IN HIS letter headlined ‘Changes to railway on wrong track’ (Tuesday’s Oxford Mail) Colin Morris talks a load of rubbish.

As a Bicester resident, I broadly welcome the prospect of improved train services to London and Oxford.

And with Bicester Town station adjacent to Bicester Village, the new service will ease gridlock and provide an alternative to the congested A34/A41.

And by the way, I live within earshot of the line to Marylebone – noise from trains is not a problem.

Nor were the additional four trains an hour during recent diversions of First Great Western services between Oxford and London a problem.

How many residents actually noticed the extra trains passing through the town during the Christmas holiday period?

The existing Oxford-London service is full to capacity, as anyone who commutes regularly will know.

If it were as simple as just running more, longer trains non-stop from Paddington to Oxford as well as the existing service, it would have been done already.

Until electrification between Oxford and Paddington, remodelling of Reading station and the Crossrail link across London are complete, there will be significant disruption on the Paddington route for some time.

Commuters will welcome a choice of services to London. Those who live in North Oxford or Kidlington will find Water Eaton Parkway attractive, with a shorter journey to Marylebone.

It will also provide Bicester residents with a convenient link to Kidlington and the John Radcliffe Hospital via bus connections at Water Eaton.

Even after electrification, I think many would choose to travel from Oxford via Bicester to London if they receive a convenient, competitive service, with attractive fares, where they can get a seat.

Chiltern Railways’ proposal benefits Bicester and I support it.

Andrew Smith, Heron Drive, Bicester