CHILTERN Railways is on schedule to open its new direct service between Oxford city centre and London Marylebone in under a week's time.

Trains have been testing the track between Oxford Parkway and Oxford rail stations and the new rail link opening up fully on Monday.

Oxford Parkway opened in October 2015 to take passengers to London Marylebone but now they will also be able to travel direct from Oxford rail station.

Passengers at Oxford will have a choice of fast Chiltern Railways trains throughout the day from Oxford station to London Marylebone with journey times lasting about an hour.

Chairman of Bus Users Oxford and former London Underground driver Hugh Jaeger said: "This is very good news for Oxford because it doubles rail capacity from Oxford to London.

"It gives passengers more choice and it could lead to some competition on unregulated fares between Chiltern and Great Western Railway.

"I also hope it could mean less overcrowding between Oxford and London during the rush-hours.

"It's also good news that this new section of track restores the link between Bicester and Oxford, with trains running between Bicester Village and Oxford."

Chiltern Railways began running test trains for driver training on the new section of track last month.

The first train to go over the new line was at 6.58am on November 21, marking a 'momentous milestone' for Network Rail and Chiltern Railways.

The first train will leave Oxford on Monday at 7.20am and there will be two trains per hour.

In total, there will be 126 drivers on the route.

Managing director at Chiltern Railways Dave Penney said: "This will deliver significant social, economic and environmental benefits for those living and working along the route.

"It will also support growth of the visitor economy bringing more tourists to the city to experience everything Oxford has to offer."

Martin Frobisher, managing director of Network Rail's London North Western route, said: "This important landmark in our nationwide Railway Upgrade Plan will offer a great new travel option not just for business and leisure passengers in Oxford going to London but also for those in London heading to Oxford.

"It will bring economic benefits to the Oxford region and with it new opportunities for people living there."

The Oxford to London Marylebone project has been jointly funded by Network Rail and Chiltern Railways.