How East West Rail would benefit Bicester
East West Rail would make it easier to connect with other parts of the UK and get around the local area with affordable connections, easing congestion on local roads. A new rail link would increase the opportunity to travel for work, while stimulating employment locally and supporting plans to improve the town centre.
Bicester would benefit from the region’s uplift and be better connected to a market of nearly four million people. The new railway would create economic opportunity for everyone, which could be worth over £100 billion in additional value every year by 2050.
Our proposals
A new fully accessible single lane motorised underbridge, comprising a protected active travel corridor for pedestrians and cyclists, is now the single preferred option for replacing the London Road level crossing in Bicester, subject to third-party funding. This proposal has been developed as a result of extensive feedback and consultation with the public and stakeholders and will ensure connectivity is maintained across Bicester. Find out more in our latest consultation document here.
We plan to improve the public realm around Bicester Village station. This would feature a new active travel hub to the south of the railway, including cycle parking; an enhanced bus stop and private car pick-up and drop-off area; a sloped embankment along one side of the underpass approach ramps, creating a more open underpass environment with natural light; public space and walkways around the retained Grade II listed building directly north of the existing level crossing; and a direct walkway from the station across the underpass towards Langford Village.
Works to connect the railway between Bicester and Bletchley is almost complete and the Department for Transport is currently in the process of procuring an operator to run these services from 2025.
We’re continuing work to identify the most suitable locations for passing loop between Oxford and Bletchley which would allow faster trains to overtake slower stopping services safely.
We’re proposing discontinuous overhead electrification of the railway with battery-equipped trains between Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village which will enhance decarbonisation, support UK net zero goals, and reduce emissions.
What’s next?
The rebuilt section of the line between Bicester and Bletchley was completed by the East West Rail Alliance and handed over to Network Rail in December 2024 and is now part of the national network.
Chiltern Railways was announced as the operator of the line in March 2025 and is working closely with the Department of Transport to finalise these arrangements and start services as soon as possible.
