Fritwell & Somerton railway station

Fritwell & Somerton
Site of the station in 1992
Location
Place	Somerton
Area	Oxfordshire
Coordinates	51°57′22″N 1°16′44″W / 51.956°N 1.279°W / 51.956; -1.279Coordinates: 51°57′22″N 1°16′44″W / 51.956°N 1.279°W / 51.956; -1.279
Grid reference	SP496289
Operations
Original company	Great Western Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Western Railway
Post-grouping	Great Western Railway
Platforms	2
History
2 September 1850	Line opened from Oxford to Banbury
1855	Station opened as Somerton
2 July 1906	renamed Somerton Oxon
1 October 1907	renamed Fritwell & Somerton
2 November 1964	Station closed
Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom
Closed railway stations in Britain A B C D–F G H–J K–L M–O P–R S T–V W–Z

Fritwell & Somerton railway station was on the Oxford to Banbury 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 Heyford, three miles to the south. The station at Aynho for Deddington was closer by rail, being about 2.5 miles (4 km) to the north, but the road journey was about 5 miles (8 km).

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 2 miles (3 km) away.

The goods service was withdrawn on 4 May 1964, and the passenger service ceased on 2 November 1964.