Chiltern Railways sets London-to-Oxford link date

Oxford Parkway will serve the new £130m line to London Marylebone from 26 October

The opening date of a new rail link between London and Oxford has been announced.

The £130m line will run from Oxford Parkway, the first new station in the city for 80 years, to London Marylebone from 26 October.

Work on the station, located north of the city just off the A34, near Water Eaton park-and-ride, began last October.

A new Bicester Village station will open at the same time.

Formerly known as Bicester Town, the station is being completely rebuilt as part of the project.

'More convenient'

Rob Brighouse, managing director of Chiltern Railways, said: "The line will transform travel in Oxfordshire, helping passengers avoid city centre traffic congestion and benefit from more convenient journeys to London via our new stations, Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village station.

"The project is the first new rail link between a major British city and London in over 100 years and will bring significant economic benefit to the region."

Oxford Parkway has been built on the site of the derelict Water Eaton silo, which was demolished in October 2013.

It is the first station to be built in Oxford since 1935. The service will run to London Marylebone in less than an hour.

Oxford Parkway will also have a car park with more than 800 spaces and more than 150 cycle spaces.

The rebranding of Bicester Town station has proved controversial, with residents complaining of the undue focus given to the town's shopping outlet.

Oxford Parkway was built on the site of the derelict Water Eaton silo

Work on the structure of the station, located north of the city just off the A34, began in October

Oxford Parkway is the first railway station to be built in Oxford since 1935