Kier to deliver £65 million Oxford station upgrade

Network Rail has assigned Kier to continue with the next phase of the Oxford Station upgrade.

Founded in Stoke-on-Trent, British construction, services and property company Kier is the second biggest construction company in the UK and has aims to sustainably deliver infrastructure. 

The newly agreed contract re-establishes the longstanding relationship between Kier and Network Rail and it is the first contract awarded to Kier outside of Network Rail's existing frameworks.

Kier stated on their website that they have over 70 years of experience delivering major rail projects, installing power systems, and signalling design and build. In addition to this they are also involved in HS2 and Crossrail projects. 

The construction company will take Phase 2C and 2D of the Oxford Station project through Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) Stage 5 before the final funding decision has been made by the Department for Transport. 

Phase 2C of the Botley Road enhancement includes replacing the railway bridge, creating a new, wider structure which will comprise of 4-metre-wide cycle lanes and footways on either side of the road. 

In addition to this, the highway will be lowered and realigned in order to allow double-decker buses to pass under the bridge comfortably. 

The station improvement works will involve the construction of an additional platform, an overhead canopy, a western entrance which will connect to the newly constructed subway, ticket office, waiting room, toilets, café and other shops. 

Kier Infrastructure’s group managing director, Mark Pengelly, commented: “The Oxford Corridor Phase 2 Project is of national significance given its focus to improve passenger journeys, not only to the North and South, but also to the East and West due to the link with East West Rail.

“Kier will be working alongside our strategic design partner WSP to develop the detailed design and carry out enabling works for the project, combining our knowledge and expertise of complex civil engineering in the rail sector to deliver safely, whilst minimising the level of disruption to the travelling public and nearby businesses.”