A rail company has admitted its new service between Oxford and Bicester is "not up to standard". 

It follows complaints from commuters about overcrowding and delays to timetables in the three weeks since Chiltern Railways began offering services between Oxford Parkway Station and London Marylebone, via Bicester.

The problems were blamed by Chiltern on fewer people than expected using the new Bicester Village Station, as well as leaves that had fallen on the line.

The firm's commercial director Thomas Ableman told the BBC: "We thought about half the people would switch from Bicester North to Bicester Village but nothing like that has happened so we've had people standing on trains from Bicester North.

"Ninety percent of trains are still arriving on time - it's still a very high number, just not up to our normal standard."

"You can forecast, model and plan as much as you like, but there is an element where you have to wait and see what happens in reality."

Mr Ableman said services would improve in December.

Nicola Clark, a spokeswoman for Chiltern, added: "Services across Chiltern have been affected by leaves on the line.

"Leaves fall from the trees and go onto the track and when trains run over it can mulch and squish them.

"That then packs onto the line and forms a coating which makes it incredibly slippy. Our drivers have to be very careful they don’t turn wheels and overshoot stations.”

Commuters this week also told the Oxford Mail that the new rail link had resulted in a worse service for travellers from Bicester.

They say Chiltern Railways have split the trains between Bicester North and Bicester Village stations meaning there are less peak trains and the service has “taken a step back”.

Ellie Coleman said because of the changes she was now late for work her journey home was 15 minutes longer.

Chiltern Railways, which opened the new link from Oxford Parkway to London Marylebone, via Bicester Village, last month, said there was “a significant increase in journey opportunities for the town”.

Journalist Mrs Coleman said her commute was “awful” since the new timetable took effect.

She said: “Basically, there's less peak time trains between Bicester North and Marylebone, the ones there are mostly take longer, and coupled with this there have also been loads of delays since the new timetable launched.

“Worst of all is the fact they have scrapped the 1718 train from Marylebone to Bicester North - it now goes to Bicester Village.

“It used to get to Bicester North at 1806 or 1807. The equivalent train now leaves Marylebone at 1721 and is supposed to get in at 1821 although when I've taken it, it's been late. So 15 minutes at least added to my journey home.

“To add insult to injury the 1718 used to be a plush modern train with wifi, charging sockets etc.

“Now it's one of those old fashioned slam door trains with no wifi or sockets which seems to me a strange decision for a peak time commuter service.”

She wants Chiltern to reconsider its new timetable.

Regular commuter James Mcnamara, also a Cherwell district councillor, said the line from Bicester North to Marylebone had got better and better “until last Monday”.

He said: “The problem with splitting the service is Bicester has got two stations now and neither has a good service.

“While it may sound great that we’ve got four trains an hour to Bicester, if they are going to different stations it’s not the same.”

He said commuters who used the carpark would need to return to the same station.

A Chiltern Railways spokesman said the number of services between Bicester and London had increased. She said: “Between 6-9am, there were previously 12 Bicester-London trains; there are now 16.

“This is a significant increase in journey opportunities for the town; however we understand that timetable changes can involve a change of routine for our customers and we apologise for this.”