After 165 years of seeing trains in and out of Banbury Station its signalmen have worked their last shift.

The London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street train that travelled through the station on Friday night was the last before the old signalling system was signed out of use at 12.15am on Saturday.

Work then began on a nine-day project to install new colour-light signals, new tracks and a new platform. 

The work will see trains between Oxford and Banbury suspended for the rest of this week.

Three hours after the 116-year-old south signal box at the station was handed over to engineers at Banbury it was demolished, with a few instruments salvaged for spares.

The similar north signal box will survive for another 10 weeks to allow tours, visits and events to give it a fitting send off.

Between August 10 and October 2 there will be free public guided tours and school visits which will demonstrate how signal boxes work and will teach about railway safety and the dangers of railway trespass.

More than 1,000 people have already signed up for the tours.

To book a place visit banburynorth.youcanbook.me