen carry out repairs in Oxford.

Major engineering work near the Godstow Road area of Wolvercote started at 12.30am on Christmas Day.

As a result of the work, CrossCountry and First Great Western trains between Oxford and Banbury will be suspended all day today, and until 2pm tomorrow, with buses standing in.

A reduced train service, with slightly extended journey times, will be in operation on the Cotswold Line between Oxford and Worcester from today until New Year’s Day, due to limits on trains able to pass the site of the work between Oxford and Wolvercote and changes of rolling stock. First Great Western says the upgrade work needs to be done to improve journeys in future and will help to ease congestion through Oxford.

Other engineering work linked to the Crossrail project to create a new east-west rail link under London will close some lines between London Paddington and Slough. This will mean that services between Oxford, Didcot and London will run to modified timetables from today until next Friday, with fewer trains calling at Radley, Culham and Appleford.