New railway between Oxford’s central station and Oxford Parkway opened on Monday, signalling an important step towards delivery of the much called for East-West Rail project to Cambridge.

The link also completes a new route connecting central Oxford with London Marylebone – the first new railway to the capital from a major British city in over a century. Pictured is the Wolvercote tunnel near Oxford, which was refurbished to accommodate the new line.

This £320M project, conceived by Chiltern Railways and delivered by Network Rail, also saw a station at Oxford Parkway – on the city’s outskirts – and another at Bicester Village open in October last year.

The new route now provides an alternative way of travelling into London for Oxford commuters, who can expect journey times of around an hour.

Welcoming the project’s completion Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Travellers to and from London Marylebone and Oxford will get increased choice, more trains and faster journey times.”

He added: “The link is also an important part of the new East-West line to be built between Oxford and Cambridge and will bring growth and prosperity to this part of Britain.”

The East-West Rail project aims to deliver a direct, 100km route between the two University cities along the route of the old Varsity Line, which closed nearly 50 years ago.

This is a ‘must have’ to fulfil the area’s economic growth potential and deliver national benefit according to England’s Economic Heartland – a strategic alliance of councils and LEPs in the region.

Chair of the group’s strategic transport forum Heather Smith of Northamptonshire County Council said: “It’s a red letter day for the Strategic Alliance as East-West Rail is one of the key pieces of infrastructure needed to unlock the huge economic potential we know we have across the Oxford – Milton Keynes – Cambridge corridor.”

The project also received a boost last month when Chancellor Philip Hammond brought forward £110M to accelerate construction in his Autumn Statement.

(Photo: Network Rail)