The idea of building a new, fast service between London and Oxford goes back a number of years. It was first mooted when Chiltern Railways took over the franchise in 1996, one driver being to reduce traffic on the already congested M40. It became a formal aspiration as part of the company's second franchise agreement in 2002. and in 2003 a number of options for this service were examined in a report authored by Chiltern Railways for the Department of Transport. After extensive discussion and consideration, these options were narrowed down to those that are being considered as part of the current Evergreen3 project.

As its name suggests, Evergreen3 is the latest in a series of service improvements which are being implemented as part of Chiltern's 20 year franchise. It is preceded by Project Evergreen1 which comprised 18 miles of track doubling between Bicester and Aynho, near Banbury, and Evergreen2 which included various measures to improve line speed, extra signalling between London and Bicester and two extra platforms at London Marylebone - a 50% increase in capacity - which were completed in 2006.

Evergreen3 will be achieved by constructing a short connecting line just south of Bicester, where Chiltern Railways' London-Birmingham line crosses over the proposed East-West line which will run between Oxford and Milton Keynes. The latter will be upgraded from just east of Bicester Town station to Oxford, including restoring much of the double track that was removed many years ago and installing new signalling and safety systems. Bicester Town and Islip stations will be rebuilt and additional platforms provided at Oxford, whilst a new station will be constructed near Water Eaton to serve Kidlington and North Oxford.

New train services

Chiltern Railways envisages operating two London-Oxford trains each hour in each direction, throughout the day. All trains will call at Bicester Town and Oxford stations, and the new Parkway station in North Oxford. Most trains will call at High Wycombe, and some will call at Islip. Projected journey times will be around 66 minutes Marylebone to Oxford, 58 minutes Marylebone to Water Eaton, 14 minutes Bicester Town to Oxford and 38 minutes High Wycombe to Oxford. All times and frequencies are subject to change.

Project programme and the Transport & Works Act

The new works will require an Order under the Transport & Works Act (TWA) which is the standard procedure for giving statutory authority for new rail lines. Chiltern will be submitting an application in autumn 2009. This is likely to be followed by a public inquiry prior to the granting of an Order if the application proves successful. Work to upgrade the existing Chiltern line between London and Bicester does not require TWA authority and this could therefore commence earlier than the Bicester to Oxford leg of the route.

The EIA and stakeholder consultation

The key project priority prior to submitting the application is to evaluate options within the agreed parameters of the scheme and carry out a full consultation exercise as part of this process. To this end, Chiltern has engaged the environmental consultancy ERM (see below) which is carrying out a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as required by law and leading a stakeholder engagement programme with statutory consultees and other stakeholder groups and individuals.

For its part, the EIA is designed to examine the environmental impact of a number of different options which may or may not be adopted as part of a core design for the scheme. In informing the evaluation of these options, the EIA covers such areas as:

• landscape and visual impact;
• local ecology;
• noise and vibration;
• archaeology;
• safety;
• road traffic;
• environmental impact on local residents;

A number of specialist surveys are being carried out to gather information and assess the relative impacts of the preferred scheme in each of the above areas.

In tandem with the EIA, ERM is also carrying out a stakeholder consultation programme which is designed to allow consultees - eg local councils and nature conservancy groups - to consider and comment on the proposed route and to discuss design options. The primary objectives of the consultation are:

To inform and engage communities and stakeholders regarding the development proposals.

To obtain the opinions, views and concerns of those stakeholders.

To identify issues and impacts that would not otherwise be considered, along with suggestions for mitigation as appropriate.

Project benefits

The new route will bring a wide variety of benefits, including:

• Extra trains to/from Oxford - the Chiltern service will complement the Great Western line to Paddington, and not replace it.
• An alternative to the existing route during disruption whilst Reading station is remodelled and the CrossRail project is built.
• The new Water Eaton station will give easy access to the railway for passengers from north and east Oxford, Kidlington and Yarnton, without having to drive through the historic city to reach the existing station. Direct bus links from Water Eaton will make travel to and from the city centre and the Radcliffe hospital even easier.
• A fast and frequent commuter service between Bicester and Oxford, giving a realistic alternative to the congested A34.
• Direct rail services between Oxford and High Wycombe, for the first time in over 40 years, and connections to Wembley Stadium.
• Direct rail service from London to the Bicester Village shopping master, thus helping to take traffic off the M40.

Outline scope of works

The main works proposed are:

• A new connecting line, from a point on the Chiltern Railways line just north of the bridge over the Bicester ring road, to a point on the East-West route just east of Tubbs Lane crossing. The land required for this is already protected for railway use in the Cherwell Local Plan.
• Upgrading the East-West rail route, from the junction with new line through Bicester Town and Islip to Oxford North Junction (near Wolvercote). The upgraded route will be mostly double track, thus reinstating the facility removed by British Rail. New signalling and safety systems will be provided to equip the line for 90-100mph operation, and level crossings replaced or upgraded according to their location. The Mill Stream and River Cherwell viaducts will be rebuilt. Most of the work will be within the existing railway boundary.
• The sidings into the stone terminal at Banbury Road (Water Eaton) and into the Ministry of Defence depot at Bicester will be reconfigured to permit the reinstatement of double track.
• A new independent line will be built between Oxford North Junction and Oxford station. This will use the trackbed of the old line that runs parallel to the existing main line, and is all within the existing railway boundary. At Oxford station the bridge over the Rewley Abbey Stream will be widened, and the former parcels depot rebuilt to give two additional platforms for passenger trains.
• Bicester Town station will be rebuilt with two platforms, to allow reinstatement of double track. The platforms will be extended for 8-car long trains, and new station buildings constructed. Level access will be provided throughout, together with improved links to both the town centre and Bicester Village.
• Islip station will also be rebuilt with two 8-car long platforms, with level access throughout.
• A new station will be built near the Water Eaton park and ride site, with direct bus links to Kidlington, north Oxford, the John Radcliffe hospital and the city centre. The station will have two 8-car platforms, with level access throughout and passenger facilities, including a ticket hall and coffee shop.

Project funding

The project will be financed by Chiltern Railways as part of its franchise agreement, and is not dependent on public funds.

The East-West Rail Link

The route between Bicester and Oxford will also be used for the East-West Rail Link. This project is sponsored by a range of public bodies, including the relevant local authorities, and seeks to reopen the rail link between Oxford, Bletchley/Milton Keynes, and East Anglia. The Chiltern Railways scheme will materially assist in the delivery of the East-West project, and Chiltern has thus established a close working relationship with the East-West Rail Consortium. This ensures that the two projects complement each other, and that Chiltern's design work takes full account of East-West Rail needs.