VILLAGERS have voiced fears their lives could be blighted by 225mph trains speeding past their homes on a proposed high-speed Rail link between London and the Midlands.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis today announced details of the Government’s plan to build a new rail line, called High Speed 2, to slash journey times between London, Birmingham, the North of England and Scotland. High Speed 1 is the line from London to the Channel Tunnel.

The new line is expected to cost £15.8bn and will cross Oxfordshire using the route of the former Great Central Railway, passing close to Twyford, Finmere and Mixbury, near Bicester.

Concerns have been raised about disruption during construction of the railway and noise from up to 28 high-speed trains an hour running on the line.

The 450 residents of Finmere already fear their quality of life could be damaged by the project.

The Government says construction could start in 2019, with the line opening by 2026.

Mike Kerford-Byrnes, the chairman of Finmere Parish Council, whose house is less than 650 yards from the proposed route, said: “We’re very concerned.

“The whole village is going to be affected significantly by sound and noise pollution will be significant.

“We’re also fearful that the frequency means we won’t have any peace from them.

“At the moment, the only thing we can see is construction noise and disruption, followed by operational noise and disruption from the trains, none of which seems particularly pleasant.

“It will not bring any advantage to Finmere and the surrounding countryside whatsoever.”

Mr Kerford-Byrnes, who has lived in the village for 25 years, suggested the line should instead follow the Chiltern Line route to Birmingham, to reduce the number of people affected.

The 65-year-old said he was particularly concerned about people living at Oaks Farm, which is just 30 yards from the proposed line.

He said: “Their quality of life is going to plummet from nice to bloody awful.”

Lord Adonis said there would be an exceptional hardship scheme for those whose properties might be directly affected by the line.

He added that no firm decision on the project would be made until there had been “very intensive consultation”.

The Conservatives welcomed the Government’s “change of heart” on high-speed rail but said that its plans were flawed.

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said the Conservatives were not prepared to “blindly accept” the route proposed by ministers.

And she insisted that if her party was elected to power, work would start two years earlier than the Government’s plan.

A DfT spokesman said: “At this stage, this is only a recommended route.

“The Government will only decide whether to build a new line and, if so, the route of that line, after full public consultation “In identifying a viable route, we have sought to avoid historic buildings and landscapes as far as possible.

“Further work is planned to see what other mitigation can be incorporated along the length of the route, to lessen the negative impacts of a new high-speed line.”

Public consultation on the proposals will run until Thursday, May 20.