As well as improving bus travel in the town, where congestion has historically affected journeys, the changes make it easier for people to walk to bus stops, shops, businesses and the rail station.

Oxfordshire County Council’s project, funded through the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan programme, provides a longer running lane along Cherwell Street and optimised traffic signals at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions.

Pedestrian crossings have also been improved and nearby drainage and gully infrastructure cleaned.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, said: “I’m delighted that work on the Cherwell Street improvement project is now complete on time and that people can begin to experience the benefits it will bring. I’d like to thank residents, businesses and everyone who uses this route for their patience during construction.

“Cherwell Street is a main gateway into Banbury town centre and an important route for local bus services. These improvements will help buses move through the area more efficiently, improving reliability for passengers and helping make public transport a more attractive choice.

“The project has also delivered safer and more accessible pedestrian crossings, making it easier for people to get around the town centre and connect with local shops, services and Banbury station.

“These improvements are an important part of our wider commitment to creating a transport network that is safer, more reliable and supports sustainable travel across Oxfordshire.”

Construction started in January 2026.

Surfacing and road lining works finished on 17 July, and the new permanent traffic signals have just been tested and installed.

The Cherwell Street scheme forms part of the council’s wider commitment to creating a healthier, more accessible and attractive county where journeys are quicker, more connected, more flexible and more reliable.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Cherwell Street bus service improvement project focused on Cherwell Street, between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions, and the Bridge Street and George Street junctions themselves.

The completed project includes:

· a longer running lane along Cherwell Street for left-turning vehicles, including buses, travelling north-bound into Bridge Street (west)

· optimised traffic signals at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions to reduce delay for buses and cars

· improved pedestrian facilities with new, safer, and more direct crossings

· and lining and signing work to improve traffic flow, safety, and overall road user experience.

The project is largely funded by the Department for Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) programme and improvements to bus service reliability and journey times were core requirements.

Additional money from local developers (known as Section 106 contributions) funded crossing facility and signal improvements at the Bridge Street junction.

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From Monday 27 July, Oxfordshire County Council will start refurbishing Rose Hill roundabout traffic signals junction, which links the A4142 eastern bypass and Oxford Road between Rose Hill and Littlemore.

The project, due to last up to eight weeks, is being funded by a government grant for the council’s bus service improvement plan (BSIP).

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This is the first refurbishment of this important interchange since 1995, and the upgrade is going to deliver a significant improvement in the roundabout’s efficiency and the flow of the ring road.

“This is another clear demonstration of bus service investment in the county and our efforts to speed up bus journeys and make buses a more convenient and attractive mode of travel.”

The work, which will take place overnight to reduce disruption, will be carried out in two phases.

The existing poles will be replaced, and a new signal controller will control the intelligent bus priority function, allowing improvements to bus journey times

New extra low voltage (ELV) equipment will be installed with ELV LED signal heads which, as well as greatly reducing the power consumption and carbon footprint of the site, will reduce hazards in the event of accidental damage to the equipment.

The upgraded junctions are equipped with technology which detects the imminent arrival of buses and then changes the phasing to reduce delays for buses and keep them on time.

The countywide programme has been successful in obtaining over £2.1 million in bus grants from the Department for Transport’s BSIP / Bus Grant in recent years, which has supported the refurbishment of 31 traffic signal junctions. The ongoing programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30 has been allocated almost £1.5m.

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The range of MyBus Oxfordshire tickets, which offer passengers daily or weekly travel around the county, covering most routes and operators for a fixed price, will see prices go up from 1 August 2026.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “MyBus has been a huge success. I do not want to change it. Government financial cuts are the only reason we are considering this unpalatable step.

“The revised fares will help ensure MyBus can continue to provide a convenient multi-operator ticket for passengers across Oxfordshire.

“These price changes are necessary to ensure that this important scheme can continue, in light of its growing popularity and the limited budget that Oxfordshire County Council has, to maintain operator participation.

“However, I will be writing to the secretary of state for transport to seek a better way forward for the future of MyBus.”

Since launching in 2024, MyBus has provided simple, flexible and great-value travel across Oxfordshire. The scheme has seen strong uptake – particularly among young people – and has helped residents and visitors make several hundreds of thousand journeys by bus.

Passenger feedback consistently highlights the convenience, flexibility and savings offered by being able to travel across multiple bus operators with a single ticket.

However, the government’s decision to increase the maximum single bus fare cap from £2 to £3 from 1 January 2025 meant that the savings offered by the MyBus tickets became more attractive, increasing sales, while also increasing the cost per ticket to Oxfordshire County Council. The initial budget for the scheme has now been exhausted, meaning that price increases are required to maintain the availability of the tickets.

The new prices will be:

• MyBus adult day ticket: £8.50 (previously £6.50)
• MyBus young person (5-18 inclusive) day ticket: £5.50 (previously £3.50)
• MyBus adult weekly ticket: £34 (previously £30)
• MyBus young person weekly ticket: £24 (previously £17).

Anyone affected by the changes may find that some operators’ own tickets – such as day, week or period products offered directly by bus companies – are cheaper for their journeys, particularly if they are only travelling on buses run by one company, or within the Oxford SmartZone. Check with your local bus operator for the best value ticket for your travel needs.

In addition, the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme is expected to result in free August bus travel for five to 15 year olds, meaning that families can continue to enjoy low-cost travel over the summer holidays.

The council has also made a commitment to introduce a new 28-day MyBus ticket for both adults and young people from 1 April 2027 as part of its role within the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership, a collaboration between the local authority and the county’s bus companies.

It was also agreed to consult with youth organisations within Oxfordshire on the emerging OXBus Plan 2040 and enhanced partnership, with particular focus on multi-operator tickets and bus travel costs.

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Oxfordshire County Council, in partnership with Oxford City Council and its service provider ODS, is investing £150,000 of its bus service improvement plan (BSIP) funding – which was provided by the government – to improve and refresh the station for the benefit of all users.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Gloucester Green coach station dates from 1989 and it has developed a tired appearance over time. It is certainly not an attractive gateway for local, national and international visitors to Oxford.

“To realise its full potential would require substantial investment and a complete redevelopment, and this remains a long-term ambition. However, in the shorter term, we’re delighted that we are able to carry out a series of measures that will improve the environment for everyone that uses it.”

Councillor Anna Railton, Oxford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford, said: “Gloucester Green bus station is often the first impression someone has arriving in our wonderful city, so I am very pleased with these plans to refresh and enhance it. I very much welcome this and the long-term plans for improving the space.”

Following a review of the coach station in 2023, several interventions were identified.

Improvements will include new signage, real time passenger information showing arrival and departure times, new noticeboards, anti-pigeon measures, decluttering, a commercial bin store, repainting, a deep clean of all areas, new larger planters in key areas and bespoke and accessible seating.

The partners are working with Oxfordshire based suppliers and contractors on the project.

Oxfordshire County Council and the local bus operators that make up the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership were awarded more than £10 million last July to fund the proposed measures in the BSIP.

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In 2023, a deal worth £82.5 million was agreed between Oxfordshire County Council, the government, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach to fund the fleet of new battery electric vehicles.

Provisional data suggests that bus fleet electrification has reduced roadside citywide nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations across Oxford by an average of 10 per cent from 2023 to 2024, and up to 24 per cent in areas of high bus traffic such as St Aldates and High Street.

The transition from diesel to electric buses also cut roadside traffic related noise in central Oxford by an average of 5.1 decibels – comparable to the reduction in noise you would experience by moving three times further away from a road.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We are proud and thrilled that we were able to back our ambitions with political and financial capital, alongside our partners, to deliver a safer, cleaner, greener, better county for residents and visitors. This provisional data shows what a difference these electric buses are making to people’s lives already.”

The analysis by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (Universities of Birmingham, Warwick and Keele), in partnership with the University of Oxford, investigated air and noise pollution changes before, during and after the introduction of battery electric buses in Oxford.

It also explored people’s experiences of introducing and using the new fleet, including key stakeholders, bus passengers, residents and commuters.

Dr Suzanne Bartington, Clinical Associate Professor in Environmental Health at the University of Birmingham, said: “The transition to electric buses has had a measurable and meaningful impact on air and traffic related noise quality in Oxford. Importantly, we found that people noticed these changes – including less diesel fumes and fewer sleep disturbances, suggesting a real benefit for people’s lives.”

The zero emission bus regional area (ZEBRA) funding scheme is a national initiative contributing to transport decarbonisation and improved bus quality and provision. It has supported the deployment of over 4,000 zero emission buses in England since 2021.

In Oxfordshire, the county council contributed £6m and secured £32.8m from the Department for Transport. This was supplemented by £43.7m from the two commercial bus operators to support the introduction of 159 battery electric buses, across 34 routes in Oxford city centre and the surrounding areas, plus the Sightseeing buses.

At full implementation, electric buses account for 69 per cent of daily bus mileage within the city and 49 per cent of daily bus flow.

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “We’re proud of the significant contribution to reducing emissions and improving air quality in Oxford our fleet is making.

“The whole community is positively benefiting from this ambitious infrastructure project, which demonstrates what can be achieved when key stakeholders have a shared vision and work together.

“We remain committed to building on this progress across the county and have invested in a further 13 electric vehicles which will enter service in spring 2026. These vehicles will help to improve air quality more widely in our county.”

Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “The introduction of our 55 electric vehicles in Oxford has been truly transformational. These buses are delivering greener, zero emission journeys right across the city’s network, while also offering a noticeably smoother, quieter and more comfortable experience for our customers.

“The response from passengers has been overwhelmingly positive and, just as importantly, this investment marks a vital step towards our pledge to operate a fully zero emission fleet by 2035.”

Air pollution is the largest environmental risk to health in the UK contributing to an estimated 30,000 early deaths each year.

Exposure increases the risk of asthma, stroke, heart disease and lung cancer and is linked to adverse birth outcomes, diabetes, high blood pressure and dementia.

Simon Lightwood, Roads and Buses Minister, said: “We all know that zero emission buses offer smoother, quieter journeys for passengers but as this research shows, they play an important role in delivering cleaner air in our towns and cities too.

“I am delighted to see the effect these electric buses are having across Oxfordshire, made possible by over £32 million in funding from the government. Not only do they get people to work and hospital appointments, they also help the environment, giving greener options for everyone.”

In Oxford city, air pollution has fallen in recent years but while legal limits are widely met across the city, levels still exceed World Health Organisation global air quality guidelines.

Noise pollution has a direct impact on sleep and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression and anxiety.

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The data from Go Ahead, which owns six local bus companies including Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, shows overall year-on-year passenger numbers are approximately 8 per cent up since the introduction of the congestion charge. A third of this increase is on park and ride services with the remaining two-thirds on non park and ride services, with significant growth on routes serving the city from other areas like Didcot, Abingdon and Wallingford.  

The county council’s temporary congestion charge is at points on six roads in Oxford and was introduced on 29 October. It is designed to reduce traffic in the city while Botley Road remains closed, and the start of the council’s traffic filter trial is delayed. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It’s wonderful to see this increase in bus use, which is in large part due to our temporary congestion charge in the city, making it possible for bus operators to improve and extend services. 

“The congestion charge is part of how the council is improving transport choice and connections among our local communities, enabling more people to choose bus for their journeys. With our offer of free park and ride travel, and new and improved bus services around the city, buses are becoming a great choice for more people. The more people use bus services, the more we all benefit; from less traffic, faster journeys and cleaner air.  

“We’re continuing to watch the impacts of the temporary congestion charge carefully as residents, visitors and businesses adjust to it.”  

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: "It's been very encouraging to see the increased numbers of people using buses since the county council's temporary congestion charge came in at the end of October. 

“The reductions in congestion that have been delivered by the congestion charge scheme, and the free park and ride travel promotion that it funds, have helped buses run more quickly in the city, meaning we can offer customers faster journeys and also use buses that were previously stuck in congestion to provide extra services for the community. 

“With these extra services and faster journeys helping to attract more passengers, we can have more confidence moving forwards to invest more in the network to help grow passenger numbers further." 

Monitoring data for the scheme is now published for November, December and January, with some data sets not yet available. Travel patterns and external factors will continue to change. The data that is being collected will build a picture over time of how the scheme is working and highlight any issues the council may need to address. 

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ENDS 

Notes to editors 

Bus patronage data is provided by bus operators. 

About the temporary congestion charge  

A charge of £5 per day is payable to drive a car without a permit through the six congestion charge locations. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can go through the temporary congestion charge locations for free.  

There are permit types available that allow free travel through the congestion charge points. Permit applications covering different circumstances can be made from the county council website, including for residents, traders, carers and blue badge holders. To find out about different permits and exemptions, visit the congestion charge website.  

Those driving in a car without a permit can pay the congestion charge online by midnight on the day after driving through one of the six charge locations – no account is needed. There is also an option to pay by phone. 

Locations and operating times:

• Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm
• Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm 

The scheme will remain in place until the traffic filters trial is introduced, once Botley Road reopens, expected to be August 2026.

Oxfordshire County Council has approved seven vehicle improvement grant applications that will collectively help fund 13 new electric buses, convert two existing minibuses from diesel to electric power, and deliver passenger enhancements to many other vehicles.

The grants have been awarded under the council’s vehicle improvement fund, new for 2025/26, and funded through the Bus Grant awarded by the government.

The fund was open to all operators of local bus services in Oxfordshire. The initiative has attracted an additional £4.056m in collective investment from the operators, which will result in improvements in vehicles totalling £5.461m.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is really good news and an excellent example of partnership working delivering real benefit and value to our residents.

“The purchase of new electric vehicles and improvements to existing ones has been made possible by the council’s continued close working relationship with our bus operators through our Enhanced Partnership, soon to be strengthened further. We look forward to seeing passengers using them in the future.”

Successful bids included the Oxford Bus Company’s parent group Go-Ahead, which was awarded £1.204m towards the purchase of 13 new single deck electric buses to serve the Oxfordshire area.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “This is another significant sustainability milestone for the Oxfordshire bus network and takes the total number of electric buses now operating in our Oxfordshire fleet to 117.

“The investment from Oxfordshire County Council has been supported by an additional £3.9m investment from our business, and collectively this enables us to expand our fleet of electric buses on to more routes outside the Oxford SmartZone, further improving air quality for local communities.

“The result of strong partnership working, I’d like to thank Oxfordshire County Council and Go-Ahead Group for supporting this investment.”

Reading Buses was awarded £60,000 to improve the passenger experience in four vehicles which serve Peppard Common, including installing USB chargers, 5G ready Wi-Fi and tap-out readers.

Three community transport operators have also received grants.

West Oxfordshire Community Transport (WOCT) was awarded a total of £138,605 towards the cost of converting two diesel minibuses into fully electric vehicles, install EV charging equipment and fit internal and external CCTV camera systems on all its vehicles.

WOCT is a community owned cooperative, running nine bus routes across west Oxfordshire and providing vital transport links for the local community.

Andrew Lyon, Chief Executive of West Oxfordshire Community Transport, said: “We are very excited regarding the opportunities provided by the VIF grants. The first grant will provide cameras for our buses, which will enhance safety for both our drivers and passengers.

“The second grant will enable us to explore the possibility of converting redundant diesel buses to electric vehicles. Conversion of redundant buses is a double win for the environment.

“Conversion means the carbon emissions produced during both manufacture and operation are drastically reduced. In addition, as far as we know, this conversion has not been attempted before. If the project is successful, it will provide a template for the future.”

First and Last Mile, a volunteer led company serving rural villages in the Eynsham area, received £1,536 to convert a minibus passenger door and step from manual to electric operation to improve efficiency and accessibility.

Our Bus Bartons will use its £385 grant to design, manufacture and install additional safety rails to help passengers board and disembark their two electric minibuses.

Community transport is part of the voluntary sector and plays a key role in filling gaps in service where public transport is not available. It helps provide safe, accessible, cost effective, flexible transport run by the community for the community in rural and urban areas.

It is hoped that the vehicle improvement fund will be repeated in future years to build on the decarbonisation and passenger improvements delivered by the ZEBRA scheme, which funded 159 electric buses to serve Oxfordshire.

Anyone wanting to support WOCT can visit its crowdfunding page Ignite the next mile.

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Oxfordshire County Council is working with its contractor M Group Limited to widen traffic lanes and make improvements to traffic signals between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions. When finished, the improvements will make bus journeys through Banbury town centre more reliable, while creating safer pedestrian crossings at junctions.

Night work on the Bridge Street and George Street junctions will run throughout January, as part of a seven month construction programme.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “This project aims to maintain Banbury’s bus services in the long-term, focused at two busy junctions. When the work is finished this summer, Banbury will benefit from better pedestrian crossings and improved access for buses, making the town centre more accessible and more attractive to travel to on foot or by bus. We also plan to connect this work up to other improvements planned for cyclists in the future.

“January is a busy first month for this project, and what we are doing on site will change frequently. Temporary traffic lights and signage will always be in place along with diversion routes to keep people safe. I recommend people plan their journeys in advance and go through the road works carefully.”

The work involves improving the current George Street bus lane; access for buses into Bridge Street west; and the crossing facilities and signalling at the Bridge Street and George Street junctions.

The configuration of work areas, lane closures and pedestrian diversions will change throughout January. Access for businesses and emergency services will always be maintained. Smart traffic lights with remote monitoring will help manage congestion and keep traffic moving.

Night work is being used to minimise daytime disruption.

Construction will take place simultaneously at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions, to enable the project to finish in summer 2026.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Key elements of the improvement project include:

·       A longer running lane for left-turning vehicles (including buses) on Cherwell Street.

·       Upgraded pedestrian facilities with new crossings to benefit people walking, cycling, and wheeling.

·       Optimised traffic signals along Cherwell Street and the area between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions.

·       Enhanced road markings and signage to improve traffic flow and safety.

The scheme is funded from Department for Transport Bus Service Improvement Plan monies with local developer Section 106 contributions paying for the pedestrian safety improvements.

Sign up for regular updates and full details of the improvements by visiting Oxfordshire County Council’s website, where more information on forthcoming construction phases can also be found: oxfordshire.gov.uk/cherwellstreetbus

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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

1. 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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The county council and its contractor, M Group Limited, have been building a new road enabling access from the south, providing footways, cycleways and bus stops, and resurfacing.

Commuters and those travelling over the festive period can now drive into the west car park from the new access route up Tramway Road, using the new mini roundabout. Drivers can also drop off passengers on Tramway Road. Station Approach Road north and the station forecourt are now open for drop off and parking.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to reach this milestone in this much needed project for Banbury. Residents now have more choice in how they access Banbury Rail Station and, crucially, we’ve made it possible to improve bus access in the new year.

“If you are walking, cycling or wheeling, new footpaths and cycleways will make journeys safer. In the new year, the B3, 489 and 499 buses routes will begin stopping outside and we will complete work on an extra passenger drop off facility.

“Our ambition has always been to make it easier to get to Banbury Rail Station and take the train onwards and this new travel hub will make a positive difference to station users into the new year and beyond.”

Construction started in October 2024, with the new roundabout, new section of Tramway Road and the Tramway Road footpath opening for access to the industrial estate and football ground in June of this year.

Work has now been completed in the station west car park A, along Station Approach Road north and in the station forecourt, including new drainage, surfacing, lighting, fencing and landscaping.

The county council has also completed designs for a new drop off facility planned south of the new roundabout. Subject to land agreements, this will provide six bays plus one reserved for disabled users and is expected to be built in spring 2026.

Michael Stewart, Commercial and Customer Strategy Director at Chiltern Railways, said: “We have been working with Oxfordshire County Council to carry out significant upgrades to Banbury station, including new footpaths, cycleways and bus stops which will be transformational for rail users. In addition to this, there will be enhanced parking options for our customers at the station.

“Over the last 18 months, we have also opened a new café, toilets, and carried out a painting programme to improve the overall experience for our customers at Banbury.”

New signage will be in place to inform drivers about designated parking areas and that a ‘bus gate’ only route, restricting standard vehicles from Tramway Road to Bridge Street, is now live along Station Approach Road north.

Stagecoach Bus has confirmed that the B3 and 488/489 bus routes will stop at the Banbury Rail Station from Sunday 4 January, with updated timetables now available on their website.

Notes for editors

More information on the Banbury Rail Station access improvements can be found at oxfordshire.gov.uk/banburystation

Updates to the Banbury bus routes and timetables can be found on the Stagecoach Bus website: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-11/12/2025-16:37:22:832

The west station car park provides 118 standard bays, four disabled and three enlarged bays at the back of the station.

Drivers can drop off or pick up on Tramway Road or enter Banbury Rail Station via Bridge Street and use the drop off areas at the north and east sides of the station, with the north providing close access to the station front door.

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The cabinet’s today approved the development of an Enhanced Partnership Plus (EP+) approach to bus regulation – strengthening the enhanced partnership arrangement between bus operators and the council.

One of the alternative options, of bringing Oxfordshire’s buses into public control, was deemed not feasible in the immediate future because of the timetable for the government’s plans for local government reorganisation involving the creation of unitary and mayoral authorities.

Although the government is making it easier for local transport authorities to take greater control of the bus services in their areas by pursuing bus franchising or creating new municipal bus companies, the timeframe effectively prevents Oxfordshire County Council from going down that route at this stage.

It is anticipated that franchising would take 45 months to complete, while Oxfordshire County Council is due to be replaced by a new unitary authority by April 2028 and it is likely that public transport responsibilities would be taken on by a new mayoral authority.

The issue was discussed by cabinet after a study was commissioned by the council to explore the various bus regulation options, following the passing of a motion in September 2023.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We believe going down the EP+ route will leverage most of the benefits associated with franchising without the significant additional financial and resource risks and responsibilities.

“Any move towards franchising would take nearly four years and likely halt any private sector investment in the bus network during that period. If the government’s programme for local government reorganisation proceeds according to schedule, then Oxfordshire County Council would cease to exist during that period, and those responsibilities would pass to a successor council or mayoral authority.

“Therefore, we believe it’s not sensible to invest considerable amounts of time and resources into initiating changes which would not come to fruition during the lifetime of this council.”

Franchising offers authorities the ability to control and direct all aspects of bus provision, including the ability to plan and design bus services, set fares, define ticketing products, and manage information and marketing. This enables an authority to influence the network to help deliver wider policy objectives.

However, it is a lengthy and expensive process and involves taking on more responsibility, more risk and significant extra cost – particularly if the purchase of depots and vehicles is required to maximise the benefits.

Creating a municipal bus company involves the council owning and operating its own bus services, potentially reinvesting profits into the network. However, it also carries high set-up and operational costs, exposure to market competition, and financial risk.

The report states that an EP+ has the potential to realise significant additional benefits for bus users, including those typically associated with franchising, but in a more timely, cost-effective, and lower-risk manner.

Officers will now work on the development of the EP+ proposal, defining the desired and achievable outputs of the EP+, informed by passenger and resident feedback.

Uncertainty over franchising could lead to private sector investment being put on hold, with potentially negative implications for the Oxfordshire bus network and commitments made within the Bus Service Improvement Plan programme.

The fourth option in the study was for the situation to stay as it is now, with the existing enhanced partnership remaining.

Cllr Gant added: “For many reasons, including geography and historic relationships with the bodies that run the bus services, there is no common solution that suits everywhere. And while we appreciate the need to explore other options, just because something works well in one part of the country, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will work in Oxfordshire.

“Here we have two main bus operators, while many other places don’t have the benefit of this element of competition. As a council we have a good, close working relationship with our bus operators and regularly discuss matters such as routes and ticketing to help deliver the service that people in Oxfordshire need.

“However, it must be remembered that the single biggest challenge to bus service improvements has nothing to do with who runs them. Problems with increasing bus journey times, reliability and punctuality are largely due to growing traffic congestion, and a change of model alone would not address these challenges.”

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Oxfordshire County Council is recommended to develop an Enhanced Partnership Plus (EP+) agreement with local bus operators to build on the success of the existing arrangement by strengthening the commitments on both parties to deliver improvements for passengers.

The proposed approach will be presented to the council’s cabinet on 21 October. The report recommends an EP+ to deliver better outcomes in a more timely, cost-effective and low-risk manner than alternative options.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Bus services are vital for Oxfordshire’s communities, economy, and the environment. I am pleased that this important item is being considered by the council and the opportunity for improvements it presents.

“As a council we have a good, close working relationship with our bus operators and regularly discuss matters such as routes and ticketing to help deliver the service that people in Oxfordshire need.”

To support the cabinet report, a study commissioned by the council following the passing of a motion in September 2023 assessed the costs, benefits, and impacts of options like franchising or creating a municipal bus company in Oxfordshire, drawing on experiences from other local authorities.

This issue is particularly timely as the government’s emerging Bus Services (No.2) Bill is expected to become law later this year. The bill will make it easier for local transport authorities such as Oxfordshire County Council to create new municipal bus companies or to pursue bus franchising.

Franchising offers authorities the ability to control and direct all aspects of bus provision, including the ability to plan and design bus services, set fares and define ticketing products, and manage information and marketing. However, it is a lengthy and expensive process and involves taking on more responsibility, more risk and significant cost, particularly if the council were to purchase bus depots and vehicles.

Similarly, municipal ownership, where the authority owns and operates its own bus services, also carries high set-up and operational costs, exposure to market competition, and financial risk.

Cllr Gant added: “For many reasons, including geography and historic relationships with the bodies that run the bus services, there is no common solution that suits everywhere. Just because something works well in one part of the country, doesn’t necessarily mean it will work in Oxfordshire.

“We remain committed to tackling the biggest challenge facing bus services in Oxfordshire – congestion, which increases bus journey times and impacts on service reliability and punctuality. A change of model alone would not address these challenges. I look forward to discussing the officer recommendations with cabinet colleagues on 21 October.”

The timeframe for the government’s reorganisation of local government through the creation of unitary authorities and devolution means that pursuing the franchising route in Oxfordshire at this stage would likely be an unproductive use of effort.

If approved, a full EP+ proposal will be developed and brought forward for decision at a later date.

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The council has decided that this is one way that income from the temporary congestion charge scheme will be spent. Up to two adults and three children with a valid park and ride parking ticket will be able to claim free travel to and from park and ride sites in the city. The tickets will be valid on any Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company or Thames Travel bus that visits an Oxford park and ride site, not just named park and ride services. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I’m very happy to be able to offer this great saving and incentive to use our park and ride services, helping us all move around the city faster, thanks to the temporary congestion charge. The congestion charge is also set to bring a whole host of new and improved bus services, laid on by bus companies, with the Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach announcing their changes.

“This will support local businesses in the run up to Christmas and beyond, helping more visitors come and enjoy our fabulous city.” 

The temporary congestion charge is a short-term measure to reduce traffic while Botley Road remains closed, which is preventing the start of the council’s traffic filter trial. The temporary initiative will contribute towards creating a healthier, more accessible and attractive city. It is designed to improve bus services and make it easier for those with permits, including carers, traders and blue badge holders, to travel by car into and around Oxford, and improve air quality in the city. 

The temporary congestion charge will be at points on six roads in Oxford. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can pass through the charge locations for free. Without a permit, a charge of £5 per day will be payable to drive a car through the six congestion charge locations. 

There are many different permit types available that allow free travel through the congestion charge points. Permit applications can now be made from the county council website covering different circumstances, including for traders, carers and blue badge holders. To find out about different permits and exemptions, visit the congestion charge website.

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Oxfordshire County Council and the local bus operators that make up the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership have been awarded £10,146,513 for 2025-26, following the submission of a delivery plan earlier this year.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Building on the success of previous years, this funding will enable the council, in partnership with the bus companies, to continue delivering new and improved bus services, infrastructure upgrades, and initiatives that make public transport more accessible, reliable, and attractive for residents and visitors alike.

“These improvements are part of our ongoing commitment to delivering a greener, fairer, and more connected transport system for Oxfordshire.”

Just over half of the funding will support bus priority measures to improve journey times and reliability, including smart traffic signals and dedicated bus lanes; upgraded infrastructure, such as real time passenger information displays and improvements to bus stops and interchanges; and vehicle improvement grants to help operators invest in cleaner, more comfortable, and technologically advanced buses.

The rest will support a wide range of initiatives, including continuation of routes like the 64 between Witney and Swindon, the 500 between Bicester, Brackley and Banbury, and X34 which runs between Harwell Campus and Newbury, all of which were funded by the original grant in 2022.

The funding will also support a number of improvements in August, including increasing the popular X32 and X40 services from Didcot and Reading to Oxford to every 20 minutes on weekdays, and providing new Sunday services in Bicester, Banbury and Chipping Norton.

It will also fund simpler and more affordable fares, including the continuation of the popular MyBus Oxfordshire multi-operator ticket, support for vulnerable groups, such as a 12-month extension of the free bus pass scheme for asylum seekers in Oxford; improvements for passengers, including a countywide bus stop audit, a new bus stop design guide, targeted marketing to raise awareness of services; and a pilot scheme to help schoolchildren build confidence in using the bus network.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and Pulhams said: “Partnership working is key to a successful bus network, and it's been great to work in partnership with the council and other operators to both win this vital funding from government, and to help prioritise it to the areas where it can deliver the greatest benefit to bus users in the county.

“We're looking forward to delivering several important improvements to the network over the coming months to help encourage even more people in Oxfordshire to give the bus a try.”

Chris Hanson, Managing Director for Stagecoach West, said: “The announcement of this significant funding for Oxfordshire is fantastic news for bus users across our county.

“Through our successful partnership with Oxfordshire County Council and other bus operators this will enhance and further the improvements we have worked on in recent years – making bus travel in Oxfordshire an easy, safe and reliable choice.”

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Residents, businesses and organisations will be able to share their views on a proposed Oxford temporary congestion charge, as part of a public consultation starting next week, Monday 23 June, for six weeks. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved the engagement process at its meeting today, 17 June.

The proposed scheme would improve bus services and make it easier for those with permits, including carers, traders and blue badge holders, to travel by car into and around the city. This follows the council’s commitment to addressing congestion in the short-term, after its plan to implement six trial traffic filters was postponed due to the ongoing closure of Botley Road, now expected to reopen in August 2026.

Cllr Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I’m looking forward to hearing what residents, businesses and visitors have to say about the proposal for temporary congestion charging points while Botley Road remains closed.

“I’m pleased that we’re continuing to consultation on this scheme that could have a significant positive impact on people’s travel in and around the city. We must do all we can to improve bus services and reduce overall traffic, to help people get around.”

The council has been exploring ways to reduce traffic congestion until the traffic filters trial can start. In this proposal, the charge locations would be exactly the same as the trial traffic filter points. The scheme could make use of the existing infrastructure and back-office systems intended for traffic filters. Any surplus income from the proposed scheme could be used to fund travel improvements like cheaper bus tickets and parking at park and ride sites.

The consultation will gather feedback on the proposed scheme's impact and details. It will include a survey on the council’s digital engagement and consultation platform, Let’s talk Oxfordshire. Paper copies of information will be available in main libraries and at County Hall. A series of online information and Q&A events for the public will take place.

After the six-week consultation period, a report will be presented to the council’s cabinet for consideration. The council’s cabinet will make a decision at a meeting in September on whether to implement the scheme. If approved, the scheme would be implemented later in the autumn.

More information is available on the council’s website.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s new cabinet has resumed work on the urgent and pressing issue of congestion on the county’s roads.

In February, Network Rail announced a revised date of August 2026 for the re-opening of Botley Road. The delay means that the traffic filters trial, designed to ease congestion, improve safety and air quality and deliver faster, more reliable buses, could not be introduced in autumn 2024, as planned.

The county council has faced immediate demands to address congestion. Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said congestion was at “emergency levels” and demanded a “Plan B”. Others echoed those calls.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The county council’s cabinet takes these calls for action seriously. We need faster, more regular, cheaper bus services, and we need them now.

“The way to do that is to tackle congestion, which will of course also deliver safer, quieter, cleaner streets, and help key workers and businesses delivering vital services on our roads.

“We acknowledge the calls from our partners in the bus companies to act now, and I look forward to engaging on proposals soon.”

Potential options to improve travel conditions will be discussed by the newly elected county cabinet.

More information

Oxfordshire County Council aims to create a net-zero travel and transport system that enhances quality of life, supports the local economy, and protects the environment. 

Key targets include:

• reducing 1 in 4 car trips by 2030
• achieving a net-zero transport network by 2040
• minimising road fatalities by 2050.

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The document, outlining how Oxfordshire County Council plans to spend more than £15 million allocated to its bus service improvement plan (BSIP), has been approved by the council.

Paul Fermer, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Environment and Highways, said: “Many thousands of people in Oxfordshire rely on the bus for their travel needs. Working in partnership with our bus operators, we will continue to invest in improving public transport in the county during 2025 - 26 and beyond.

“While we can’t do everything we would want to do, we have prioritised the schemes based on their importance in improving things for passengers, as well as their deliverability within the time and budgets allowed.”

Items in the delivery plan were drawn up and approved by Oxfordshire’s bus enhanced partnership board, made up of Oxfordshire County Council in its role as local transport authority and the bus operators.

Much of the shorter-term revenue funding is earmarked for the continuation and enhancement of existing subsidised services and fare initiatives, such as the multi-operator MyBus ticket and reduced Sunday fares in December.

There are plans to carry out a bus stop audit and create a bus stop design guide with some of the funding.

Routes set to benefit include those servicing Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, Botley Road while it is still closed at the railway bridge, and vital rural services. Nearly 30 routes are in the delivery plan, including some linking Oxfordshire with locations over the county border.

Careful consideration was given to a number of proposals submitted by partnership members and others, with selected schemes striking an appropriate balance between cost, demand, deliverability and availability of complementary funding.

The capital element of the funding is for investment in infrastructure such as road improvements to benefit bus passengers, safer bus stops, shelters and stations, and equipment for improving ticketing and information.

A significant element of this is earmarked for a vehicle improvement fund, to which operators can bid for contributions towards upgrades such as new zero emission buses, improved ticketing technology and an enhanced customer experience.

Other projects include the installation of traffic signal bus priority schemes; three bus priority schemes, plus the feasibility and design work for two more locations; new and upgraded real time passenger information screens; and improvements to Gloucester Green bus station in Oxford.

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Single bus fares will be capped at £1 every Sunday in December in Oxfordshire – an improvement on last year’s offer, which only included the Sundays leading up to Christmas.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This measure proved popular last year, with more people using the bus as a result. So, we are delighted to be able to not just repeat it, but to expand it by including the Sunday after Christmas too.”

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Group, said: “This is great news for passengers, the bus industry and the local economy. The festive period is crucial for the visitor economy and retail sector and an expensive time of year for many, so this scheme will help everyone and encourage more people to travel sustainably for Christmas shopping or festive get togethers.”

The 2023 offer led to an estimated 7.4 per cent increase in bus journeys and it is hoped for a similar result this year.

Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach, said: “We are pleased to once again support this initiative, offering £1 bus fares on Sundays throughout December, in Oxfordshire.

“This scheme not only makes festive travel more affordable but also encourages sustainable transport options during a busy time of year. We look forward to welcoming more passengers on board and helping everyone to enjoy the festive season with ease and convenience.”

The December fare cap is one of many measures funded by a £1.9 million government grant in 2023 to improve bus services over two years.

Bus users can also continue to take advantage of the recently introduced MyBus ticket, offering almost unlimited travel on nearly all local services for a fixed daily or weekly rate. More than 100,000 journeys have already been made with the ticket in a little over three months.

Park and ride users can also carry on making savings thanks to the joint parking and bus travel ticket. The ticket, which offers parking for 16 hours plus return bus travel, remains at £4 for a car with one adult or £5 for a car with two adults until April 2025. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.

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A new shuttle service will be provided for people affected by the re-routing of buses due to the weight restriction on Donnington Bridge Road in Oxford.

Oxfordshire County Council will use its own minibus fleet to provide the off-peak shuttle service – the 46A – from Mondays to Fridays, starting on Monday 14 October.

This will comprise four return journeys between Cowley Centre, Florence Park, Donnington Bridge and Speedwell Street in Oxford city centre to provide some connectivity for essential travel between 10.30am and 2.30pm.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “The absence of buses on Donnington Bridge Road for essential safety reasons has been a huge inconvenience for people in this area who rely on public transport, especially those who find it difficult to walk longer distances to use alternative bus services.

“Our officers have worked hard to try to alleviate some of the problems and we’re delighted to be able to unveil this shuttle service to connect passengers with the places they need to be.

“By using the council’s own vehicles when they are not in use elsewhere, we are able to reduce the costs involved, improving value for money.”

The 7.5 tonne weight limit was imposed by the county council on Donnington Bridge in August after ongoing monitoring revealed that the condition of materials in the structure required further assessment.

As a result, it was no longer possible for three bus routes – the 46, BB1A and ST1 – to operate via Weirs Lane and Donnington Bridge Road.

This lack of bus services between Iffley Road and Abingdon Road meant that direct connections to shops at Cowley Centre and medical and leisure facilities on Abingdon Road have been broken. To improve this situation, the shuttle journeys will be timed to connect to service 46 journeys at Cowley Centre.

The council’s fleet of minibuses provide transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and adult day centres but are available on weekdays between 10am and 2pm to provide this shuttle service. Timetables will be available from the usual online journey planners and at bus stops in due course.

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Measures to improve road safety and bus journey times on Oxford’s Woodstock Road have been approved today by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and development strategy.

The improvements are focused on the area between St. Giles and the Wolvercote Roundabout (A40) and are designed to work with other measures to enhance journeys made by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.  

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, said: “Oxford looks forward to a greater demand for sustainable travel solutions to meet expected increases in population and jobs. These plans are one part towards answering that need on one of our city’s busiest roads.

“We have committed to making sure our highways are safer and work better for all our road users. We are implementing cycle way improvements and crossings that really prioritise the safety of people walking and wheeling.”

The improvements include:

• Replacing a section of the southbound bus lane between Wolvercote and Squitchey Lane with a northbound lane on the other side. This will be implemented as a trial under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO), and follows advice from local bus operators
• Pedestrian crossings on the junctions of roads between and including Bevington Road and St. Margaret's Road
•  Off-road cycle path on Woodstock Road between Frenchay Road and St. Margaret’s Road, and
• Zebra crossing on Woodstock Road near Bevington Road.

Works are expected to take place between August 2024 and March 2025, and will be sensitively phased to keep disruption to a minimum.

The project is funded through the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

More information

• Full details of the proposals presented to the cabinet meeting can be viewed in the report (item 5, pp13 - 23)
• General information about the Woodstock Road Sustainable Travel Improvements plan can be viewed at any time on oxfordshire.gov.uk/woodstockroad
• Crossings are designed to meet LTN 1/20 guidance

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The MyBus Oxfordshire ticket offers passengers daily or weekly travel around the county, covering most routes and operators, for a fixed price.

It means that one ticket, costing £6.50 a day and £25 a week for adults or £3.50 a day or £14.50 a week for under-19s, gives you unlimited access to more than 150 bus services run by 12 operators in Oxfordshire.

The offer has been developed by the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership, a collaboration between Oxfordshire County Council and the county’s bus companies to promote the use of bus services through Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding provided by the government.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Whether you want to explore the county or make your journey to work easier, the MyBus ticket presents a simple, joined-up and good value bus travel solution for Oxfordshire’s residents and visitors.”

This is the first time that such a ticket has been offered for the whole of the county, and across multiple operators.

Both the county’s main bus providers, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach, offer day tickets for unlimited travel on their own services across Oxfordshire. There are also day tickets available within the SmartZone, which covers the area in and around Oxford city, that are valid on both operators’ services.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and Pulhams, said: “We have a lot of experience in delivering multi-operator ticketing via the Oxford SmartZone scheme, and it’s great to be able to expand this principle across all bus services countywide. We’re pleased to support the council in this exciting initiative on a trial basis to help encourage more people in the county to give bus travel a try.”

Chris Hanson, Managing Director for Stagecoach West, said: “We are excited to be part of the first countywide multi operator ticketing scheme for Oxfordshire. We look forward to continuing to work with Oxfordshire County Council and other operators to promote the tickets to residents and visitors, illustrating how easy it is to travel around the brilliant network we all offer.

“MyBus tickets will make travelling across our county, using the network of services, seamless.”

Robert Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Reading Buses and representative of the smaller bus companies in the region, said: “We are pleased to see this scheme that will reduce the cost of bus travel for customers and improve connectivity between routes regardless of who is running the service.”

All tickets can be purchased on participating bus operator websites and mobile apps. Day tickets are also available to purchase when boarding the bus.

Full details of the scheme, including which routes and operators are included, are available online at www.mybusoxfordshire.org.uk, Oxfordshire’s new bus partnership website.

BSIP funding, which has totalled £14.6 million for Oxfordshire to date, is for measures that will increase long-term bus patronage, help maintain service levels, ensure essential social and economic connectivity for local communities and promote innovation in the industry.

The money has also been used to fund a £1 Sunday fare cap in December 2023 and 2024, and support and improve bus services in both rural and urban areas.

Last month, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved the adoption of an updated BSIP for Oxfordshire for 2024-25. Publication of this document was a condition for release of the final instalment of the existing funding allocation for Oxfordshire for this year.

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From today (8 May) until Wednesday 5 June, Oxfordshire County Council is asking for people’s views on the Woodstock Road Sustainable Travel Improvements Scheme.

The council is proposing changing the travel direction of an existing bus lane, as well as a number of active travel improvements to help improve bus journey reliability and make the road safer for everyone using it.

The feedback gathered will help inform a county council cabinet decision on whether to approve the work.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I encourage people to look at the proposals and help us understand the impact they’ll have. There is a clear link between active travel and improved physical and mental health. Children who walk or cycle to school will be healthier, have a more active social life, do better in the classroom and live longer. Sitting in a traffic jam harms everyone, inside and outside the car.

“Woodstock Road is used by many people travelling by bus, bike and on foot or with mobility aids, both from within Oxford and travelling to and from other areas. By investing now and providing space and facilities for making journeys other than travelling by car, we can better manage traffic in the coming years with planned growth and housing.”

The proposals cover the area between St Giles in Oxford city centre and the Wolvercote Roundabout (A40). The proposals are designed to work with other measures to improve and encourage journeys made by walking or wheeling, cycling and public transport.  

The project has two phases. Phase one involves a bus lane change, which proposes to remove part of the 24-hour southbound bus lane between Wolvercote (A40) and Squitchey Lane and replace it with a like-for-like northbound bus lane on the other side.

Phase two is focused on the southern end of the Woodstock Road and covers a series of active travel (cycling, walking and wheeling) priority measures for the Woodstock Road including:

• New and improved side road crossings.
• An extension of the shared use, off-road cycle path on the western side of Woodstock Road.
• The installation of solar studs along cycle lanes throughout Woodstock Road to improve visibility.
• A new zebra crossing on Woodstock Road between Observatory Street and Bevington Road.
• Localised sections of improvements to the condition of footway/off-road segregated cycle lanes.
• Various road marking amendments.
• A new full time bus stop clearway on the east side of the Woodstock Road.
• The relocation of a marked parking bay outside Belsyre Court.

People can take part in an online survey on the county council’s digital engagement and consultation platform, Let’s Talk Oxfordshire. The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 June 2024.

Subject to approval by the council’s cabinet, the proposed works could start this summer.

The project is funded through the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.

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Following Oxfordshire County Council’s allocation last year of £1.2 million for rural public and community transport, further new buses will be launched on April 15 to connect more villages to market towns and Oxford.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I’m really delighted to be able to back our commitment to high quality public transport with real delivery and budget, in rural areas as well as our larger towns.

“Not everyone has access to a car and so public transport is essential to help people get around for work, shopping, and socialising. We know there is a demand for bus services in these locations, which can’t be met by the commercial operators, and we are glad to be able to help fill this gap.”

The new services will all be operated by accessible minibuses from the council’s in-house fleet but will be open to all bus users.

The announcement follows the introduction in November 2023 of new bus routes to villages, which had been without public transport since 2016, and the allocation of grants worth nearly £425,000 to improve community transport in Oxfordshire last month.

The new routes are:

• 42: Abingdon to Oxford via Sunningwell, Bayworth, Boars Hill and South Hinksey (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).
• 49: Cuddesdon and Denton to Cowley Templars Square and Oxford City Centre (Tuesdays and Thursdays; on Tuesdays via Toot Baldon and Marsh Baldon and on Thursdays via King's Copse and Cowley Tesco).
• 79: Hornton, Horley and Hanwell to Banbury Town Centre and Banbury Gateway (Thursdays only).
• 85: Goosey, Charney Bassett, Lyford, West Hanney and Denchworth to Grove and Wantage (Wednesdays only).
• 107: Oddington, Charlton-on-Otmoor, Fencott and Murcott to Bicester via Langford (Fridays only).

Timetables will be available on Traveline later this month.

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The £82.5 million project will deliver 159 new battery buses on to the roads of Oxford – the first of which have already gone into service. It has also funded two associated electric charging hubs at the city’s bus depots.

The bus fleet has been funded through a collaboration between the county council and Oxford Bus Company, owned by The Go-Ahead Group, and Stagecoach. The council was awarded £32.8m from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme and contributed £6m directly, while bus operators invested £45m.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I'm proud and thrilled that the county council is backing its ambitions with political and financial capital, alongside our partners, to deliver a safer, cleaner, greener, better county for residents and visitors.

“Together with policies such as traffic filters to hugely increase bus efficiency, we are delivering on our vision of a better future. This is an exciting and important moment for us all."

The county council has committed to help reduce bus journey times by at least 10 per cent in the city to ensure the investment is viable for bus operators.

The groundbreaking infrastructure project is a huge boost to Oxford’s vision to creating a more sustainable, decarbonised public transport system and improving air quality.

Oxford Bus Company will deliver 104 electric buses into service and Stagecoach 55. Working with Zenobē, the UK’s leading fleet electrification specialist, Oxford Bus Company has installed 104 charging points at its Cowley House depot, with Stagecoach installing charging points at its Network Oxford site.

The charging hubs are powered by EDF Energy’s Oxford Superhub network, providing enough electricity to charge all 159 buses, enough for each bus to drive up to 200 miles per day.

To celebrate the historic development, partners gathered for a launch event at Divinity School in Oxford city centre on Monday night where some of the new electric buses were showcased and key representatives delivered speeches.

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “This is a historic moment in our journey towards transforming our city services to electric. Our first tranche of electric buses is now in service and is already starting to improve air quality and make bus travel an even more attractive option for people to travel around Oxford.

“Decarbonising buses is an exciting project – and we have demonstrated that with the right strategic partnership working between the public and private sector, we can unlock investment to make it happen. We look forward to working with Oxfordshire County Council on important initiatives going forward to encourage people to travel by bus.”

Matt Carney, CEO of The Go-Ahead Group’s bus division, said: “Go-Ahead is proud to be the largest operator of zero emission buses in Britain. Electric buses make an enormous difference to air quality in cities and by decarbonising our fleet in towns and cities across the country, we aim to make a positive contribution to the fight against climate change.

“These new buses in Oxford will form Go-Ahead’s biggest fleet of zero emission buses outside London. The project is an example of bus operators working closely with local authorities to deliver for communities.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “Today is a momentous day for Stagecoach West and for the city of Oxford, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in sustainable bus travel. As a business we are fully committed to operating a zero emission bus fleet by 2035 so the introduction of these electric vehicles onto the roads today is a big step towards this vital goal.

“We must all play our part in improving air quality and reducing CO2 emissions in all areas of business and industry across the UK.  I hope the introduction of these new electric vehicles will entice new passengers to bus travel and those already travelling with us can rest assured they’re already making a great choice.”

Roads Minister Guy Opperman said: “Zero emission buses are vital for cleaner local travel, with 159 new UK-built electric buses coming to Oxford thanks to government funding – supporting skilled UK manufacturing jobs.

“This project is supported by over £32m in government support, as part of £330m already provided since 2020 for zero emission buses in England, outside of London, to make strides towards an all zero emission bus fleet."

Councillor Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice, Oxford City Council, said: "I am delighted that the first tranche of ZEBRA electric buses has now arrived in Oxford and are serving Oxford's communities. Electric buses not only help to clean up Oxford's air but they are a crucial mode of transport in our city – especially for those who do not have access to cars. I am looking forward to seeing these buses on our roads." 

Oxfordshire was one of only 12 local authorities to successfully apply for ZEBRA funding. The Oxford Bus Company vehicles have been manufactured by Wright Bus in Northern Ireland, with the Stagecoach vehicles manufactured by Alexander Dennis in Scotland.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Wrightbus, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Oxford Bus Company in the drive to transform transport in the city and help build a more sustainable future.

“We’re proud to say our StreetDeck Electroliner BEV is the world’s most efficient double deck battery-electric bus and we have taken that technology into the development of our single deck, which has also been classed as the most efficient on the UK’s roads.

“We’ve created the most efficient vehicles by combining optimum power with a class-leading rapid charge, meaning our electric buses spend more time on the road than any other. We’re confident passengers in Oxford will enjoy the experience.”

Marianne Costigan, Head of Private Wire at EDF Renewables, said: “As we see the inauguration of one of the largest electric bus fleets in the UK, EDF Renewables is proud to be a key enabler of this ground-breaking initiative.

“Our Energy Superhub Oxford network already serves EV drivers in the local area at Redbridge Park and Ride charging locations. We are delighted to now be delivering the necessary energy infrastructure to support Go-Ahead, Stagecoach and their passengers as they supercharge Oxford towards its decarbonisation goals and improve air quality.”

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Oxford is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the country’s first permanent park and ride site.

On Monday, 10 December 1973, Redbridge began operating with a car park and dedicated bus service. Although experimental park and rides had been set up earlier – including one in Oxford at the Forte Motor Lodge on the A34 in the 1960s – Redbridge was the first permanent example of the pioneering transport management system.

Previous proposals for easing Oxford’s traffic congestion had included an inner relief road through Christ Church Meadow, which was rejected after a campaign opposing it. There were also calls for a giant commuter car park on Port Meadow, connecting to a water ferry on the Oxford Canal, but this didn’t materialise into a plan.

The success of Redbridge inspired Oxfordshire to create the largest park and ride system in the country, with 5,900 parking spaces at five sites on the outskirts of the city.

Oxford Parkway and Thornhill park and rides are run by Oxfordshire County Council, while Pear Tree, Seacourt and Redbridge are all operated by Oxford City Council.

The golden anniversary comes at an exciting time for the county’s bus industry, as the first of 159 electric buses start arriving as part of an £83.8 million deal – many of which will serve Oxford using the park and rides.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It’s almost unthinkable now to imagine Oxford without its park and rides. They have become part of everyday life for so many people, providing a convenient and economical way to travel into the city centre and Oxford’s hospitals.”

Park and ride in numbers

• Oxford Bus Company uses 28 buses each weekday on the three park and ride services it operates
• These services (300, 400, 700) collectively travel 1,057,000 miles each year
• They carry around four million passengers annually
• Stagecoach runs up to 240 trips a day to and from Oxford Parkway Park and Ride and Oxford city centre, on routes 2 and 2A
• In addition, it runs up to an extra 236 trips a day stopping just outside on Banbury Road on routes S4, S5 and S7, connecting Oxford Parkway with Oxford city centre

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities, Oxford City Council said: “Oxford has a proud history of leading transport innovations, and I am delighted that we are able to celebrate 50 years of park and ride services in our city. Our park and ride services have evolved over the years to cater to the changing needs of users. Imagine the number of car journeys into the city that have been saved over 50 years! 

“By using the park and ride service instead of driving, commuters and visitors are helping to reduce congestion on our roads, improve our air quality and support a faster, more reliable bus network.”

To continue to make the park and rides the first choice for visitors, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach introduced a joint ticketing and parking offer in 2022. Parking for up to 16 hours and return bus travel for one person costs just £4, while for two people it is £5.

With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free. The deal proved so popular that it was recently extended until April 2024.

Unlike many other park and rides around the country, Oxford’s are thriving again following the impact COVID-19 had on the bus industry and user numbers are close to pre-pandemic levels.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: "Myself and the team at Oxford Bus Company are very proud to have been involved in operating Oxford's world-leading park and ride system continuously for the past half a century. There have been major changes in the vehicles and technology we use on the service since it started 50 years ago, and the introduction of the new fleet of electric buses to the service is the latest step in this continuing evolution.

“With today's levels of traffic congestion, the park and ride is more important now than it has ever been. We look forward to developing the service further over the years to come, to support the continued development of our city.”

Redbridge itself has evolved and last year became home to Energy Superhub Oxford, Europe’s most powerful electric vehicle charging hub. The charging hub at the Abingdon Road site offers fast and ultra-rapid charging for 42 vehicles and is powered entirely by renewable energy.

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “We’re delighted that Stagecoach have played our part in the longevity and success of the world’s first permanent park and ride scheme and to be able to toast its success over 50 years. It’s great to be part of a collaborative group of partners who have worked together to present the customer proposition for existing and new customers.

“We’re excited to take this as an opportunity to look forward to the introduction of the new electric vehicles on to the park and ride routes in 2024, along with the continuation of the combined parking and bus tickets, taking the scheme to another level and providing affordable and sustainable travel options to our residents and visitors."

Ian Green, Oxford Civic Society (OCS) Chairman, said: “Fifty years ago, persistent pressure and well-argued advice from OCS was instrumental in the council's decision to introduce the park and ride scheme. Oxford was only the second city in the country to do so and Redbridge was the first such site to be made permanent.

“The job of better managing traffic in our city is far from finished and we are proud of the vital role the park and ride sites continue to play.”

Following Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet’s decision to allocate £1.2 million to improve rural public and community transport, further new services will be launched this month to connect more villages back to the bus network, market towns and Oxford.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is more good news for bus users on top of improved services announced last month – a £1 single fare cap for Sundays in December; the imminent arrival of a new fleet of electric buses for Oxford; and the extension of our park and ride joint parking and ticketing deal.

“Many people rely on buses to get around the county, and beyond, and we’re committed to working with providers to make it as easy and reliable for them to do so.”

From Monday 6 November, the following services will begin:

• 122/123: Watlington to Reading via Nettlebed, Stoke Row, Checkendon, Rotherfield Peppard and Kidmore End. This will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, through Red Rose Travel
• 126/127: Watlington to Thame via Lewknor, Postcombe, Tetsworth, The Miltons, Chalgrove, The Haseleys and Moreton. This will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Red Rose Travel.

From Monday 27 November, these services will be in operation:

• 68: Longcot, Fernham, Uffington, Kingston Lisle, Westcot, Sparsholt, Childrey and the Letcombes to Wantage and Faringdon. This will run from Monday to Saturday through Pulhams Coaches.
• 108: Forest Hill, Stanton St John, Beckley, Horton-cum-Studley, Blackthorn and Piddington to Oxford and Bicester. This will run from Monday to Saturday and is being operated by Oxford Bus Company.

Timetables will be available shortly from Traveline and individual operator websites.

Revisions to the Villager Community Bus V26 service to link Ramsden with Witney, and providing new journeys on Thursdays, began in early October. Further new services linking several villages north of Bicester and north of Banbury are anticipated to begin in February 2024.

These new services are in addition to those funded by the government through the council’s successful Bus Service Improvement Plan, including restoration of a service between Carterton and Swindon, new express peak buses from Carterton and Banbury to Oxford and improvements to other strategic inter-urban routes throughout the county.

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A countywide day bus ticket valid for all operators could also be created after Oxfordshire was promised an additional £1.9 million to improve bus services over the next two years.

It comes on top of £12.7m from the government in August 2022 following the council’s successful Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) application.

The additional £1.9m of funding – known as BSIP+ – is for measures that will increase long-term patronage, help maintain service levels, ensure essential social and economic connectivity for local communities and promote innovation in the industry.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This funding shows the importance that is placed on public transport in this county and our commitment to getting people back on to the buses. The package of proposals represents a step change in service provision across Oxfordshire, with all the districts benefitting from some level of improvement as a result.

“It will be used to fund innovative schemes such as cut-price fares in the run-up to Christmas – both this year and next year – as well as securing services that require financial support to ensure their survival, such as those affected by the closure of Oxford’s Botley Road.”

The council, in its role as local transport authority, established the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership with the county’s private bus operators earlier this year.

The partnership brings together key stakeholders to deliver better services, ticketing and infrastructure. While bus operators retain their ability to make commercial decisions, they work closely with the council to promote improvements for passengers – bringing expertise, innovation, and the potential for external investment.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of the Oxford Bus Group, said: “This is excellent news for passengers, the bus industry and the local economy.

“We have experienced a positive impact on patronage thanks to recent government fare cap schemes and this additional support for ticketing initiatives will help to further encourage passengers to try travelling with us.

"We're also delighted to see the county council investing in improving services and are looking forward to bringing some strategically important new links to life for Oxfordshire residents over the coming weeks.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: "This additional funding is good news and has enabled Stagecoach to continue to make improvements to our services between Banbury and Oxford. We're working closely with Oxfordshire County Council to look at opportunities to improve bus services across Oxfordshire."

One proposal is to create a day ticket that is valid on all operators’ services in Oxfordshire.

Both the county’s main bus providers, Go Ahead (Oxford Bus Group) and Stagecoach, offer day tickets for unlimited travel on their own services across Oxfordshire. There are also day tickets available within the SmartZone, which covers the area in and around Oxford city, that are valid on both operators’ services.

However, there is no countywide day ticket that can be used on all operators’ services. Money from BSIP+ is intended to be used to help create such a ticket and to support reductions in other day ticket prices to make them more attractive to passengers.

BSIP+ funding will also:

• offer financial support for the current Oxford bus network, including services affected by the Botley Road closure
• provide a new bus service between Witney, Carterton, and Swindon
• provide faster peak hour buses between Banbury and Oxford
• help retain and improve Oxford orbital services serving the hospitals, including the 700, which additionally will run on weekends for the first time.

Cllr Gant said: “We are stepping in to support services and communities financially where other organisations have been unable or unwilling to.”

Routes that are intended to be enhanced or improved later this financial year include:

• X40 route between Oxford, Wallingford, and Reading
• 25 service between Sonning Common and Reading
• new direct faster buses between Carterton and Oxford.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Oxfordshire with over £13m to help boost bus services.             

“Supporting the council with capping Sunday fares at £1 in December in the run-up to Christmas and potentially introducing a countywide bus ticket valid for all operators is fantastic for local residents, who will now be able to get to work, attend medical appointments and visit loved ones for less.”

Cllr Gant added: “This BSIP+ investment comes on top of the recent extension of the cheaper park and ride joint parking and ticketing offer until April 2024, and ahead of the arrival of the first of the 159 electric buses coming to Oxfordshire as part of an £85.5m deal. And with the £2 bus fare cap now extended until the end of 2024, it really is a great time to think about using the bus.”

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Last October, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach launched a new combined ticket for Oxford’s park and rides which covers both parking and return bus travel to the city centre.

To coincide with the launch of the new combined ticket, the councils have been offering the ticket at a reduced price of £4 for a car with only one adult, or £5 for a car and two adults. With both options, the car can be parked for up to 16 hours, and up to three children under 16 can travel for free. Previously tickets only lasted for 11 hours, which made it difficult for people working long shifts to use them.

The deal represents a saving of 80p per person for an individual ticket, and £2.60 for two people travelling together. Previously, users had to pay separately for both parking and bus travel. A single traveller previously paid £4.80 for 11 hours parking and return bus ticket, and two travellers with one car previously paid £7.60.

Oxford has five park and ride car parks around the edge of the city, three are run by the city council and two by the county council.

Now, Oxford City Council’s cabinet has approved a decision to extend the trial price for a further six months until April 2024. Oxfordshire County Council had already agreed that the current arrangement could remain in place for the rest of the 2023/24 financial year.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “This deal has proved to be extremely popular and we are delighted that it is being extended again. It will continue to make it cheaper and more convenient for many people to use the park and ride services instead of driving all the way into Oxford city centre. More people on the buses means fewer cars on the road, less congestion and less pollution.”

Both councils will make decisions as part of their annual budget-setting processes on the pricing of the combined ticket from April 2024, taking into consideration national and local trends within the industry.

The overall combined parking and bus ticket option is a permanent feature of the park and rides and it is only the price that is up for review.

About the combined ticket

The combined parking and bus ticket is in place at all park and ride sites in and around Oxford:

• Oxford Parkway Park and Ride
• Pear Tree Park and Ride
• Redbridge Park and Ride
• Seacourt Park and Ride
• Thornhill Park and Ride

Drivers are encouraged to purchase a combined ticket through the RingGo parking app, or at one of the onsite ticket machines.

RingGo users can buy a combined virtual ticket through the app. Users are encouraged to download the RingGo app in advance of their arrival.

The trial does not change the prices of parking only, annual, quarterly, or 28-day permit holders. Free parking remains for blue badge holders.

Drivers using the Hozah parking app who would like to use the combined ticket offer will need to pause their membership and use either RingGo or the onsite ticket machines.

Aside from these changes, all other car parking charges at these sites remain the same.

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities at Oxford City Council, said: “Park and rides have been noticeably busier since we introduced the combined parking-and-bus tickets. Thousands of people have benefited from a more convenient and affordable way to arrive sustainably in Oxford.

“Whether you are a commuter, a visitor, a shopper or visiting friends and family, leaving the car at the park and ride so that you don’t have to search for a parking space in our congested city centre is a great idea. We have decided to keep our introductory low price for a while longer and will continue to work with the county council and both bus operators on the appropriate pricing level from April 2024 onwards.”

Luke Marion, Managing Director for Oxford Bus Company, said: “The combined parking and bus ticket has been a great example of partnership working between the councils and bus operators, and has helped our park and ride system in Oxford grow back much more quickly from the pandemic than similar schemes in other UK cities. 

“We know that our customers really value the simplicity and convenience of the combined ticket, so it was an easy decision to give our support for a further six-month extension of the reduced pricing. We will work with both councils to review the pricing in April.”

Karen Coventry, Commercial and Marketing Director for Stagecoach West, said: “Customers like simple to understand and good value ticket offers and the £4/ £5 combined park and ride tickets being made available across all of the park and ride sites around the city have certainly helped to encourage more people on to the bus, reducing the reliance on car usage into the city centre. It’s good news that we now have a clear and consistent message for the next six months.”

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Pulhams Coaches, which runs the 15, 15A, 19, 802 and X9 services, will charge passengers just £2 per journey from tomorrow when the next extension to the national fare cap comes into effect.

The government’s £2 cap on adult single fares began on 1 January for three months to help people with the cost of living crisis but proved so popular it was extended until the end of June. Now it has been extended again until 31 October, after which fares will be increased to £2.50 until November 2024.

The bus providers in Oxfordshire that have already opted in are:

• Arriva
• Oxford Bus Company
• Redline Buses
• Stagecoach
• Thames Travel
• Reading Buses
• Thames Valley Buses
• Langston & Tasker

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “It is great that so many bus operators in Oxfordshire have signed up to take part in the bus fare cap scheme. We know cost of living pressures are affecting many people and these discounted fares are already helping residents to cut costs as they use buses to get to school, to work and to visit our town and city centres.

“Swapping car journeys for bus trips also helps reduce the number of cars in our town and city centres, reducing congestion, cutting emissions and improving the environment.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “By extending the £2 fare cap, we’re making sure bus travel remains accessible and affordable for everyone while helping to ease cost of living pressures.

“Buses connect our communities and play a vital role in growing the economy; they transport people to work, take our kids to school and make sure patients can get to doctors’ appointments.

“That’s why we’re determined to protect local routes and encourage more people onto the bus, ensuring people can get around easily and in an affordable way.”

The temporary £2 bus fare cap on adult fares does not change the concessionary fare scheme or impact free travel. Services where singles already cost less than £2 are also not included, and there are some exemptions such as:

• dedicated school services
• services which only run on school days
• coach services including the Oxford Tube.

More details are available on the government’s website or by visiting bus providers’ websites.

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The 700 route, which serves the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, and Thornhill and Oxford Parkway park and rides, was set to be withdrawn as it was not commercially viable.

As a result, Oxfordshire County Council stepped in with financial support to enable Oxford Bus Company to operate the service – which was used by more than 350,000 passengers in the past year – until 30 August 2024. The change followed a tendering process and will come into effect from 3 July 2023.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This will be a great relief to the hundreds of people who use this service every day, including many who use it to access the city’s hospitals. We appreciate the importance of an effective bus service in helping people to get where they need to be and reducing the number of cars on our congested roads.”

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “We are pleased to be commencing the operation of service 700 from 3 July via a contract with Oxfordshire County Council. This ensures continuity of the service and we look forward to welcoming passengers on-board.”

This service will operate up to every 30 minutes, Monday to Friday, to the same route and timetable as the current service.

For existing customers who hold SmartZone passes, these will continue to be valid for use on the 700 as well as the wider network of local bus services provided by Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach, Thames Travel or Arriva.

More details about the service, including timetable, route map and ticketing arrangements, are available on Oxford Bus Company’s website.

Any users who currently use a pass that is valid for travel on Stagecoach buses only will need to email oxford.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com with any enquiries for refunds.

Bus passengers can continue to take advantage of the government’s £2 fare cap which has been extended until 31 October 2023.

Park and ride users can also continue to buy cut price tickets covering both parking and return bus travel, making journeys less stressful without the need to find a space at the hospitals.

The current offer costs £4 for a car with only one adult, or £5 for a car and two adults. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.

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A peak hour loading ban between 7 - 10am and 4.30 - 7pm will be brought in to improve safety at the roundabout, particularly for the most vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.

Cycling groups had expressed concerns about vehicles loading on or near The Plain and blocking cycle lanes, causing serious danger.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “We know that any measures to improve safety and visibility at this busy roundabout will be welcomed by the thousands of people who use it every day.”

The plans seek to safeguard school transport services to encourage people not to use cars for the school run and to help provide safe, convenient alternatives.

The measures tie in to Oxfordshire County Council’s Vision Zero strategy, which aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads to zero by 2050.

The changes are also expected to reduce delays to buses.

Approval was given on 27 April at a delegated decisions meeting by Cllr Gant.

Council officers will also consult with residents, businesses and landlords in the area to investigate alternative arrangements for loading.

Work was carried out at The Plain last November to improve safety for cyclists. The changes included amendments to road markings and traffic signs, installation of road studs, bollards and cycle stands, and installing light cycle lane segregation units.

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Passengers can continue to buy a combined ticket at a reduced price which covers both parking and return bus travel at a rate of £4 for a car with only one adult, or £5 for a car and two adults. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.

Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach said the trial, which was originally due to end on 31 March, will now carry on until the end of September 2023 due to its success.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This deal will continue to make it cheaper and more convenient for many people to use the park and ride services instead of driving all the way into Oxford city centre. More people on the buses will reduce car use and cut congestion and pollution.”

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Health and Transport at Oxford City Council, said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to extend the park and ride offer for a further six months. Park and ride services are essential for travelling into and across our city and we want to help make these services as easy to use and as affordable as possible.”

The deal represents a saving of £1 per person for an individual ticket, and £1.80 for two people travelling together. Previously, other than a combined £6.80 family ticket, drivers had to pay separately for both parking and bus travel.

Since the campaign was launched, park and ride passenger numbers have increased to around 97 per cent of the level they were before the pandemic. The increase has been up to 10 per cent on weekdays, and even greater at weekends.

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director at Stagecoach West, said: “We’re really pleased to be extending this park and ride ticket offer for Oxford. For those looking to travel from Oxford Parkway to the hospital sites in Headington, as well as into Oxford city centre, this ticket offer will provide brilliant value and convenient travel.”

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “This continues to be a fantastic offer for people visiting Oxford and represents the best value for commuters, shift workers and leisure visitors. Thanks to key stakeholders working together, we have jointly created an excellent special offer for an extended period designed to encourage people to return to, or try out, the park and ride service.

“We appreciate times are challenging and the reduced prices represent tremendous value for people to park and travel in and out of Oxford.”

The combined parking and bus ticket remains in place at all park and ride sites in and around Oxford:

• Oxford Parkway Park and Ride
• Pear Tree Park and Ride
• Redbridge Park and Ride
• Seacourt Park and Ride
• Thornhill Park and Ride

Drivers are encouraged to purchase a combined ticket through the RingGo parking app, or at one of the onsite ticket machines.

RingGo users can buy a combined virtual ticket through the app. Users are encouraged to download the RingGo app in advance of their arrival.

Ticket machines at the park and ride sites have been updated to reflect the trial.

The trial does not impact the prices of parking only, annual, quarterly, or 28 day permit holders. Free parking remains for blue badge holders.

Drivers using Hozah parking app who would like to use the combined ticket offer will need to pause their membership and use either RingGo or the onsite ticket machines.

Aside from these changes, all other car parking charges at these sites remain the same.

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As a result of rising costs and reduced passenger numbers arising from the pandemic, West Oxfordshire Community Transport (WOCT) told the council it was no longer able to continue operating service 210 between Milton-under-Wychwood and Witney, which serves a string of villages that have limited alternative provision.

The council has now agreed to provide funds to maintain the existing level of service until August 2024, protecting continued access to Witney for employment and education as well as retail and leisure activities.

Andrew Lyon, Head of Operations at WOCT, said: “Like many community transport providers we have seen a reduction in passenger numbers together with a significant increase in costs. We had been encouraged by the growth of service 210 following its introduction and we are grateful to the county council for working with us to maintain the service whilst we rebuild patronage after the pandemic.”

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “Bus services that people can rely on are a vital part of our transport strategy. That is why we have acted quickly here – as we have done in other parts of the county – to ensure that this important route is not lost.

“We are proud that our commitment to public transport is resulting in positive action for the people who need it the most.”

The new contract will begin on 3 April and there will be no changes to the timetable. Further information on the service, and the work WOCT do to provide community transport services across the district, can be found on its website at woct.org.uk

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Last March, Oxfordshire County Council was awarded £32.8 million from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.

Along with £6m from the council itself and £43.7m from bus companies Stagecoach and the Go-Ahead Group, which includes the Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, and City Sightseeing Oxford, the scheme will deliver the electric buses and the infrastructure to charge them.

Following the signing of contracts between the bus companies and the manufacturers, and the council’s approval of trial traffic filters in Oxford to help reduce bus journey times by at least 10 per cent in the city, confirmation of Oxfordshire’s ZEBRA scheme has now been finalised.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This is a huge boost in the move towards creating a sustainable, decarbonised public transport system, and improving air quality.

“We believe that, along with other schemes proposed in the county, this new fleet of electric buses will transform our public transport system and encourage more people to travel by bus.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director for Stagecoach West, said: “We're excited to be announcing this major milestone for Oxfordshire, which will be a major step forward in improving air quality across the region. This builds further on the major investment being made by Stagecoach across the country to support the transition to a zero emission bus fleet. 

"We look forward to working with our local authority partners on their plans to further decarbonise the city, which will help us to speed up journey times and attract more people out of their cars and on to reliable, sustainable public transport services." 

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “This ground-breaking plan and significant investment will radically improve air quality in Oxford. We look forward to continuing to work with key partners to deliver this ambitious project, which will make bus travel an even better option for getting around our city."

Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “We want to see a better bus network around Britain and that means reliable, affordable, clean buses, and we will do everything possible to decarbonise our transport network and support skilled jobs in next generation bus manufacturing across the UK.

“We’ve already invested hundreds of millions of pounds to kick-start the rollout of zero emission buses nationwide, and it’s great to see Oxfordshire County Council, Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Group making use of our funding to transform its fleet to electric. This move will boost UK manufacturing, drive down emissions and improve bus services for people across the region.”

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Health and Transport, Oxford City Council, said: “Air pollution is a major cause of poor health in Oxford and cleaning up our bus emissions is an important step towards better air quality for everyone who lives, works, and visits Oxford.

“Buses are a vital part of how many people travel around Oxford, especially the 30 per cent of Oxford residents who do not own a car. Let’s not underestimate the importance of the county’s proposed congestion-busting traffic measures in giving the bus companies the confidence to invest in these electric buses. Hopping on a brand new electric bus, with free WiFi and stop announcements for the partially sighted, will make bus travel a much more attractive option for everyone.

“We are looking forward to seeing these new buses on Oxford’s roads as part of a zero emission bus network. It all helps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and fulfil our aim of cutting the city’s carbon footprint.”

Transport is the largest contributor to nitrogen dioxide (NOx) emissions in Oxford, accounting for two thirds of the total emissions, with both diesel cars and buses contributing to roughly one third of the transport emissions each.

The arrival of the 159 electric buses is expected to support a further drop in NOx levels that will help clean up Oxford and Oxfordshire’s air pollution, reduce noise pollution and help make Oxfordshire a net zero carbon county well before 2050.

Oxfordshire was one of only 12 local authorities to successfully apply for ZEBRA funding and is one of the biggest schemes in the country.

All the new buses are being manufactured in the UK and are expected to arrive by March 2024. It will be one of the largest orders outside London and will mean that most services across the Oxford Smartzone will be operated by battery electric buses.

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The council launched a tender process for new bus services following Oxford Bus Company’s announcement of its withdrawal of routes 9 to Risinghurst and 13 to Northway from 8 January 2023.

From 8 January, both areas will instead be served by Stagecoach route 14, which will operate up to half-hourly to Northway and hourly to Risinghurst seven days a week, keeping these communities connected to the city centre while also opening up new links to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital and railway station.

Old Marston will also see a benefit through an increase in frequency in the evenings and on Sundays. All services will be numbered 14, and the 14A number will no longer be in use.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: "Public transport is one of this council’s policy priorities, so I am thrilled that we have acted swiftly to solve one of the many challenges facing our bus services.

“Without this investment, as well as our close working relationship with the bus companies, residents in areas of the city which rely most heavily on bus services might have been left without them. As the highways authority, we are proud that our commitment to public transport is resulting in positive action for the people who need it.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “We’re really pleased that we’ve been able to support Oxfordshire County Council in maintaining a frequent bus service for residents in Northway and Risinghurst. We’re looking forward to welcoming new customers on board from 8 January.”

The main bus stops in the city centre for both Risinghurst and Northway will now be in George Street, rather than at the Westgate or St Aldates.

The full range of Stagecoach and SmartZone tickets, including return fares, will be available on the service – which will also be included in the £2 single fare cap scheme which began on 1 January.

Further information, including timetables and maps, are available on the Stagecoach website.

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As part of the wider ‘Help for Households’ initiative, the bus fare cap will limit the price passengers will pay for an adult single fare to £2 on most routes operated by participating bus firms.

Running from 1 January until 31 March 2023, the bus providers in Oxfordshire which have opted in are:

• Arriva
• Oxford Bus Company
• Redline Buses
• Stagecoach
• Thames Travel
• Reading Buses
• Thames Valley Buses
• Langston & Tasker

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “It is great that so many bus operators in Oxfordshire have signed up to take part in the bus fare cap scheme. We know cost of living pressures are affecting many people and hopefully these discounted fares will help residents to cut costs as they use buses to get to school, to work and to visit our town and city centres.

“Swapping car journeys for bus trips also helps reduce the number of cars in our town and city centres, reducing congestion, cutting emissions, and improving the environment.”

The temporary £2 bus fare cap on adult fares does not change the concessionary fare scheme or impact free travel. Services where singles already cost less than £2 are also not included, and there are some exemptions such as:

• Dedicated school services
• Services which only run on school days
• Coach services including the Oxford Tube.

More details are available on the government’s website or by visiting bus providers’ websites.

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Changes to the city’s bus network are being made from 8 January 2023 to stabilise services and provide greater reliability in the face of congestion, driver shortages and the closure of the Botley Road bridge by Network Rail. There are some reductions to frequency of services, but many routes are protected through reinvestment of resources and increasing running times to make sure passengers can have greater confidence in the network.

As part of these changes by the bus company, services city9 to Risinghurst and city13 to Northway will no longer operate. Recognising that this will adversely affect many local residents, the council has acted quickly to undertake a tender process for replacement services to these areas and will announce further details as soon as possible.

Earlier in the year, the council set aside up to £2.5 million over the next two years to protect previously commercial services at risk of withdrawal as a result of lower passenger numbers and spiralling bus industry costs.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “Any reduction in bus services is extremely regrettable, but we are working to keep services running to the most affected areas as they are vital for their communities. The last few years have presented our bus companies with some unprecedented challenges, but we will continue to work closely with them to find solutions.”

Further details of the changes which have been announced are available at www.oxfordbus.co.uk/news. Further information on detailed changes for Northway, Risinghurst and services in west Oxford affected by the Botley Road bridge closure will be announced as soon as possible.

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If approved by cabinet, the six trial traffic filters will be located on St Cross Road, Thames Street, St Clements, Hythe Bridge Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way.

The county council has published changes to the proposals based on feedback from public consultation and engagement and results from further traffic analysis.

Since February 2022, the county council, in partnership with Oxford City Council, has engaged with hundreds of local businesses, organisations and community groups including bus companies, hospitals, schools and universities and refined the proposals based on this engagement process.

Following feedback from partners, the council put forward plans to introduce the traffic filters as an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO), to test the scheme and make changes if needed, before making a long-term decision on the trial.

The county council carried out a public consultation to better understand the impacts of the proposals between 5 September and 13 October 2022. It received 5,700 responses to the public consultation, with another 485 emails from members of the public and organisations. These responses were analysed by an independent research company.

Following this feedback, some key changes to the proposals are being recommended to cabinet by officers. These include:

• Traffic filters on Hollow Way and Marston Ferry Road initially operating at peak times only from 7am until 9am and from 3pm until 6pm Monday to Saturday. This is to confirm whether part-time filters at these locations achieve the aims of the scheme.
• Residents based in the Shotover Hill area and residential areas immediately adjacent to Barton to be included in the Oxford permit area. Residents of these areas can apply for day passes to drive through the filters for up to 100 days per year.  
• Expanding resident day passes to include 25 day passes per person per year for residents of Oxfordshire outside the Oxford permit area (with a maximum of one vehicle per person and two vehicles per household) to pass through the filters. Residents in the Oxford permit area, who are most affected by the scheme, would still receive a maximum of 100 day passes per vehicle (with a maximum of one vehicle per person and three vehicles per household). 
• Short-term exemptions for patients receiving frequent hospital treatments to drive through one traffic filter of their choosing and for people with temporary mobility problems.
• Expanding the permit eligibility criteria for non-professional carers to include anyone with informal caring responsibilities, but restrict the exemption to one traffic filter of the applicant’s choosing.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “I would like to thank everyone who gave their feedback on the proposals, whether that was by meeting with us during the engagement events, responding to our consultation survey or by writing to us.

“We received over 6,000 responses to the consultation and that feedback has helped shape the changes being proposed to the trial scheme. If approved by the council’s cabinet, the traffic filters will be implemented as a trial. This would allow another opportunity for people to share their views based on their experience of living with the filters.”

Cabinet members will consider a range of information before making a decision on the proposals. This includes feedback received during consultation as well as data on traffic modelling, air quality and equality and climate impact assessments.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, has decided he should step away from this forthcoming decision on this occasion. This is to allay any concerns about his impartiality following recent media coverage.

Councillor Enright said “Quotations attributed to me do not, out of context, properly represent either my own views or Oxfordshire County Council’s plans to tackle congestion and improve travel around the city.

“To give the public full confidence that the decision on traffic filters will be made on the basis of the best evidence, including the recent public consultation feedback, I will not take part in this decision on 29 November.”

If approved, officers are recommending to cabinet that the traffic filter trial should begin after Botley Road reopens to motorised traffic following major improvements to Oxford railway station. This would enable an effective and representative trial to take place.

For more information about this release contact Oxfordshire County Council’s communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Notes:

• To find out more about the proposals, including the full list of exemptions and permits visit letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022.
• Read the full cabinet paper aebhdfh (oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Working together, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach have made the changes to encourage more people to choose the Park and Ride over car travel and so help reduce traffic congestion in the city, while supporting the city centre’s economic recovery.

A new combined parking and bus ticket is now in place at all Park and Ride sites in and around Oxford. These are:

• Oxford Parkway Park and Ride
• Pear Tree Park and Ride
• Redbridge Park and Ride
• Seacourt Park and Ride
• Thornhill Park and Ride

As part of the offer, passengers can now buy a combined ticket at a reduced price which covers both parking and return bus travel at a rate of £4 for a car with only 1 adult and £5 for a car and 2 adults. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.

The combined ticket at a reduced price offer is part of a six-month trial, which is taking place until 31 March 2023 and is subject to review by both councils and the bus operators. However, the combined parking and bus ticket approach is a permanent change.

The trial offers a saving of £1 per person (20%) for an individual ticket, and £1.80 per two people travelling together (26%). Previously, other than a combined £6.80 family ticket, drivers had to pay separately for both parking and bus travel. The new combined ticket also provides a lower cost alternative to the existing £6.80 family ticket.

Drivers are encouraged to purchase a combined ticket through the RingGo parking app, or at one of the onsite ticket machines:

RingGo users are able to purchase a combined virtual ticket through the app. Users are encouraged to download the RingGo app in advance of their arrival.

Ticket machines at the Park and Ride sites have been updated to reflect the trial.

The trial does not impact the prices of annual, quarterly, or 28 day permit holders, and free parking remains for blue badge holders.

Drivers using Hozah who would like to use the combined ticket offer will need to pause their membership, and use either Ringo or the onsite ticket machines.

In addition, a permanent change has been made to the parking periods at all Park and Ride sites around Oxford, so that customers needing to park for longer, such as those working longer shifts, pay less.

The changes, which came into effect from 30 September, mean:

• the £2 tariff will now cover 1-16 hours (extended from 1-11 hours)
• the £4 tariff will now cover 16-24 hours (extended from 11-24 hours)
• The change follows discussions with major employers, including city centre retailers, which identified that the 11-hour time charge created a ‘cliff-edge’ for shift workers. The change aims to better support these drivers to continue to use the park and ride services.

Aside from these changes, all other car-parking charges at these sites will remain the same.

The Park and Ride financial incentive was agreed by cabinets at Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council. As part of an Enhanced Partnership agreement the councils and bus operators Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Stagecoach are working together on initiatives to bring bus passenger numbers back to pre-pandemic levels.

Park and Ride passenger numbers have not fully recovered post COVID-19 following changes in passenger habits. The six-month pilot scheme is designed to encourage people to use the service, as a cost-effective and sustainable way to visit Oxford.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This new deal will make it cheaper and more convenient for many people to use the Park and Ride services instead of driving all the way into Oxford city centre. More people on the buses will reduce car use and cut congestion and pollution.”

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Health and Transport, Oxford City Council, said: “Park and Ride services are essential for travelling into and across our city. In partnership with the bus operators and the County Council. We are working to ensure services are easy to use and affordable for as many people as possible. We hope that the combined ticket offer and amended parking tariff will encourage more people to travel into the city by Park and Ride for work, leisure, and tourism. It takes the worry out of trying to find a parking space in the city centre and it’s much easier to leave your car at the Park and Ride and hop on a bus instead.”

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Interim Managing Director, said: “This is a fantastic offer for people visiting Oxford and represents the best value for commuters, shift workers and leisure visitors. Thanks to key stakeholders working together we have jointly created an excellent special offer for an extended period designed to encourage people to return to, or try out, the Park and Ride service.

“We appreciate times are challenging and the reduced prices represent tremendous value for people to park and travel in and out of Oxford. We are committed to making bus travel as accessible and convenient as possible and the joint ticket combined with extended parking times and reduced prices is a big step forward in our strategy. The Park and Ride service is a sustainable and cost-effective way to travel into Oxford and can be a vital part of the city’s vision to reduce congestion and carbon emissions.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director at Stagecoach West, said: “We’re really pleased to be introducing this Park and Ride ticket offer to Oxford. For those looking to travel from Oxford Parkway to the hospital sites in Headington, as well as into Oxford City Centre, this ticket offer will provide brilliant value and convenient travel, with extended parking times.” 

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Working together, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach, have developed a set of proposals to make the park and ride services more attractive.

This month, both the city and county councils’ cabinets will be asked to approve the creation of a new combined parking and bus ticket for all park and ride sites in and around Oxford.

If approved, car drivers will be able to purchase a combined ticket which covers both parking and return bus travel at a rate of £4 for a car with only one driver and £5 for a car with two or more people.

Currently, other than a combined £6.80 family ticket, drivers pay separately for both parking and bus travel. The new combined ticket also provides a lower cost alternative to the existing £6.80 family ticket.  

It is expected that the combined ticket trial will take place from 30 September 2022 to 31 March 2023. 

Drivers will be able to buy the combined ticket at the parking machine or by using the RingGo parking app.  

This will be supported by a marketing and communications campaign to help promote the ticket offer.  

An initial review of the trial will be conducted after the first three months which will inform a future cabinet decision on the next steps and a planned joint city/county feasibility study on medium and long-term options for park and ride and transport hubs.  

In addition to the combined ticket system, the partnership is also proposing to permanently amend the parking periods at all park and ride sites across the county, so that customers needing to park for longer, such as those working longer shifts, pay less.

If approved, this will mean that:

• The current £2 tariff, which covers the one - 11 hour parking period, is to be extended to cover one - 16 hours.
• The current £4 tariff, which covers the 11 - 24 hour period, will be updated to cover 16 - 24 hours.

The proposal follows discussion with major employers, including city centre retailers, which identified that the current 11-hour time charge creates a ‘cliff-edge’ for shift workers. The change aims to better support these drivers to continue to use the park and ride services.

Aside from these changes, all other car parking charges at these sites are proposed to remain the same.

Both car parking and bus patronage have been dramatically reduced at all park and ride sites in comparison to pre-pandemic levels, and while bus patronage levels are now actually better than pre-pandemic over the weekends, they have still not recovered on weekdays, especially during peak hours.  

Bus passenger levels are currently running at between 75 and 80 per cent of pre-COVID levels on average. Without improvements and action, including continued government financial support, services may have to be reviewed later this year. 

These proposed changes are part of a multi-partner campaign to encourage bus use across the city and county. Last month, a campaign launched with the partnership highlighting the financial advantages of taking the bus over a car.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This new deal will make it cheaper and more convenient for many people to use the park and ride services instead of driving all the way into Oxford city centre. More people on the buses will reduce car use and cut congestion and pollution.”

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Health and Transport, Oxford City Council, said: “Buses, especially park and ride services, are crucial for people travelling into our city for work, leisure, and tourism. We want to ensure that our services are easy to use and affordable for as many people as possible, which is why we are proposing a combined ticket and updated parking tariff to make it simpler and cheaper.

“We hope that these measures will encourage more people to use park and ride when they come into Oxford.” 

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Interim Managing Director, said: “The park and ride service has been a crucial part of Oxford’s transport infrastructure since 1973 and now needs support to help it fully recover from the impact of the pandemic. The service is integral to helping Oxford achieve its net-zero ambitions and it’s great to see all parties working in partnership to introduce changes that we expect will make the park and ride more attractive and easier for customers to understand.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director, Stagecoach, said: “We are looking forward to getting behind this campaign and trial to encourage more people on to the park and ride services we operate from Thornhill and Oxford Parkway. We want to work together to keep things simple and reduce the number of single occupancy car journeys on the roads.

“We know that people want to pay a combined price, saving money and hassle and are encouraged by the extensions that will be introduced to the duration of the parking tariffs.”

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Layla Moran MP, representatives from Oxfordshire County Council, city and district councils, Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach, bus user groups, health services, employers and the city’s universities attended the event at the Said Business School on Friday 24 June. Anneliese Dodds MP, who had proposed the summit, was unable to attend due to illness.

Issues up for discussion included fares, ticketing options, coverage, accessibility and ease of understanding of the bus network, journey speeds and reliability, image and public opinion. Industry experts were in attendance, while the audience included representatives from disability and young people’s groups.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, gave a presentation about why buses are key to the authority’s commitment to tackling climate change, and making Oxfordshire a greener and fairer county.

She said: “This bus summit was a really important opportunity for us at the county council to get together with the bus operator and other partners across the county – including the health services, universities, and employers – to talk about how we can create a sustainable bus network.

“We want to get people out of their cars and that way we can reduce our carbon footprint quite significantly, and that what this summit was all about.”

The summit was one of a number of measures aimed at helping the bus industry recover from what has been a time of unprecedented pressure, due to COVID-19, uncertainty over government funding, high fuel costs, and a shortage of drivers.

Last month saw the launch of a campaign to encourage people back on to the buses by highlighting the savings they can make, compared to travelling into Oxford by car.

Luke Marion, Interim Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, said: “Oxfordshire’s inaugural bus summit really helped further educate key stakeholders on the huge opportunity we have in the county to vastly reduce our carbon footprint via improved connectivity and the introduction of net zero bus technology.

“There was a lot of positive energy in the room and it is crucial we continue to work together to deliver our ambitious vision for what could be the UK’s leading electric bus network.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “Being a part of events like the bus summit give me optimism that we are really on the edge of transformation. I'm hopeful that this newly forged partnership will stand strong as we decarbonise our bus network and deliver our shared vision.

“The rest of the UK should watch this space as we drive Oxfordshire into exciting new territory.”

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The multi-partner campaign, led by Oxfordshire County Council is designed to highlight the financial advantage of taking a bus over a private vehicle, where possible, during the current cost of living challenge caused by rising inflation.

With the cost of fuel at record levels commuters and leisure travellers can achieve significant savings by swapping using private vehicles for buses, where practical. Oxfordshire County Council is delivering the campaign in partnership with Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Stagecoach. Sharing the experiences of bus users and how they have benefited from cost savings will form a key part of the multi-channel campaign.

Petrol and diesel prices reached record highs this month, with the cost of filling up a 55-litre tank family car now more than £100 on average. Fresh data collated by bus operators has revealed savings which can made before factoring in paying to park:

• A return journey between Witney and Oxford via Stagecoach S1 five days a week achieves an annual saving of up to £2,230.30 compared to using a private vehicle.
• A return journey between Abingdon and John Radcliffe Hospital via Oxford Bus Company’s X3 service saves up to £2,318.23 per year compared to using a private vehicle.

Woodstock resident Jean Pierre De Rosnay is a hybrid worker who uses a bus to commute to Oxford two or three times a week.

 “I used to commute by car but switched to bus travel to save money on parking and fuel,” he said. “It’s cheaper and more convenient and makes a bit of a difference to the environment. Being a hybrid worker, it is a lot cheaper to buy a flexible ticket because I don’t know which days I will work in the office in each week.”

East Hendred resident Sarah James is also a hybrid worker. She said: “I choose to leave the car at home and get the bus into work because it is the quickest, cheapest and easiest way to get into Oxford.

“I commute a couple of days a week and put multi trip tickets on an Oxford Key Smart Card, which is cost effective. I find the bus the cheapest way to come into work because I don’t have to pay for parking and with fuel prices increasing bus tickets are now really good value.”

Margaret Simpson from Cumnor, said: “Currently it isn’t economical to travel into Oxford by car. Buses are a very economical way for people to travel around the county for work and social reasons. Bus services are regular and help reduce congestion and pollution. I do drive a car but I’m increasingly using buses to travel.”

Last week Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved its draft enhanced partnership (EP) document for submission to the government. The EP sets out plans by the county council, bus operators and its partners, to help bring passenger levels back to pre-pandemic levels.

Measures that are set to be introduced to help get more people using buses include cheaper fares for under-19s, new rural services, bus priority improvements and traffic filters to reduce journey times. Once the draft EP has been submitted and consulted upon, the final version will be submitted to the government later this year to secure Bus Service Improvement Plan funding of £12.7m to deliver the measures.

Bus passenger levels are currently running at between 75 and 80 per cent of pre-COVID levels. Without improvements and action, including continued government financial support, services may have to be reviewed later this year.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “We are committed to ensuring that the bus is a reliable, affordable alternative to the car. That’s more important now than ever as we face this cost of living crisis.

“This council is doing everything in our power to make buses a success. We’re working with the operators to improve punctuality and to make public transport the most attractive and affordable option for getting around the county.”

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Health and Transport, Oxford City Council, said: "Buses are really important for getting around our city and many Oxford residents rely on them. Right now, with fuel costs so high saving money is important for all of us, so why not think about making your journey by bus instead? It can save you money, help save the planet and will reduce the number of vehicles on our roads."

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Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet has approved its draft enhanced partnership (EP) document for submission to the government. The EP sets out plans by the county council, bus operators and its partners, to help bring passenger levels back to pre-pandemic levels.

It also sets out how the county council intends to spend the £12.7 million it was earmarked to receive from the government earlier this year, following its Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) bid. Although this was significantly less than the £56m which the council bid for, the money will be prioritised on schemes which maximise the benefit for passengers.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “Effective public transport is key to many of our priorities as a council. We want to invest in an inclusive, integrated and sustainable countywide transport network, fit for the 21st century, and significantly reduce reliance on car journeys. Buses are also central to helping address the climate emergency and tackling inequalities in the county.

“The bus companies have been hit hard by the pandemic, shortages of drivers and uncertainty over financial support from the government. Through our ambitious plans we aim to tackle these problems and look forward to working with the bus companies on improving the situation for the county’s existing and future passengers.”

The measures contained in the EP aim to increase bus usage by:

• keeping buses at the heart of decision making
• making buses faster and more reliable
• upgrading bus infrastructure
• improving the image of buses
• making buses easier to access and understand.

Once the draft EP has been submitted and consulted upon, the final version will be submitted to the government later this year to secure the £12.7m BSIP funding.

Bus passenger levels are currently running at between 75 and 80 per cent of pre-COVID levels. Without improvements and action, including continued government financial support, services may have to be reviewed later this year.

As a result, Oxfordshire County Council is proactively working with partners by hosting a bus summit in Oxford on 24 June to explore what can be done to help the industry. A marketing campaign is also due to begin later this month aimed at highlighting the financial advantage of taking the bus over the car, where possible, during the current cost of living crisis.

Earlier this year, the county council and bus companies Go-Ahead and Stagecoach were successful in their bid to bring 159 electric buses to Oxford and its surrounding areas. The bid received £32.8 million from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme meaning that, along with £6m from the council and £43.7m from bus companies, the package for buses and the infrastructure to charge them is worth £82.5m.

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The improvements provide safer and faster routes for cycling and walking as well as bus users along a large continuous section of Botley Road.

While completing the works on Botley Road, contractors Milestone Infrastructure and subcontractors Drayton also revamped a previously abandoned play area in Botley School.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy, said: “The improvement works along Botley Road are only a start, but they contribute to our vision of making walking, cycling and using public transport easier and faster for residents and visitors in the city.

“This in turn will reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the city. Botley Road is a major route to travel in and out of Oxford, and these first steps are part of a transformation over coming years that will lead to a better transport experience along the road.

One of our key priorities as a council is to use our purchasing power for social good. I am delighted that our contractors could extend their time and resources to make positive changes in Botley School. I thank Milestone for their hardwork.”

Jenny Ayres, School Business Manager, Botley School said: “Milestone went above and beyond to improve our neglected annex play area, and their hard work means we should be able to open this up to our students again soon, which is fantastic. They have certainly achieved the aim of helping the local community.”

Charlie Green, Social Value and Communications Manager for Milestone Infrastructure, said: “Milestone is proud to have supported this local community initiative. Through our partnership with the county council we are committed to reaching the potential social value opportunities that can be attained through highways maintenance and this is one fantastic example of achieving that.”

Most of the funding for the Botley Road improvements was allocated from the Department for Transport’s National Productivity Investment Fund and Growth Deal. These funds have been used to complete work between Westminster Way junction and the Seacourt park and ride junction.

Design work for the remaining section of the road, which includes Seacourt park and ride to Binsey Lane and Elms parade shops to Eynsham Road, is expected to start in summer 2022, with construction to begin from early 2023. The new designs will support the wider transport plans announced by the county council aimed at increasing the speed of public transport, improving safety for cyclists and pedestrians and limiting carbon emissions caused by transport.

Work along the Seacourt park and ride junction was completed in March 2021 when the revised permanent traffic lights at the Seacourt Park and Ride junction were switched on. This was followed by work along Westminster Way junction completed in August 2021. Work on the A34 / A420 slip road junction that links the first two phases will be completed by March 2022.

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Oxfordshire County Council has been awarded £32.8 million from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.

Along with £6m from the council itself and £43.7m from bus companies Stagecoach and the Go-Ahead Group, which includes the Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, and City Sightseeing Oxford, the scheme will deliver the electric buses and the infrastructure to charge them in a package worth £82.5m.

This funding will support plans to create a zero carbon transport network in Oxford. Last month, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council announced updated proposals to introduce a city wide workplace parking levy, traffic filters and a wider zero emission zone. 

The proposed traffic filters will help reduce bus journey times by at least 10 per cent in the city. Consultations on the traffic filters, zero emission zone and workplace parking levy will take place in summer this year, with a decision due at the county council’s Cabinet in the autumn.

The commitment from bus operators is dependent on reduced bus journey times. The county council will receive funding from the government after its Cabinet has made a decision on the proposed traffic filters.

The new electric buses will be used on bus routes operating wholly within the Oxford Smart Zone, an area covering all of Oxford and stretching from Kidlington in the north to Sandford in the south, and from Cumnor in the west to Wheatley in the east. They will save an estimated 9,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year – the equivalent of taking more than 6,000 cars off the road. They could start to be delivered to Oxfordshire’s roads between the summer of 2023 and the spring of 2024.

Bill Cotton, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director for Environment and Place, said: “This is wonderful news for Oxfordshire and a major leap forward for transport decarbonisation and cleaner air in the county. Along with other transport schemes proposed in Oxford, this new fleet of electric buses will transform our public transport system and encourage more people to travel by bus.

“We are looking forward to working with our partners at Stagecoach, Go-Ahead and Oxford City Council to create a sustainable and reliable public transport system.”

Phil Southall, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and City Sightseeing Oxford said: “This is excellent news and a pivotal step in our collective aim to radically improve air quality in Oxford. Go-Ahead Group, Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel have always been at the forefront of introducing sustainable low-carbon technology in the UK and Oxfordshire bus operators have committed £43m to the electric programme. However, to make a fleet transition financially viable we need to speed up bus journey times by 10 per cent.

“We now look forward to the public consultation on transport and connectivity in Oxford this summer. We are committed to a zero emission future, but the cost of delivery makes it critical we all work together to ensure it is delivered effectively. If this can be done, we can provide 159 electric buses in two years.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director at Stagecoach West, said: "We welcome today's announcement, which will complement the significant investment and initiatives by operators as we work together to transition to a zero emission bus fleet and help the country achieve its net zero ambitions. 

"Stagecoach has already started its journey towards our target of a fully zero emission UK bus fleet by 2035, and there is also a major opportunity to deliver cleaner air by people switching to more sustainable public transport, cycling and walking. Britain’s buses have an exciting future ahead, helping decarbonise the country, as well as driving economic recovery and levelling up our communities."

Tom Bridgman, Executive Director for Development at Oxford City Council, said: “The city council welcomes this government funding which will support both councils’ plans announced last month to introduce a city wide workplace parking levy, traffic filters and city centre zero emission zone.  

“In order to achieve the maximum benefits of having a modern electric bus fleet, Oxford’s roads need to have more space for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians to move freely, and quickly – without being stuck in traffic. The city council will be working with Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford’s bus companies on making the case for the traffic-reduction measures which would facilitate the delivery of these new electric buses, one of the key benefits for Oxford and the county as a whole.”

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Oxfordshire County Council this month applied for £32.8 million from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme. Along with £6m from the council and £43.7m from bus companies Go Ahead and Stagecoach, the scheme could deliver 159 electric buses and the infrastructure to charge them in a package worth £82.5m.

If successful, the electric buses would operate in an area stretching from Kidlington in the north to Sandford in the south, and from Cumnor in the west to Wheatley in the east. They would save an estimated 9,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year – the equivalent of taking more than 6,000 cars off the road.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This government's levelling up agenda aims to ‘bring the rest of the country's public transport up to London standards’. That is a laudable and ambitious aim. It can only be achieved by significant and determined investment in our bus network and doesn't currently match the reality on the ground.

“That is why I hope our transformational electric bus bid is supported. The county council will then do its bit to re-engineer the network to make that investment work effectively and efficiently. This is what government say they want, what our bus operators need and, ultimately, what our residents deserve.”

Councillor Tom Hayes, Oxford City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, said: “To clean up our air, we need to clean up the emissions produced by getting around. The importance of a zero emissions bus fleet is clear as we seek to achieve our ambitious target to become a net zero city by 2040 or sooner.

“It's also important for improving the experience for bus passengers. As we introduce Britain’s first zero emission zone pilot, the submission of the ZEBRA bid is timely and critically important to bring about the large-scale adoption of electric buses across our city. I am looking forward to hearing the outcome of this bid and taking the next steps towards a zero carbon Oxford by 2040.”

Phil Southall, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “We are hugely supportive of this ambitious and exciting vision to significantly improve Oxford’s air quality and carbon emissions. Go-Ahead Group and Oxford Bus Company have always been at the forefront of introducing sustainable low-carbon technology in the UK. More than three-quarters of our fleet meets the Euro VI emissions standard and three of our Oxford city sightseeing vehicles are already electric.

“A scheme of this scale of course comes with challenges and the significant bus operator investment required to support the transition to electric will require public policies to reduce congestion, speed up bus journey times by 10 per cent, and encourage active travel such as cycling and walking.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director at Stagecoach West, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to support Oxfordshire County Council with the bid for an electric bus fleet. If the bid is successful, it will be a monumental step forward towards decarbonising public transport in Oxford and, once aligned with the delivery of Connecting Oxford, will truly transform bus travel in the city.

“This investment forms an important part of Stagecoach’s strategy to deliver a zero emission bus fleet across the UK in support of the country’s net zero ambitions. This, combined with encouraging motorists to switch from cars to more sustainable transport options, such as buses, offers the best possible solution for reducing carbon emissions and improving local air quality.”

The bid demonstrates Oxfordshire’s ambitions to be a global leader in transport decarbonisation through the radical transformation of Oxford’s transport system, reconfiguring it for a zero-carbon future. Decarbonisation of Oxford’s bus network by 2030 is a vital part of these plans.

The government decision is expected next month and, if successful, the new electric buses should start to be delivered to Oxford’s roads between the summer of 2023 and the spring of 2024.

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In a letter sent to the Treasury and Department for Transport yesterday,  Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, warned about the impact of ending the Bus Recovery Grant (BRG), which is due to cease on March 31 2022.

While bus operators are private companies run for profit, during the pandemic they have relied heavily on BRG support from central government. This has enabled them to continue to provide the vast majority of services despite passenger numbers being much lower than it was before the crisis hit. However, this support has not taken into account the extended delay to the recovery caused by the Omicron variant and is ending too soon for bus use to return to financially viable levels.

This sudden threat to bus funding has prompted operators into action to protect their businesses. As a result, if no announcement on continued government financial support is forthcoming in the next few weeks, applications to cancel or severely reduce service levels on more than 40 bus routes in the county are expected to be submitted. This would run counter to the council’s ambitions of a comprehensive, effective and reliable bus network to provide an alternative to the car, and result in a number of urban and rural communities around Oxfordshire losing their services.

Cllr Leffman said: “An effective bus network is key to tackling congestion and is crucial for improving Oxfordshire’s environment. However, the scale of the potential cuts to commercial services is unprecedented, including all of Oxford's park and ride services,  key routes serving the hospitals and several important rural routes. We need the government to step up and support the bus companies to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

“The proposals come in advance of the council discovering the outcome of our Bus Service Improvement Plan and during the development of other important schemes such as the enhanced partnership for buses, the zero emission zone, city centre traffic schemes and a bid to the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme for more than 150 new electric buses in Oxford.

“Local authorities, including Oxfordshire County Council, have worked closely with bus operators over the past two years to support them through the pandemic, in the expectation that the government’s National Bus Strategy would bring forward improvements and drive the national recovery. It would be devastating for this hard work to be undone through the removal of support before we hear the outcome of our Bus Service Improvement Plan and future funding for bus services.

“We are urging the government to maintain its existing funding package for the bus industry, including guidance on concessionary fares reimbursement, until at least March 2023 to allow time for a sustained patronage recovery, remove the immediate threat to funding, and avoid significant service cuts.”

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Oxfordshire County Council worked closely with Oxford’s main bus providers on the review, which was prompted by lower than usual passenger numbers, reduced government funding, and a national shortage of driving staff. It looked at how best to balance the available resources with the areas of greatest need.

As recommended in the government’s national bus strategy, the council worked proactively with operators to identify opportunities for greater efficiencies through the reduction of unnecessary duplication, with the aim of placing the network on a more secure financial footing while minimising impact on passengers. The changes will come into effect in the new year.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “The bus companies have done astonishingly well to maintain services during these unprecedented times, but government decisions and the pandemic have created a perfect storm and our local operators have had to act. They need to counter the reduction in government funding, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on passenger numbers, and the challenging situation for recruitment of bus drivers.

“We are pleased to have been able to get the parties together to sort out a coordinated approach to tackle these issues facing the bus companies. Public transport is key to our plans to get more people out of their cars. That is why we need to first get the network on to a more secure financial footing while we try to secure £56 million from the government’s national bus strategy fund to improve services in the long term.”

Among the most significant changes will be a more integrated approach to services on the main radial corridors from north and south Oxford, with a single operator providing the principal bus services to Kidlington (route 2) and Rose Hill (route 3). Routes to the city centre from Littlemore and Greater Leys will also be consolidated to provide a more sustainable level of service better matched to passenger numbers.

The dedicated park and ride 500 service from Woodstock and Oxford Parkway will no longer run. However, Stagecoach service 7 will divert into the park and ride site to provide the same frequency. Additional services operate from bus stops on Oxford Road every few minutes for most of the day, a short walk from the car park.

Services between Oxford, Abingdon, Harwell Campus and Wantage will also change, with new Thames Travel routes X1 and 34 replacing Stagecoach service S8 and 34.

There will also be an improved Stagecoach S9 service between Wantage and Oxford with an increased frequency during the daytime, in the evenings and on Sundays. This follows significant housing development in the area and a tendering process overseen by the county council.

Phil Southall, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “We very much appreciate the proactive approach taken by Oxfordshire County Council in seeking to support operators to stabilise the bus network in the county in what continue to be very difficult times for the public transport industry. The changes announced today will secure the future of many important routes and will also see several new journey possibilities opened up for bus users.

“Three in four bus users in Oxfordshire have now returned to travelling by bus after the COVID-19 restrictions have lifted, and we are looking forward to seeing more customers returning in the new year, as well as to welcoming new customers to our services in the near future.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “We are encouraged to see more of our customers return, however we have to be realistic and address the effects that COVID-19 has had on how and when our customers travel into and around the city.

“Stagecoach is very much still in support of the Oxford SmartZone scheme to provide flexibility of ticket offering for customers. We have welcomed the opportunity to engage with Oxfordshire County Council to consider and agree alternative solutions to how we operate our routes. We will be sad to say goodbye to some of our most loyal customers and know that our drivers will be equally disappointed as they have been proud to serve our customers in the areas we will no longer be operating in.”

Most changes will take place from 2 January 2022. Further details of the review, including timetables, maps and information on any ticket changes or refunds that may be required, can be found at the operator websites:

• Stagecoach – http://stge.co/zC4O50GViiv
• Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel – https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/news

The council’s public transport team is also available to respond to queries at public.transport@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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