Environmental Statement volume 4 - Chiltern Evergreen3

Bicester Interchange StationThe Cherwell Local Plan makes reference to the possibility of replacingBicester North and Bicester Town stations with a single interchange stationwhere the Chiltern and East-West routes cross. This was rejected because:the interchange would be remote for the town centre, and majorattractions such as Bicester Village;there would be very little actual interchange traffic, as most of thepotential journeys are catered for by existing direct trains (eg Oxford-Birmingham) or by the new Chiltern service (eg Oxford-High Wycombe); a large station car park would be required (over 1100 spaces by 2016)which would conflict with the planned use of much of the site for housing.Also retaining two stations, each with a London service, gives passengersa choice and thus minimises the impact on local road; andplatforms for Oxford-London trains would be sited on a 1:50 gradient,contrary to national railway design standards.ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENTC12CHILTERN RAILWAYS