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Rail plans could cut travel times Rail plans could cut travel times
(about 17 hours later)
A £250m scheme which aims to cut rail journey times between London, Oxford and Birmingham has been announced.A £250m scheme which aims to cut rail journey times between London, Oxford and Birmingham has been announced.
The Chiltern Railways project plans to improve the line out of London's Marylebone station to Birmingham, cutting journey times by more than 20%.The Chiltern Railways project plans to improve the line out of London's Marylebone station to Birmingham, cutting journey times by more than 20%.
If planning permission is granted, there will be a section of new track to link London to Oxford, with a new station at Water Eaton Parkway.If planning permission is granted, there will be a section of new track to link London to Oxford, with a new station at Water Eaton Parkway.
Network Rail will fund the project but will be paid back by Chiltern Railways.Network Rail will fund the project but will be paid back by Chiltern Railways.
The London to Birmingham improvements should be ready by May 2011 and work to the rail network in Oxford is expected to be finished by 2013.The London to Birmingham improvements should be ready by May 2011 and work to the rail network in Oxford is expected to be finished by 2013.
'Powerful testament''Powerful testament'
Chairman Adrian Shooter promised that passengers would not be landed with higher fares to pay for the line and that it would be paid for "through extra customers". Chairman Adrian Shooter said fares would not be increased to pay for the line and that it would be funded "through extra customers".
The official announcement of the project means that the extra seven-and-a-half years of Chiltern's 20-year franchise, which was dependent on investment, has been confirmed.The official announcement of the project means that the extra seven-and-a-half years of Chiltern's 20-year franchise, which was dependent on investment, has been confirmed.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said: "With journey times being cut and capacity increased, these improvements are not only excellent news for passengers travelling on this busy line but they will also create significant economic benefits along the route by attracting investment and encouraging tourism, boosting local jobs and businesses. Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said that the planned improvements would create significant economic benefits along the route, attracting investment and tourism.
"The government is committed to improving our railways and this upgrade scheme is a powerful testament to the remarkable renaissance that rail has undergone in recent years." He added: "The government is committed to improving our railways and this upgrade scheme is a powerful testament to the remarkable renaissance that rail has undergone in recent years."
Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent rail passenger group Passenger Focus, welcomed the announcement and said people would be offered "more choice".