Chiltern celebrates 175 years of rail in Bicester
A celebratory event was held at Bicester Village Station this morning (Thursday 02 October), to mark 175 years of rail services in the town.
Operator of Bicester Village and North stations, Chiltern Railways was joined by Oxfordshire County Council, Bicester Village and Calum Miller MP to celebrate the legacy and future of rail in the region.
Chiltern is set to introduce new trains to its route between London and the West Midlands (via Bicester North) from early 2026.
The operator is also working closely with industry partners to introduce a rail service between Oxford and Milton Keynes (via Bicester Village) providing a rail connection to the east of Bicester for the first time in nearly 60 years.
In addition, future opportunities to grow rail patronage in the region include from housing growth and leisure developments like the proposed Oxford United Stadium and the Puy Du Fou Park.
Today’s event culminated in the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the 175th anniversary of rail in Bicester as part of the wider bicentenary of the modern railway.
Tony Baxter, Operations Director at Chiltern Railways, said:
“We were delighted to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the railway in Bicester and we look forward to Chiltern launching new trains and services for residents in the future.
“As we reflect on the role rail has played in shaping our towns and communities over two centuries, we are also excited for the future as we have ambitious plans to make the railway easier, greener and better for Bicester and our wider network.”
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said:
“This is a real landmark for Bicester which proves how vital rail, as part of public transport, continues to be. As a council we are pushing hard for an ambitious expansion and enhancement of rail to complement and sustain our fast-growing local economy.
“The success of Bicester Village Station, and its importance in the future development of our rail network, highlights why providing rail as an increasingly reliable, frequent and affordable transport option is essential for the success of our ambitious Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.”
John Durnin, Business Director at Bicester Village, said:
“We are delighted to celebrate this important milestone in rail history and feel privileged to have benefited from the opportunities and growth our partnership with Chiltern Railways has delivered.
“Looking ahead, we are excited about its continued evolution — from increased rail capacity to an enhanced guest experience — which, together with the arrival of East West Rail, will help underpin the future prosperity of the whole area.”
Bicester Station first opened on 01 October 1850 with the opening of a new rail route between Oxford and Bletchley. Becoming Bicester London Road in 1954 and Bicester Town in 1987 until 2014, the station reopened ten years ago in 2015 as Bicester Village with trains running between Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone.
Bicester North Station opened in 1910 on the London to Birmingham route.
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Notes to editors
- Chiltern Railways is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing around 36,200 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 11 European countries.
- Chiltern operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its Central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands along two routes. Services on the Chiltern Main Line run from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, with some peak-hour services to Stourbridge Junction.
- Chiltern also runs trains on the London to Aylesbury Line to Aylesbury (with some trains terminating at Aylesbury Vale Parkway instead), on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford to Bicester branch lines.