Fritwell & Somerton | |
Status: | Disused |
Borough: | Somerton, Oxfordshire |
Country: | England |
Coordinates: | 51.956°N -1.279°W |
Grid Name: | Grid reference |
Platforms: | 2 |
Original: | Great Western Railway |
Pregroup: | Great Western Railway |
Postgroup: | Great Western Railway |
Years: | 2 September 1850 |
Events: | Line opened from to |
Years1: | 1855 |
Events1: | Station opened as Somerton |
Years2: | 2 July 1906 |
Events2: | renamed Somerton Oxon |
Years3: | 1 October 1907 |
Events3: | renamed Fritwell & Somerton |
Years4: | 2 November 1964 |
Events4: | Station closed |
Fritwell & Somerton railway station was on the to line of the Great Western Railway, and was opened four years after the line, in September 1854. It was in the village of Somerton, Oxfordshire.
The line had been authorised as the Oxford and Rugby Railway, but had been absorbed by the GWR prior to its opening on 2 September 1850. No station was originally planned at Somerton — the nearest station to the village was, three miles to the south. The station at was closer by rail, being about 2.5miles to the north, but the road journey was about 5miles.
It was soon decided that Somerton needed a station. It was built south of the railway bridge in the village, and opened in 1855, being originally named Somerton.
A station at Somerton (Somerset) was opened on 2 July 1906, and to avoid confusion, the Oxfordshire station was renamed twice: first to Somerton Oxon also on 2 July 1906, then to Fritwell & Somerton on 1 October 1907, although the village of Fritwell is 2miles away.
The goods service was withdrawn on 4 May 1964, and the passenger service ceased on 2 November 1964.[1]