BICESTER, our thriving metropolis, tucked up in the wilds of north east Oxfordshire, close to the barely explored, mysterious borders of Buckinghamshire may feel like the centre of the world.

After all we do have more Tescos per capita than is necessary.

Yet there are those of us who regularly venture beyond our city limits into the world outside taking news of our amazing sausages and confirming rumours of discount designer shopping to wide-eyed peoples who aren’t blessed to have frequented Oxfordshire’s premier town.

For many years those brave souls who ventured into parts unknown only had one main option; car.

For despite having a rail link to London, the service was unreliable and it was not unknown for commuters to finish their journey home on foot over sleepers and rails when aged trains broke down.

North of Bicester, the rail connection to Birmingham was nearly severed by over zealous British Rail bureaucrats who had earlier succeeded in closing Bicester’s connection to the Oxford to Cambridge line. In 1987, campaigners helped persuade authorities to reopen a now rickety line but only to Oxford using tired trains.

Yet the rail connections Bicester enjoys today is a total transformation.

Thanks to the vision of Chiltern Railways, Bicester enjoys fast, modern trains to Birmingham, Oxford and London however the wise amongst you will have realised that is only three points of the compass; north, west and south.

So what about the east? What mythical place could possibly lie in the direction from where the sun rises? Milton Keynes!

From 2023, we should have the opportunity to connect by rail to all four corners of the known world thanks to a project called East West Rail that aims to reconnect Cambridge and Oxford.

The project was started in mid 1990s by councils along the path of the former ‘Varsity Line’ to help boast economic activity.

You are probably aware of this project as it is the cause of the concern about lack of planning by Oxfordshire County Council to find a suitable replacement for the London Road level crossing that will be closed for around 45 minutes every hour based on projected timetables.

You may be thinking why are trains important when most households own an average of two cars? It is all to do with opportunities.

Whilst cars offer unlimited freedom, they also cause congestion and pollution.

However fast, frequent, metro style rail services have a dramatic effect on local economies. It achieves a concept called ‘modal switch’ people moving from road to rail improving congestion and improving air quality.

It also offers new employment and education possibilities for residents.

There is also economic evidence to show that new railways also increase average earnings in an area.

Not only will residents of Bicester be able to access jobs in Milton Keynes more easily, Chiltern Railways also hold a long term aspiration to extend their service beyond Oxford to Cowley/BMW and Oxford Science Park.

On September 5, after much delay East West Rail finally broke ground in Launton.

Admittedly it was only a pond to protect wildlife during construction but the project is now going ahead with the approval of Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling.

So with work finally underway what will Oxfordshire County Council now do about the London Road level crossing?

A problem they have actively avoided for 20 years and why are our councillors so unvocal that a major link to the town centre will be closed impacting businesses and residents alike?

At a time when opportunities for Bicester are increasing, our council representatives ignore the town’s needs.

Bicester Traffic Action Group co-chairwoman Rachel Mallows.