Two Chiltern services pass at Dorridge. Picture: www.upmain.com

Chiltern Railways has applied for a Transport and Works Act for its Evergreen 3 project, that will see a new Oxford to Marylebone service introduced, along with the construction of a new station at Water Eaton and the upgrading of others.

Evergreen 3 will result in a short chord being constructed off the Oxford to Bicester Town branch, which will connect with Chiltern’s main line to London Marylebone.

The project follows on from Evergreen 1, which saw 18 miles of track doubled between Bicester and Aynho, and Evergreen 2, which comprised of 2 additional platforms at London Marylebone, an increase in line speed and instalation of additional signals to increase capacity.

It is envisaged that Chiltern will operate 2 London-Oxford services each hour in each direction from 2013.

There is more good news for Chiltern passengers, as work has recently commenced on reconnecting the terminus platforms at Birmingham Moor Street to the national network. This will allow some trains from London to terminate there and also provide additional stabling facilities for Chiltern’s trains.