▁station ▁on ▁the ▁London - bound ▁( s outh bound ) ▁platform . ▁There ▁is ▁a ▁small ▁shelter ▁on ▁the ▁south bound ▁platform ▁ 1 ▁and ▁also ▁one ▁on ▁the ▁island ▁platform ▁( platform ▁ 2 ▁for ▁B irmingham - bound ▁services ▁and ▁platform ▁ 3 ▁for ▁stations ▁to ▁Str at ford ▁upon ▁Av on ▁which ▁bear ▁to ▁the ▁west ▁immediately ▁north ▁of ▁the ▁station . ▁A ▁foot bridge ▁links ▁platform ▁ 1 ▁with ▁island ▁platform ▁ 2 / 3 ). ▁ ▁Each ▁platform ▁at ▁the ▁station ▁is ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁a ▁real - time ▁electronic ▁information ▁departure ▁screen . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁The ▁station ▁dates ▁from ▁ 1 8 5 2 ▁( be ing ▁opened ▁by ▁the ▁B irmingham ▁and ▁Oxford ▁J unction ▁Railway ), ▁with ▁the ▁branch ▁to ▁Str at ford ▁opening ▁in ▁ 1 8 6 0 ▁( this ▁had ▁a ▁later ▁extension , ▁now ▁closed , ▁from ▁Bear ley ▁J unction ▁to ▁ ▁added ▁in ▁ 1 8 7 6 ). ▁ ▁It ▁s its ▁part ▁way ▁along ▁a ▁ 5 - mile ▁( 8 ▁km ) ▁long ▁rising ▁section ▁of ▁line ▁with ▁a ▁r uling ▁gradient ▁of ▁ 1 ▁in ▁ 1 1 0 ▁for ▁north bound ▁trains ▁known ▁as ▁Hat ton ▁Bank ▁- ▁this ▁section ▁was ▁often ▁difficult ▁to ▁negoti ate ▁for ▁heavy ▁fre ights ▁and ▁the ▁use ▁of ▁bank ing ▁engines ▁was ▁common place . ▁ ▁The ▁station ▁had ▁its ▁platforms ▁extended ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 2 ▁and ▁further ▁rem od elling ▁of ▁the ▁track