A MULTI-MILLION pound tunnel could be dug under the railway line on Bicester's London Road to replace a busy crossing.

Transport bosses are proposing the scheme after the opening of Oxford Parkway Station led to more trains passing through the town to go to London Marylebone.

Despite ruling a tunnel out in the past, they now describe it as "the only viable solution" in a bid for funding from the Government.

It has been put forward by highways authority Oxfordshire County Council, which is concerned higher train traffic could lead Network Rail to close the current level crossing before an alternative is in place.

Traffic surveys conducted by volunteers last year found that between 11am and 12pm, the crossing barriers had to be lowered five times to allow trains to pass – amounting to 16 minutes of delays for road traffic.

Alternatives, such as a bridge, have previously been looked at but were not thought possible because of the distance required for lead-in ramps.

But funding bids sent to central government by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – seen by the Bicester Advertiser – now suggest a tunnel is being given serious consideration.

The move was welcomed by Bicester Traffic Action Group co-chairwoman Rachel Mallows, who said it was vital to keep the thoroughfare open to traffic.

She added: "We have been pressing for a solution to this problem to be found for some time, so it is good to see the council is finally pushing forward with it."

The funding bid documents say: "With the increase in barrier down times at the London Road level crossing, following the introduction of Oxford-London Marylebone and Oxford-Milton Keynes-Bedford rail services, an options appraisal identified the only viable solution to the traffic impact and disruption is a tunnel under the railway line with provision for motorised vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians."

A cost for the scheme was not provided and the county council would not reveal it when asked this week.

But a spokesman added: "Possible alternatives to the Bicester London Road are currently being assessed by the county council and the East West Rail Consortium.

"No decision on a preferred option will be taken until public consultation has concluded.

"Details of the options will be released as part of the consultation."

This was expected to take place by the end of the year or early 2017, the spokesman added.

The county council has submitted its bid for cash to the Department for Transport's £475m 'local majors fund'.

Successful bids are expected to be announced in Chancellor Philip Hammond's upcoming Autumn Statement, which the Treasury has not yet confirmed a date for.

Meanwhile, proposals to build a dualled road bridge over the railway at Charbridge Lane and for the Bicester south east perimeter road also feature in the LEP's funding bid documents.

The group of council and business leaders has asked for £15.75m of the total £16.7m cost of the railway bridge scheme at Charbridge Lane.

This is alongside a request for £18.6m towards the £28.5m perimeter road.