Oxford's historic railway station, which was dismantled to make way for the new Said Business School and road changes, has a new lease of life.

It has been rebuilt at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton, between Bicester and Aylesbury, which will be open to the public from the beginning of March.

Although badly dilapidated and previously in use as a tyre and exhaust garage, the building's removal was strongly resisted two years ago by 'green' campaigners opposed to the Oxford Transport Strategy changes.

The building, which is on similar lines to Joseph Paxton's 1851 Great Exhibition Crystal Palace, was originally the Oxford terminal of the London and North Western Railway.

With help from Oxford University and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the building was carefully dismantled and the main structure has now been re-erected.

David Young, Oxfordshire County Council's director of environmental services, said: "Peope were very concerned that an important piece of railway history might have been lost, but it is now safely restored and in a railway setting - exactly what the county council was anxious to secure.

"I would like to congratulate the University and the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre."

Further details about the railway centre are available by calling 01296 655450.