RESIDENTS failed to ask any problematic questions of rail managers at two drop-in sessions about closing the line in Oxford.

A total of 42 people dropped into exhibitions of Network Rail’s plans to shut the railway in and out of the city for 16 days this summer to do flood alleviation works.

Just 12 people turned up to the first at South Oxford Community Centre, and 30 more appeared at the second session at South Hinksey Village Hall to grill the scheme’s designers.

But the rail firm’s communications manager Matthew Thompson said no-one had so far made any objections that had forced engineers back to the drawing board.

He said: “People were saying they appreciate the need to get on with the work.

“There are no comments that we need to act on yet.”

Network Rail plans to raise 400m of track in south Oxford this summer to stop it flooding.

Apart from cutting down five trees and some other vegetation, the works are unlikely to have much effect on residents, as the track is not in a built-up area.

As part of the scheme, the company has agreed to widen two proposed culverts beneath the tracks to take the city’s proposed £120 million flood alleviation channel being designed by the Environment Agency. The EA gave Network Rail about £1.1 million to create wider culverts that could accommodate the flood alleviation channel.

The works will mean the railway is entirely closed from July 30 to August 15 and commuters will probably have to catch buses in that time.

Mr Thompson said train operators GWR and Cross Country would most likely have to lay on replacement bus services.

Work to clear trees for the track raising will begin later this month.