THE increasing length of time the barriers are down for trains passing the London Road level crossing is impacting businesses and pollution levels in Bicester, it has been claimed.

Drivers have said they can be waiting up to seven minutes at time at the crossing which is expected to get even busier after 2019.

As the line is further developed, there are will be more and more trains using but the problem for some is already a big issue.

One taxi driver has said it is affecting his trade as people no longer want to pay the extra money on short journeys from the town centre to wait in traffic.

Aijaz Qaze, who has worked in Bicester for about seven years, said: “We have lost a lot of business as before the new line opened it took no time to cross from the town centre.

“A lot of our business is for people heading from the town centre to Ambrosden and Langford and the job would usually be about £5.

"But now with daily traffic jams right back into Market Square it is more like £7 or £8 and a five minute journey is about 20 minutes by the time you get back.

“People do not want to risk waiting in traffic and pay the extra because it is done on the meter."

Mr Qaze said many taxi drivers are advising passengers heading along London Road to villages such as Langford to walk instead or facing traffic jams.

The extra concerns stem from the future opening of the East West Rail line which will connect Bicester to Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Bedford.

Since Bicester Village Station was reopened in October, Oxfordshire County Council has said the barrier is closed approximately 24 minutes each hour.

Once the line is extended it is predicted to be closed up to 45-minutes in the hour with extra services running on the line.

This development was originally planned from spring 2019 but following national delays no set date has been provided for the works.

Network Rail did not comment on the expected growth in train frequency but previously said the core proposal from both companies from 2019 was to have space for 12 trains to pass London Road level crossing every hour.

It estimated that on average trains take three minutes to pass the crossing with extra time given to freight trains but it is not unknown for several trains to pass in quick succession.

Campaign group BicesterTAG has had a long-running concern about the safety fears that come with more trains passing the crossing from 2019.

Group member Jan Harvey said: "My personal issue is about the length of time the barriers are down. Sometimes you will just have one train pass and other times you will get two which seems to take an awful long time in between.

"By then traffic will be backed up to Market Square and Rodney House roundabout.

"The station is a huge benefit but it is the delays that build up back into town and Bicester already has significant air pollution problems.

" To build either a tunnel or bridge they will most likely stop running that line and that is money to them."

Network Rail did not respond to requests regarding the latest update and future of London Road level crossing.