The first test train journey on the East West Rail route between Oxford and Milton Keynes ran on Monday October 21.
A Chiltern Railways Class 168 completed the journey in 42 minutes, reaching the line speed of 100 mph (161 kmh).
Departing Oxford at 0943, it ran through Bicester, Winslow and Bletchley to arrive at 1025.
It marks the first time a train has used this section of the new railway line.
David Hughes, chief executive of East West Railway Company, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and an extremely proud moment for everyone here at East West Rail.
“We can now all look forward to passenger services beginning next year, and delivering the improved connectivity which this region so desperately needs.”
It has not yet been confirmed which train operator will provide services on the line, but Rianna Stanwell, programme director at Chiltern Railways, said she was “delighted” the company was “running the first series of test trains.”
Shortly afterwards, entirely unannounced, a Great Western Railway Hitachi IET train also ran to Bletchley.
It is understood the trial was to assess using the route from Oxford and Milton Keynes to reach Euston during periods when the Great Western Main Line is blocked at Old Oak Common.
Along the route, enthusiasts and supporters gathered to watch the first journey.
One, who watched from Winslow in Buckinghamshire, told the BBC: “It was so exciting to see history being made right in front of our eyes, adding they “couldn’t wait” for the former Varsity Line to reopen to passengers.
Network Rail’s director of capital delivery, Christian Irwin, said the test was a “huge milestone” for the East West Rail project.
“The running of our first test train is a huge achievement and brings us one step closer to restoring train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes for passengers,” he said.
The eventual aim is to connect Oxford and Cambridge, opening access to work and education opportunities through a fast-growing region, and linking new areas of housing. Oxford and Cambridge both experience significantly higher house prices than surrounding areas, meaning many people working in the two cities cannot afford to live close to their jobs.
East West Rail has previously stated that journey times between the two cities would be reduced to 90 minutes, from the current two and a half hours by car or coach.
The published cost of this phase of EWR is £1.2bn, though previous Public Accounts Committee Chair Meg Hillier has stated the investment will eventually reach between £6bn and £7bn, and warned that it was not yet clear how the project would provide the boost to the cities to justify the price tag.
The East West Rail Alliance is a partnership between AtkinsRéalis, Laing O’Rourke, Volker Rail and Network Rail.
It hopes the entire line will be completed in the early 2030s.
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