THE bridge connecting Bicester’s new railway station platforms has been lowered into place ahead of the station’s opening in October.

The former Bicester Town Station is nearing completion after a complete rebuild as part of the new high-speed rail line connecting Oxford and London Marylebone via Bicester.

Chiltern Railways has confirmed that the new station will open on Monday, October 26, and is now called Bicester Village Station.

Chiltern Railways business development director Graham Cross said: “Work at the new station is progressing well.

“The project will make Bicester one of the best connected places in the UK and will support the town as it continues to grow and transform into a ‘Garden City’ over the coming years.”

The most recent work at the station in London Road has seen the bridge lowered into position linking the station platforms.

The station has been redeveloped with two new platforms, a new station building and a rebuilt car park and approach.

There will now also be an entrance to Bicester Village designer shopping outlet direct from the station.

The project came up against objections when Chiltern Railways proposed the name change.

An online petition demanding the station is not named after the popular retail outlet currently has 742 supporters.

Objectors have argued that Bicester is not a village and the new name would be detrimental to the town’s identity.

Southwold resident Stephen Smith said: “It is a benefit to have the new station – the fact it is happening is good. It is mostly the name change we are against.

“I, like many long-term residents, are not happy with the name change. For an expanding town it makes no sense to have the station named as a village.

“Having lived in Bicester a long time, it grates a bit.”

As part of the work, the London Road level crossing has been closed for two months which residents also fear could be a sign of things to come with a maximum of 12 trains predicted an hour eventually.

Sallie Wright, co-chairwoman of Bicester TAG (Traffic Action Group), said: “We, as a group, are very unhappy about the level crossing closure now being until October, with the possibility of being closed regularly in the future.”

She added: “I do think it [the new station] is a good thing to have, anything to keep cars off the road in and around Bicester.

“As for the name change, I think it is totally wrong and doesn’t reflect us as a town, we are a town not a village.

“I think it is being done so shoppers know where to go but they have managed to find their way for the 20-odd years that Bicester Village has been here.”

When the line opens in October, there will be two trains an hour direct between the new Oxford Parkway station – which will be at Water Eaton, near Kidlington – and Marylebone, via Bicester.

Journey times to Marylebone will be about an hour from Oxford Parkway and just over 50 minutes from Bicester Village Station.

Chiltern Railways said the service was due to be extended to run from Oxford railway station next year, but added no exact date had yet been decided.