FOR the first time in a decade, daytrippers will be able to hop on trains between Oxford and Bicester every Sunday when a new rail service is launched tomorrow.

The Bicester Link service introduced by First Great Western will see 18 trains running between the two stations via Islip every Sunday.

Previously the two destinations had only been linked on Sundays in the run-up to Christmas.

In addition, there will be an extra six trains between Oxford and Bicester on weekdays, taking the number from 16 to 22 Monday to Thursday, and 18 to 24 on Friday.

The changes have been made possible by a £675,000 five-year grant from Oxfordshire County Council.

The move has been heralded by business leaders and passenger groups as finally securing the future of the route, which has had to deal with persistent fears of closure since it reopened in 1987.

Graham Jones, spokesman for Oxford’s High Street Business Association, said: “Anything that can get people into Oxford quickly and efficiently, and reduce the number of cars on the road, is great.”

Ben Jackson, president of the Bicester Chamber of Commerce, pictured with Bicester Village senior tourism manager Helen Peters, said: “Ever since it was brought back, the line’s been under threat, but this puts those threats to bed.”