Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne said: “By working closely with Chiltern Railways on this part of our railway upgrade plan, we have been able to deliver precisely what its customers want – a much-needed new transport option for Oxford-based business and leisure travellers to London”.
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The new station of Oxford Parkway opened to passengers on schedule on Monday morning, representing the opening of the first new rail link between a major British city and London for over 100 years.
As the “Parkway” part of the name suggests, the station is not in Oxford itself: instead it is on the edge of the village of Kidlington a few miles to the north of the city.
“It’s a massive deal for the people of Oxford, as it will provide a huge boost to transport between the city and London”.
The new service will offer two new fast trains per hour throughout the day between Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village Station and London.
“We need to encourage people to use the trains and get out of their cars and hopefully this will do that”.
Prime Minister David Cameron, who is MP for Witney, said it was “an historic moment for Oxfordshire”.
The line also stops at Bicester to serve the Bicester Village shopping centre, a place lucky enough to have a rebuilt station along this new line.
And at the northern edge of the village lies what is now known as London Oxford Airport- a boast that holds a little more credibility thanks to the new train.
“I got up very early this morning and headed down here – I wanted to be the first person and I was”.
He said: “My son is on half term, and because our home is right behind the station I thought this would be a great thing for us to do”.
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“It’s all been quite emotional, at the moment I’m just nervous but also excited”.
