IDEAS about how Oxford train station and Bicester's London Road level crossing could be improved are being requested as part of a review into rail upgrades.

The Government announced it plans to spend £760m on reviving the railway line between Bicester and Bletchley earlier this year as part of its plans to create a direct train link between Oxford and Cambridge.

But before the East-West Rail Company (EWR), which is overseeing the works, can carry out steps beyond this, it is asking for ideas from the public.

The company has described the upgrades as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity.

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EWR wants to people to give their opinion on its plans to upgrade Oxford, Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village stations, as a further four trains per hour would call at these stations once the project is finished.

It also wants to know how residents think changes to the Bicester level crossing should be dealt with to stop long waits for cars and pedestrians.

Further afield from Oxfordshire it is also asking people their opinions on five different options for the new railway route alignment between Bedford and Cambridge, which is set to be the final part of the new line to be built.

The consultation is taking place at eastwestrail.co.uk

Jeremy Long, Chair of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership said: "Once up and running, East West Rail will be critical for our local economy by directly linking people living and working across Oxfordshire to and from destinations across the arc, through to Cambridge and beyond.

"We would like to see the railway delivered in most sustainable form possible, and for consideration to be given, as it is being constructed, for the rail corridor to be used to enhance digital connectivity as well."

Ever since rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris announced new funding for the route in January, there have been calls for the route to be electrified, instead of running diesel trains as is currently planned.

Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, Layla Moran, has started a petition calling on the Government to electrify the line.

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The Government hopes the new train line between Bicester and Bletchley will be completed by 2025.

It will allow Oxfordshire residents to travel directly by train to Milton Keynes for the first time since the late 1960s, when services were axed.

The rest of the route could be completed before the end of the current decade, if all goes as planned.