THE new-look Bicester Village train station has been crowned small station of the year.

The station scooped up the prize at the National Rail Awards, where judges praised its foreign language signage as a 'thoughtful customer service touch'.

Since the revamped station opened in October 2015 more than two million passengers have used it but with only two platforms and one main building it is categorised as a 'small' station.

It opened as part of the new Oxford to London Marylebone link and on-board announcements are even made in Mandarin and Japanese to reflect the international appeal of the shopping outlet.

Managing director of Chiltern Railways, Dave Penney, said: "The station has seen more than two million passengers make journeys through the station since opening and this award is a credit to the station staff, who strive to ensure the customers come first."

The popular shopping centre can be accessed directly from the station and with a short journey to London attracts visitors from all over the world.

The shopping outlet's community relations director, Miranda Markham, said: "We congratulate Chiltern Railways on their success.

"The number of overall visitors arriving by train has more than doubled since the opening of the station, which has wide appeal for both domestic and international visitors and local residents."

Chiltern Railways was also highly commended in the passenger operator of the year category.

Judges praised the firm's 'competitive determination' to expand the market in the region and its high quality customer service.