WITH just a month to go until the opening of the Oxford Parkway to London line, the first trains have now been tested on the new track.
The new link has now been connected to Chiltern’s Birmingham to London line, with signalling systems updated and tested.
The first train, with the driver accompanied by an instructor from Chiltern Railways, set off on the track at 6.58am yesterday.
Chiltern Railways chief project engineer Stephen Barker said: “This is a momentous day for Chiltern Railways and for our partners at Network Rail with just a month to go before launch.
“The project has been over 10 years in the making, constitutes an investment of £130million for Chiltern and we are thrilled to see the first driver instruction trains travel across the junction onto the new line.
“This line will be of enormous benefit to Oxfordshire residents seeking to avoid Oxford city centre.”
Trains will set off from Oxford Parkway station in Kidlington when it opens on October 26. Work on the line between the station and Oxford station will be completed early next year.
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