Oxford Bus Group announce new bus routes and enhanced services

Oxford Bus Group has announced significant new bus routes and a raft of network improvements.

It includes a new hourly bus service providing multiple new links for residents between Witney and Oxford via Abingdon. Plus, a Sunday bus service linking Chipping Norton and Witney for the first time in many years.

The network improvements will deliver better bus services for villages including Ducklington, Standlake and Southmoor, plus the towns of Abingdon and Witney.

The new X15 service between Witney and Oxford will be operated by Oxford Bus Company and replaces its’ sister company Pulhams’ 15 service. The service now operates later trips for customers and runs at twice the frequency of the previous 15 service.

Pulhams’ 19 service between Witney and Carterton has increased its frequency to operate hourly throughout the day, providing an improved frequency of service for Clanfield, Bampton and Aston. When combined with the X15 service it means there will be a bus up to every 30 minutes between Standlake, Ducklington and Witney. During school times service 19 will also serve Henry Box School. Pulhams’ new Sunday X9 service between Chipping Norton and Witney will operate every two hours.

All of the above improvements have been delivered in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council.

Thames Travel has launched a new X2S school service to Abingdon Schools from Milton Park, Steventon and Drayton. Buses will now directly serve Larkmead, John Mason and Fitzharrys Schools.

A new X24 Thames Travel service in partnership with Harwell Campus and Oxfordshire County Council will provide faster peak-time journeys between Didcot Parkway and Harwell Campus, while Thames Travel’s X35 service has been extended to Grove to provide a better link between Grove, Wantage and Harwell Campus.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Group, said: “We’re proud to have introduced multiple improvements to our bus network across Oxfordshire to provide increased connectivity for our customers.

“The Government’s £2 single fare cap and the Oxfordshire MyBus ticket has helped us grow patronage and we have reinvested this into developing our network as part of our on-going commitment to make bus travel as appealing and accessible as possible.”

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is great news, especially for people in the west of the county. We know that not everyone has a car and also that better bus services get more cars off the road, reducing congestion for everyone. By working in partnership with Oxford Bus Group, we are helping to improve and enlarge the bus network and I look forward to seeing more people get on board in the future.”

Oxford Bus Group’s operating companies owned by the Go-Ahead Group consists of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses, City Sightseeing Oxford and Pulhams.

ENDS