DETAILS of a £10m project to expand Oxford’s railway station are unveiled today.

The joint Network Rail and Oxfordshire County Council scheme will see a new platform created on part of the station’s long-stay car park, off Becket Street, south of Botley Road.

The platform will be used by trains between Oxford and London, allowing them to arrive and depart from the same platform and reduce the need for empty trains to be shunted around the station.

A new covered footbridge will be built over Botley Road to link the station building with the platform, replacing the existing footbridge to the car park.

Taxi and bus drivers will also benefit from improvements to the station’s forecourt.

It is hoped the new platform and bridge will be ready for use by passengers in 2011.

The scheme is the first of a series of improvements planned by the council to help the station to deal with increasing passenger numbers.

More than 4.7 million passenger journeys began and ended there in 2007-8.

Ian Hudspeth, the council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “The masterplan will ensure each of the proposals complement one another and contribute to an improved Oxford station that the city can be proud of, both in terms of capacity for trains and station buildings, which improve the experience for passengers.

“The masterplan also considers the wider role of the station as part of the regeneration of Oxford’s West End, particularly the redevelopment of Frideswide Square.”

The scheme is part of Network Rail’s Action Stations scheme, which involves a national investment programme of £3.25bn.

The county council is set to contribute £5m to the work at Oxford. Its plan takes into account projects such as Chiltern Railways’ scheme for a second route to London, via Bicester; Network Rail’s plans to electrify the Oxford-Reading-London route; and the projected reopening of the Oxford-Milton Keynes East-West line.

Chris Rayner, Network Rail’s western route director, said: “Oxford station is a vital transport hub.

“If we’re to continue to provide the level of service that rail users expect and deserve, important changes need to be made.

“Our plans will make a lasting difference to passengers in Oxford and pave the way for further improvements to the station.”

Dr Ian East, chairman of the Oxford-Bicester Rail Action Group, said: “It’s a good thing that the station is to be expanded, although some people may be concerned about whether or not the car park is maintained at its current size.”

Dr East also raised questions about the future of the Botley Road rail bridge, where there have been concerns about flooding and accidents involving cyclists.

A council spokesman said: “There are no plans to widen the bridge. But this scheme does not preclude that from happening at some point in the future.”