A NEW train track linking Oxford and London is now complete and set for the launch of a new service between the two cities later this year.

Chiltern Railways services from Oxford city centre to London Marylebone are set to launch on December 12.

The track will be the first new line between a major British city and London to be laid in a century.

Network Rail engineers have now finished laying new sections of track to connect the city centre with London Marylebone ahead of Chiltern launching services in December.

The final track installations were completed around Peartree and Wolvercote in Oxford. Network Rail’s ‘orange army’ engineers have transformed the old 20-40 mph branch line into a 100 mph main line.

The £320 million project, including an investment of £130 million from Chiltern Railways, was first conceived in 2002 and approved in 2013.

The first section of the route opened from Oxford Parkway, a new station, in October 2015.

Once open, two trains per hour will run throughout the day from Oxford city centre to London Marylebone with journey times from around an hour.

The new link introduces a useful alternative for people travelling between Oxford and London. Until now Paddington station has been their only London rail option.

Managing director at Chiltern Railways Dave Penney said: “With the track now laid from our new station Oxford Parkway through to Oxford city centre, we can look forward to the first trains running on December 12.

“The new rail line will bring significant social, economic and environmental benefits to those living and working along the route and will be the completion of first new rail link between a major British city and London for over 100 years.”