East West Rail Progress as First Train Runs on New Bicester Chord

The first train on the line between Bicester and Oxford Parkway ran on 28 September 2015.

In the early morning the first train passed across the new Bicester Chord which has been constructed to allow an alternative route between Oxford and London Marylebone via the Chiltern main Line.

The test train continued on renewed track to Oxford Parkway Station. This marks the start of the month long period of driver training ahead of the reintroduction of passenger services on 26 October 2015.

This new extension of the Chiltern Railways network also provides the western section of the East West Rail scheme that will eventually join Oxford to Bedford and Milton Keynes.

The project included building a new one kilometre section of railway to connect the Bicester to Oxford line to the Chiltern main line just north of Bicester Town Station. It also involved widening the existing track bed; doubling over 18km of track; increasing line speed to100mph; constructing new overbridges, underbridges and footbridges; closing 37 level crossings; building a new Oxford Parkway station at Water Eaton; upgrading Bicester Town and Islip stations; and installing a new signalling system.

At a later date improvements to track and station layout will allow trains to run through to Oxford Station.

Picture by Bicester to Oxford Collaboration