PLANS to overhaul rail timetables for new intercity trains between Oxford and London could make journeys quicker and easier.

Great Western Railway is planning improved services on the routes through the north Cotswolds and the Oxford to London line from December this year to accommodate the intercity express trains the company has introduced since 2017.

James Davis, a spokesman for GWR said: “Over the last 18 months, two years, we have been phasing out high-speed trains first introduced in the 70s and 80s and replacing them with intercity express trains.”

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These trains are able to operate on either diesel or electric overhead powerlines, and currently switch to diesel as for the Didcot to Oxford section of the journey from London.

The GWR spokesman added: “These new intercity express trains, while they have more seats on board and while they can accelerate quicker and decelerate quicker, they are currently operating to an old timetable.

“We will start to operate on an intercity express timetable to take advantage of the benefits the new trains are bringing. This will have significant benefits to our customers in Oxford.”

The planned timetable changes come as engineering works alongside the tracks between Oxford and Didcot have been signed off by the Office of Rail and Road, a government regulator.

The works included widening an embankment alongside the tracks, building new signalling equipment, and rebuilding parts of platform three at Oxford.

Though the works are set to make train journeys more efficient, there is still radio silence on plans to electrify the train line between Didcot and Oxford as part of the wider Great Western Electrification.

The Oxford to Didcot line was intended for electrification as part of the overall scheme, but the work was deferred by Network Rail in 2016 with no set date for it to begin in the future.

An ORR spokesman said: “Network Rail has stated in previous delivery plans that the scheme would complement electrification of the line south of Oxford.

“However, any decision on further investment is for the Department for Transport as funder of rail enhancements.”

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Network Rail has been carrying out the Great Western Electrification programme since 2013 when it was first estimated to cost £874m.

The entire Great Western rail network was due to be upgraded by 2018, but spiralling costs beyond the original estimate meant that work was focused on the main line between Cardiff and London.

In May this year, residents in Steventon objected to plans by Network Rail to demolish the main road bridge into the village.

Network Rail had sought planning permission to demolish the bridge as part of preparation for electrification works, but Vale of White Horse district councillors rejected the plans.

The rail company had previously insisted cutting off the major route into the village was the only way to electrify the line.

In January, the new intercity trains were heralded by the then-leader of SODC John Cotton as helping to make Didcot a regional hub.