THE opening of Oxford’s first railway station was met with a well known cry – the fares are too high!

Tickets from Oxford to Paddington in 1844 cost 15 shillings and 10 shillings, whereas passengers could travel by horse-drawn coach to the capital for five shillings.

Jackson’s Oxford Journal newspaper confidently predicted: “The fares will materially operate against the line, more especially while the public have the opportunity of sitting behind Charles Holmes and his splendid greys all the way to town, through beautiful country.

“The rail will in consequence be no boon to the humble tradesman or mechanic, and is not likely to be patronised much, except by those who have ample means or have urgent business to transact.

“An additional convenience to the public would be by having an earlier train from Oxford to meet the first down train to Bristol, which would enable parties, when the tide served, to get to the West or Devon coast in a cheaper and more expeditious manner.”

The railway officially opened in Oxford on Wednesday, July 12, 1844, at a station south of the present one, near Western Road, off Abingdon Road.

Two days earlier, a special train had run for officials to inspect the line and make sure it was safe for the first fare-paying passengers.

The newspaper reported: “The distance from Paddington to Didcot, 53 miles, was performed in one hour and eight minutes and the Inspector was accompanied by a large party, consisting of ladies, noblemen, directors and their friends.

“The train reached Oxford about two o’clock, awaiting which there was an immense number of persons at the station, along the line, and on Folly Bridge.

“The party, consisting of about 50, proceeded in omnibuses and carriages to the Angel Hotel, where a splendid luncheon awaited them.

“We understand the Inspector General expressed his entire satisfaction with the line, and pronounced it to be perfectly secure in every respect.”

Two days later, the first train left Oxford at 8am and the first arrived from London at 8.10am.

The paper added: “During the whole of the day, the greatest bustle and excitement prevailed around the station and the neighbourhood, and thousands of persons paid a visit to the line, while at Hinksey field and South Hinksey, it was quite a gala day, marquees, tents, stalls and exhibitions having been erected and, we should say, were well patronised.

“The line from Oxford to Didcot is a remarkably easy one, and embraces scenery both beautiful and interesting.”

Despite the high fares, the paper was confident that it “will not fail to give delight to all who travel on it and more especially to those who are strangers to Oxford and its neighbourhood.”

Plans were already being considered to extend the line from Oxford to the Midlands.

Oxford Corporation hoped this would allow access to the London and North Western Railway, operating from Rewley Road and through Bicester, which was thought to offer lower fares and a more convenient London terminus at Euston.

A station on the present site in Oxford opened in 1852 and the former station near Western Road closed to passengers.

Details of the 1844 arrival of the railway in the city were uncovered by Memory Lane reader Peter Bowell, of Deanfield Road, Oxford, who comments: “Oxford commuters will doubtless be hoping that competition afforded by the new Chiltern Line into Marylebone – which opened today – might see reduced fares to London.”