The row over the faulty car park barrier at Oxford Station wasn't the only dispute to hit British Railways in the 1960s.

Tempers flared with even greater ferocity when Western Region bosses suddenly closed off the downside ticket office and entrance at the station in December, 1966.

Passions rose to such a pitch that questions were raised in the House of Commons and House of Lords.

There had been ticket offices, barriers and ticket inspectors on both main platforms.

But as an economy measure, railway managers decided to concentrate all services on the London-bound platform.

In future, access to the northbound platform would be through a dimly-lit, damp, grimy, smelly subway, with passengers having to negotiate two flights of steps.

The announcement caused outrage among passengers.

An inquiry called by the East Midlands Transport Consultative Committee was told that British Railways had deliberately gone ahead with the closure without consulting anyone because Oxford was "skilful at holding things up".

Rail officials told the inquiry that the new arrangements had been "generally accepted" by passengers and that help was available for those who had difficulty using the subway.

But both points were strongly disputed by opponents of the closure.

Although the East Midlands Committee recommended the reopening of the downside platform, the Central Transport Consultative Committee decided there were no grounds for doing so and advised Transport Secretary Barbara Castle accordingly.

She came down on British Railways' side, although there was general agreement that bosses were wrong not to have had a period of consultation.

As we recalled (Memory Lane, October 8), several motorists, including two Oxford dons, were convicted of wilful damage after breaking the barrier to get out of the station car park. The barrier often developed faults, trapping home-going passengers in the car park.