Two years behind and work on station hasn't even begun

A LONG-RUNNING station upgrade already tens of millions of pounds over budget is nearly two years behind schedule and work on the station itself is yet to begin.

- Conor Wilson

The central Oxford project was due to finish in April 2024 but will not be complete before August 2026 at the earliest, leaving residents cut off and firms in uproar.

Critics condemned National Rail for delays to the project which were described as "HS2 all over again".

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance pressure group, said: "Taxpayers are sick of public projects going off the rails.

"While infrastructure projects are vital, residents have to endure disruption and hardship time and again because of the state's seeming inability to build anything correctly.

"Network Rail needs to get back on track and end the disruption."

The project began in April 2023 and was due to be done in two six month periods - but despite Network Rail already spending a reported £121million of the £160million budget, work on the station itself has been held up by a series of delays.

Councillors urged the city council to consider legal action over Network Rail's "mismanagement" of the upgrade, particularly the closure of vital traffic route Botley Road.

"Rail bosses are out of their depth...like HS2 all over again"