A NEW rail link has tripled the number of passengers passing through Bicester Village station in the past year.

The Chiltern Railway link from Oxford station to London Marylebone, which passes through Bicester, marked its first anniversary on Tuesday.

The company revealed that 2.9 million passengers used Bicester Village station during the past 12 months, up from one million between October 2015 – when the station was reopened following a complete rebuilt and was linked to Oxford Parkway – and December 2016

The company said the line is encouraging more people to travel by rail and that, since December 2016, the number of passengers travelling by train between Oxford and London has grown by 21 per cent.

In total 4.6million journeys have been made on the line and, within that figure, 2.9m passengers have used Bicester Village.

Chiltern Railways managing director, Dave Penney, said: "It has been a year since we began running Chiltern Railways services between Oxford and London Marylebone and passenger numbers continue to grow.

"Our railways are fundamental to the nation’s prosperity and the fact that the route is performing ahead of expectation is a demonstration of the value that connecting Britain by rail can bring to regional communities and businesses.

"The £320 million investment made by Chiltern Railways and Network Rail working in partnership has resulted in a rail line that provides real choice and delivers meaningful benefits for those living and working in the region."

Bicester Village Station reopened in October 2015 when the Oxford Parkway to London Marylebone town link began.

It was then connected to Oxford station in December last year.

The revamped station was built on the site of the former Bicester Town station, which was knocked down and completely rebuilt, and is one of two stations in the town along with Bicester North.

Network Rail route manager director Martin Frobisher said: "A better railway supports a stronger economy which provides improved job and leisure opportunities.

"The £320m investment on the route between Bicester and Oxford, part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, has transformed rail travel in the area and passengers and businesses are now reaping the benefits."