Chiltern Railways has been told it can go ahead with plans for a £130 million rail link between Oxford and London.
The Secretary of State for Transport gave Chiltern the green light for what will be the first new rail link between London and a major British city for 100 years.
The operator will begin running services between London Marylebone and Oxford from 2015.
Graham Cross, business development director of Chiltern Railways, said: “We are pleased to have been granted the power to proceed with this significant railway investment, which will benefit thousands of commuters and businesses in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
“The Oxford to London link is the latest in a long line of innovative Chiltern-led projects to upgrade the rail infrastructure, fuelled by our understanding of rail’s potential to make a significant contribution to economic growth and prosperity.”
The project will include new stations in Bicester and Water Eaton, north Oxford.
