EXCAVATIONS to create foundations for a new platform at Charlbury railway station have uncovered the remains of its predecessor.

A wall built when the Great Western Railway extended the old platform in 1928 is still in sound condition, workers found.

But it will be reburied under the new platform because it is sited too far back from the new second track through the station.

Workmen are building the platform as part of Network Rail’s £67m project to reinstate double track on much of the Cotswold Line between Oxford and Worcester. It will be connected to the existing platform and the station car park by a new footbridge at the west end of the station.

Pouring of concrete for the foundation of the new platform wall took place yesterday.

Network Rail spokesman Mavis Choong said: “The old platform wall unfortunately is not suitable for re-use given its age and the fact that it's too far away from the running line.

"The old wall was built and positioned based on the broad gauge track alignment, dating back to line’s opening in the 1850s.”

The new platform and double track between Charlbury and Ascott-under-Wychwood stations is due to come into use on Monday, June 6, after a nine-day closure of the line between Oxford and Moreton-in-Marsh, in Gloucestershire, while new points and signals are installed and tested.

For more details of the project, see the Network Rail website.