25th November 2024
Cut price bus travel is returning to Oxfordshire next month, in time for the festive period – and passengers can take advantage of the offer for even longer this year.
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.
