Water Over The Railway Line South Oxford

Parts of Oxford have flooded this morning and there are lots of roads closed around the city causing a lot of congestion on the other routes not effected by flood waters.  I know that the Abingdon Road is closed for all traffic today which is making getting in to Oxford from the South very difficult.  Today I was not in Oxford till late afternoon returning by train around the Redbridge park'n'ride you could see water over the tracks.  This photo was taken out the window of the train as we crawled towards the Oxford Station, about 40minutes late.

Wettest Day In Oxford For A Summers Day

Today must have been one of the wettest Summers day that we have ever had in Oxford. It rained non stop all day, and with all this water around the roads around the city centre started to fill up.  This photo was taken this afternoon close to the Oxford train station in Becket Street were a large pool of water had completely filled the street.

Early Morning At Oxford Station

Taken this morning on Platform 2, while waiting for the 0656 to Worcester Foregate Street. Fortunately the trains at this time of the morning are normally on time, so I it was only a couple of minutes later I was on the train.  Not to many people going my way this morning, however the train on Platform 1 to London Paddington was very busy.

Champagne On The Train

This afternoon as I boarded my train back to Oxford, this is what was at my seat, and no I did not drink any of it. Two empty bottles of Champagne with two glasses, but no passengers, the whole carriage was empty. Not sure where the couple who must have been celebrating got on or off, all as I know is that they must have had a nice train journey. That's the Thames in the background I took the photo just as we where arriving into the Oxford Station.

Don't forget if you are able to donate to the Helen And Douglas House Santa's On The Run event, please do so via Hannah's link, and thanks if you have donated. Have a look at Fridayspost for more information about this charity, Hannah is hoping to raise £100 for Helen and Douglas House, but I am hoping she will be able to raise more with a little help from Oxford Daily Photo.

Police Promote Bike Identification

Last year the police recorded 2023 stolen bikes in Oxford and only managed to to reunited 79 bikes stolen with there owners. With that figure in mind and the number of new students in Oxford this week, the police have been promoting placing a UV marking on your bike. This will assist in helping get your bike back should it become a victim of this popular crime in Oxford. This photo was taken outside the Oxford train station, there is a website in Oxford to report stolen bike on, called My Bike Been Nicked Oxford, which was set up by a resident who was feed up of his bike been stolen, which I think is a good idea.

Re-Tune On 14th September

Remember back in July when the digital TV caravan was in Bonn Square, have a look here, well they were promoting the new digital TV switch over that was going to happen in Oxford. Well it has started, if you are having trouble with your TV tonight, perhaps you need to re-tune it as apart of this change. I think you also have to re-tune it again in about a fortnight, I don't have a TV, so this has not effected me. Todays photo was taken at the Oxford train station tonight as I was returning to Oxford.

Anyone For A Hot Dog At The Station

I have been travelling by train a bit recently and noticed that in the mornings where has been a very friendly Hot Dog stall up by WH Smiths. The set up is on a bike, so I imagine that he can cycle to other places during the day. Not tried one yet, but one of these days I will, I think the guy is Australian? Don't see him there in the afternoons. Anyone else seen him..

Start Of Working Day

Sorry about no photo yesterday I could not get the blogspot to work when I was about to upload. Todays photo was taken at the Oxford Station, which I have taken before but not of the arrival forecourt where all the taxis and buses arrive to collect and drop of passengers. A train had just arrived making the station very busy with everyone making there way to work. There are always plenty of taxis waiting at the station, did you know that Oxford City Council limit the number of taxis that can wait at the station? You need a special station licence to pick up from the station.

Departing Oxford Station

Left Oxford early this morning for London to take part in the launch of World Book Night, which is tomorrow evening. To promote this event 20000 book givers will be giving away a million books tomorrow night around the UK. I have been lucky enough to be a book giver and have 48 copies of The Reluctant Fundamentalist to give away, which I will be by canal boat tomorrow. This photo was taken as the train left Oxford Station this morning.

Cycles At The Oxford Train Station

I think I have taken a photo of all the bikes parked up at the Oxford Train Station before, but if my memory is correct it was before they put up this shelter a couple of years ago. It's a good idea with all the bad weather that we get in Oxford, however they only covered about a third of the bike racks, so it is always the most popular place to leave your bike. I love riding around Oxford, it is so much easier for me to quickly stop and take a photo when I am on the bike.

Not The Shot That I Wanted

When I was leaving the station this evening the Moon was so large and bright over the city that I wanted to get a nice photo of it. I am not that great night photographer so I tried for about 30min's to get the shot that I wanted to, but I just could not get what I had in my mind. Anyway, I think I might try again tomorrow from a different angle. Anyway this is the best of my efforts from this evening.

20:22 First Great Western Service To Hereford

Leaving a couple of minutes late from Oxford the 20:22 First Great Western service to Hereford. I was on this train from London having just got off a few minutes before taking this photo. We have a good train service to London from Oxford, but it could be a little cheaper.

Steam Train 149 arriving at Oxford Station today on way to Solihul. We have a couple of Stream Trains into the station at Oxford every year and today we had this old steam train visit Oxford Station. Had a lot of interested train spotters at the station for the arrival of this train, which mainly had dinning carriages with passengers enjoying the service of yesteryear. Click the photo if you want to see a larger photo of this train.

Oxford Blue Plaque Initiative

I saw this "alternative" Blue Plaque at the Oxford Railway Station, I am not sure how many of these plaques there are around Oxford, which have been placed by the Local Historical Society. I like the storey on this plaque from 1941 it is a very personal storey, if you have seen any other Blue Plaques let me know, would be interest.

YHA Oxford - Very Convenient

If you are looking for cheap centrally located hostel in Oxford, you can not beat the YHA in Oxford. It is just off the Botley Road, behind the Train Station about a five minute walk from the city centre. This hostel can be a bit sterile, but then I think most YHA are like this now days compared to a few independent ones that I have stayed in, little more knocked around the edges..

Marks and Spencer At Oxford Train Station

I posted a photo a couple of months ago of the Marks and Spencer store at the Oxford station when it was still under construction and I have not been back to the station to today, and it is now opened.  Well looking at the old post it was back in January, so it is no surprise that the store has opened, the whole station has had a face lift and is looking newer and fresher.

Sunny View Of Royal Oxford

Very nice day in Oxford today, this photo was taken from the pedestrian bridge leading to the Oxford Train Station looking towards St Frideswide's Square and the Royal Oxford Hotel. St Frideswide is Oxford's patron Saint.

New Marks and Spencer At Oxford Station

Not been over to the station for awhile, however when there today noticed that there is going to be a new Marks and Spencer Food store opening soon.  This will be good for the station and commuters.  The station was not that flash for a top tourist town, and with the refurbishment that is going on at the moment, I think they are giving the station a welcome fresh look. Will let you know when it is open..

Leaving Oxford On Train

This week I have been leaving Oxford every morning for a course, on a couple of days I was on the 0730hrs train to Reading.  This photo was taken just as we where leaving the station this morning.

Oxenaforda

Welcome to Oxford, this is what you will see as you leave the Oxford Train Station, a life size Ox by which Oxford takes part of it's name, Oxenaforda,  was the Saxon name for the town. Not sure when the modern name Oxford first started to be used.