New rail line links Oxford with London

The first new rail line linking a major city with London for 100 years has been opened in the Thames Valley today. Chiltern Railways have spent £130m on an extension of their Marylebone mainline from Bicester to a new Oxford Parkway station near Kidlington. The Prime Minister said today marked a series of 'firsts'.

The first new rail line linking a major city with London for 100 years has been opened in the Thames Valley today. And David Cameron was there to mark the occasion. Chiltern Railways have built a £130m extension of their Marylebone mainline from Bicester to a new Oxford Parkway station near Kidlington. But protests over bats and noise mean plans to take the line to Oxford City centre have been delayed. Mike Pearse reports.

The first commuter train from Oxford Parkway has arrived in London seven minutes late. Signalling problems on the Marylebone line led to minor delays.