A MAJOR new rail project to link Oxford and London via Bicester has won the final go-ahead after a High Court challenge was thrown out yesterday.

Chiltern Railways said work will begin this summer on the route to Marylebone after a judge rejected a legal challenge.

It will double the track between Oxford and Bicester Town and link it to the existing Marylebone to Birmingham line, providing a second commuter rail route into London.

A new station will be built at Water Eaton, near Kidlington, to attract commuters who currently use other railway stations or catch coaches from Thornhill park-and-ride.

Twice-hourly trains will take an estimated 2,000 daily passengers 66 minutes from Oxford and 58 minutes from “Water Eaton Parkway”.

Director Graham Cross said: “Chiltern Railways will open the first new rail link between two major British cities for 100 years with the line expected to deliver significant economic benefits for those living and working along the route.”

In addition to Water Eaton, “fast growing” Bicester will get a new Bicester Town link by Bicester Village.

Asked about ticket prices, he said: “We will want to announce that nearer the time.”

The “dilapidated” Bicester-Oxford link will close in February for up to two years, with replacement buses.

Water Eaton to London trains will start in summer 2015 while the full route from Oxford will open in spring 2016.

Oxford’s station will have one platform extended and an extra one added.

Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce president Bob Bradley said: “We need growth and one of the big barriers in our part of the world is the infrastructure.

“Everybody knows about the overcrowding on the Paddington trains so to have a new line will be really good competition.”

The plans will also boost hopes of a county rail link to Milton Keynes, Bedford and possibly Cambridge, he said.

Banbury MP Sir Tony Baldry said: “It is extremely good news. Bicester will be on an east-west and north-south rail connection. It will maximise Bicester’s geographical location.”

Oxford East Labour MP Andrew Smith “This is really good news. The new service from Oxford to Marylebone will give commuters and visitors to and from London more choice.”

Summertown’s Sean Feeney had tried to halt the £130m scheme over its environmental impact. It was thought it could have put the scheme back two years.

Mr Feeney brought the case against the Government on the impact of nitrogen oxides on the Oxford Meadows Special Area of Conservation.

But Mr Justice Ouseley said Natural England – a Government executive agency – could enforce pollution measures.

Mr Feeney – who lost a 2011 High Court bid against city council plans for 8,000 homes and businesses with 3,000 jobs – has yet to comment on the decision.

A Department for Transport spokesman said the ruling “confirms that the department took sufficient steps to assess the impact of the scheme on Oxford Meadows”.