Brand new Banbury Railway Station forecourt bus stop in use
Banbury residents and commuters can enjoy improved connections and safer travel with three buses now stopping at the Banbury Railway Station forecourt as part of an Oxfordshire County Council project to enable better access to the station.
The routes of the B3, 488 and 489 buses have been updated to drop passengers directly outside the station entrance.
These changes to Banbury’s local bus network will improve journeys between Banbury town centre, the rail station, Cherwell Heights, Bodicote, Longford Park and Chipping Norton.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “This is a major step forward for joined up travel in Banbury, strengthening our local bus network and making it easier for everyone to connect between bus and rail.
“Travel hubs like the rail station are vital to Banbury’s continued growth and prosperity, offering safer, sustainable and more convenient travel options and supporting our ambition for Banbury to be a thriving, accessible town.
“I am so pleased that the long-awaited Tramway Road project is almost complete, with one more drop off area being constructed this spring. This is about providing residents and visitors with the reliable, future-ready services our communities deserve and enabling greater use of public transport for everyday journeys.”
Residents can familiarise themselves with the new B3, 488 and 489 routes and timetables by visiting Stagecoach Bus’ website. The changes came into effect on Sunday 4 January 2026.
Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “We’ve made targeted changes to the B3, 488 and 489 services to better meet the needs of passengers travelling to and from Banbury station. By adjusting routes and timetables to take advantage of the new access via Tramway Road, we’re improving reliability, punctuality and day to day convenience for our customers. These service improvements are about delivering practical, dependable connections and making public transport a more attractive choice for local journeys.”
Oxfordshire County Council working with its contractor M Group Limited started construction of the Banbury Railway Station access improvement project in October 2024, with the provision of new bus stops and a bus only route along Station Approach Road north a central part of the project.
Work has now been completed on a new roundabout, a new section of Tramway Road and a Tramway Road footpath. New drainage, surfacing, lighting, fencing and landscaping have also been installed in the station west car park A, along Station Approach Road north and in the station forecourt.
The west car park reopened in December, providing access to standard, disabled and enlarged parking bays at the back of the station.
The last phase of construction, which involves a new drop off facility planned for land to the south of the new roundabout, is expected to be built in spring 2026, subject to land agreements.
Notes for editors
Updates to the Banbury bus routes and timetables can be found on Stagecoach Bus’ website.
· Service B3: Now connects Banbury town centre, Banbury Railway Station forecourt, Cherwell Heights, Bodicote, and Longford Park. Buses will run every half an hour, starting at 6.36am and ending at 7.50pm, Monday to Friday; every half an hour starting at 7.06am and ending at 7.43pm on Saturday; and every hour starting at 8.12am and ending at 6.12pm on Sundays.
· Services 488 and 489: Now link Banbury with Chipping Norton, providing revised routes that serve the Banbury railway station forecourt using Tramway Road and Hightown Road. These services will no longer call at George Street, High Street, or Banbury Cross, but continued hospital connectivity is assured using stops on Hightown Road. Buses will run roughly once an hour, starting at 6.01am and ending at 7.07pm, Monday to Friday; once an hour starting at 6.16am and ending at 5.42pm on Saturday; and roughly once every two hours starting at 8.01am and ending at 5.42pm on Sundays.
Photo
- From left to right: Paul Wooster, Area Manager, Chiltern Railway; Trevor Bayliss, Operations Manager, Witney Depot, Stagecoach West; Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action; Chris Hanson, Managing Director, Stagecoach West; Councillor Liz Leffman, Charlbury and Wychwood, Leader, Oxfordshire County Council; Chris Dyer, Head of Service, Transport & Property Infrastructure Delivery, Environment & Highways, Oxfordshire County Council.
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