Underpass 'promising' for Bicester crossing - MP

An Oxfordshire MP has said he is making the case to government for an underpass - including for cars - under the railway in Bicester.

There are fears a planned closure of a level crossing at London Road will "cut the town in half".

East West Rail (EWR) has proposed a footbridge or underpass for pedestrians and cyclists in its place.

But Calum Miller, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester, said that would force traffic on to other roads that are "already congested" and would "cause some real problems".

The level crossing is earmarked for closure because increased services for East West Rail would mean it would be shut to traffic for more than 32 minutes in every hour.

Mr Miller told BBC Radio Oxford it would be "very hard" to put a bridge in place - and he believed the more "promising option" was to build an underpass for cyclists, pedestrians and car users.

He said: "It's one piece of engineering and hopefully therefore means, relative to the cost that East West Rail has already signed up to by committing to an underpass, it wouldn't represent a major increase to that budget - which is the point I'm making to ministers.

"I believe it is possible to segregate those lanes so it would be possible for those three modes of transport to operate safely together and I think that's the solution we should be looking at."

EWR said it was "committed" to continuing to engage with people in Bicester as plans are developed.

A spokesperson said: "We are currently in the process of reviewing more than 6,000 responses that have received following our recent consultation.

"All of the feedback is being considered and will help to shape the next round of design which will be reviewed ahead of the statutory consultation period – which will be within the next 12 months."

The Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We recognise the strong views felt locally in Bicester, and no decisions have been taken on the future of the London Road level crossing.

"Any option needs to balance cost with the impact on the community."

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