3rd July 2024
Oxford Bus Company stepped in and launched the new 280 service on Monday 1st July, following the news Arriva are withdrawing the route at the end of July. This is following the news that the operator announced it was closing its depots in Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
The 280 service operates on Mondays to Saturdays with a frequency of up to every 30 minutes and also serves Tiddington. Night bus services will operate on Friday and Saturday evenings, with the last journey from Oxford High Street at 0228 on these days.
Oxford Bus Company also announced changes to its 400 service following the planned closure of Oxford Brookes University’s Wheatley Campus at the end of this academic year. It will maintain revised timetables for the 400 service and combined with the 280 timetable will ensure good connectivity is maintained for Wheatley and its surrounding communities.
The enhanced 400 service will operate up to every 10 minutes between Oxford Rail Station and Thornhill Park and Ride Mondays to Saturdays, while Sundays and bank holidays will be increased to every 15 minutes. The 400 will extend to Wheatley on weekdays up to every 30 minutes, giving a coordinated 15-minute frequency with the 280, and on Sundays – when the 280 does not operate – these services will extend to Thame.
Members of the Oxford Bus Company team were present at Thame Market today (2nd July) to share information and be on hand to answer any questions from customers about the new services.
Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “The 280 service is an exciting expansion of our network and connects Oxford and Thame, which is a key transport corridor.
“Combined with our revised 400 service we are ensuring we maintain a strong network for Wheatley and improving Park and Ride connectivity for the surrounding areas.
“We understand a lot of people will have been concerned following the sad news of Arriva’s local depot closures and I hope this news will reassure people of our commitment to maintain as many services as we can. We also appreciate people will have questions so our team was present at Thame Market this week to provide information and support.”
Customers are advised to visit operators’ websites for more information.