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A new rail link opened today between Oxford and London has been hailed as a "historic moment" for commuters.

Chiltern Railways and Network Rail teamed up for the £320million project which connects a new Oxford Parkway station on the outskirts of the city with London Marylebone.

Next year, the line will be connected to Oxford station in the city centre.

Prime Minister David Cameron , who is the MP for Witney in west Oxfordshire, said it was a "historic moment" for the county.

Chiltern expects 250,000 return commuter journeys will be made each year on the new route, which offers an alternative to travelling into the capital via Reading and London Paddington.

The operator said it is the first new link between a major British city and London in more than a century.

(Image: Reuters)

Oxford Parkway is around four miles to the north of the city centre. It has been built with 1,500 parking spaces in a bid to tempt motorists to use the service, which reaches London in just under an hour.

A rebranded and redeveloped train station at Bicester Village shopping centre also opens today on the new route into London.

Some 6.3million shoppers visit the designer outlet centre each year.

Mr Cameron said: "This new line and two new stations mark an historic moment for Oxfordshire.

"From today there will be more trains, faster journey times and better transport links for people living and working here.

"Our long-term plan is delivering the infrastructure needed to help people to get to work, ease congestion on our roads, support business and grow the local economy."

Network Rail contributed £190million towards the project, with Chiltern investing £130million.

(Image: PA)

Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne said: "By working closely with Chiltern Railways on this part of our railway upgrade plan, we have been able to deliver precisely what its customers want - a much-needed new transport option for Oxford-based business and leisure travellers to London.

"It will also help provide the capacity needed as rail travel is forecast to double over the next two decades."

Chiltern's managing director, Rob Brighouse, said: "Passengers are at the heart of every decision we make at Chiltern Railways, which is why we conceived this new line to link London, Oxford and Bicester Village for the benefit of shoppers and commuters."