RAIL commuters between Oxford and Bicester will face more than a year of taking buses while the train line is revamped.

Work has already started on the £130m scheme, which will see a new railway line created to link Oxford with London Marylebone via Bicester – the first scheme to link two major British cities for 100 years.

In February the line between Oxford and Bicester will close until summer 2015 and Chiltern has now set out proposals – seen by the Oxford Mail – for a replacement bus service along the A34.

The company is consulting on the service, which will run about 14 buses a day between Oxford and Bicester, with a stop at Islip.

Islip resident Dr Ian East, of Oxford to Bicester Rail Action Group, has raised concerns about passengers being kept in the dark over what would happen during the construction period.

He said: “We are quite pleased to see they have made an announcement and started a consultation.”

When it starts it is proposed that between Mondays and Thursdays the service will run between 6am and 9.50pm from Bicester and between 5.15am and 9.05pm from Oxford.

It will also run on Saturdays and Sundays, and all valid rail tickets will be accepted on the service.

Spokesman Nicola Clark declined to comment on the details but said: “We are currently seeking views on the bus replacement service and have been liaising with groups including those representing passengers and the local council.

“We will release full details of the final timetable in November.”