Category Archives: bus

No Return Bus from Bus Consultation

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Reductions in central government funding to Oxfordshire County Council mean that they need to cut services, and they are aiming to save a further £6.3m from bus subsidies.
Latest Bus Consultation
They have already reduced the Abingdon Town Bus Service (pictured above) so that the last bus finishes at 15:30.

They are now asking people what else can be cut. The options in the current consultation are:

  • Withdrawing bus subsidies altogether
  • Reducing funding to subsidised bus services – and adopting the principle of prioritising , where possible, services most likely to be used by the elderly and disabled 
  • Dial-a-Ride – Ending direct funding of the Dial-a-Ride service – encouraging community transport groups across the county to deliver a replacement service.

You can have your say on Wednesday 8th July at Abingdon Guildhall from 16:00-17:30.

More information at the Oxfordshire County Council’ Website.

It was pointed out to me that users of the Abingdon Town Bus Service have no return bus after 15:30.

Abingdon Town Bus – Service Cut before 9am and after 3pm

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Abingdon Town Bus
Heyfordian have been running the subsidised Abingdon Town Bus Service since June 2010. It connects places off the main bus routes.

The new contract from June 1st 2015 has been won by Thames Travel.
Abingdon Town Bus
The main difference comparing the old timetable shown above …
Abingdon Town Bus
and the new service downloadable from Thames Travel  is that services before 9am, and after 3pm have been cut.

County Council officers reported to councillors that “There is barely any recorded use of the Abingdon town services in peak periods: as a result the peak hour journeys provided by service 40 in the morning and late afternoon are likely to be withdrawn.

Usage reduces significantly in the afternoon, particularly on Saturdays. An earlier finish may provide an opportunity to reduce costs if necessary and protect the overall level of service for the busier part of the day.”

Subsidised Bus Routes Under Review

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Abingdon Bus Routes Consultation
Every four years, certain local district bus routes, subsidised by Oxfordshire County Council, need to be reviewed to ensure they are giving Council Tax Payers value for money.

The current contracts run to the end of May 2015. New contracts will be put in place from June 2015. The consultation about these services is open until 15th November 2014.

The services are mainly rural and help people get out and about.

One service is of particular concern to Abingdon, The Abingdon Town Service, is chiefly used by elderly people without cars or bikes to get into town, and to the Community Hospital.

The County Council are looking to save money. They say “All of the Abingdon town service routes serve housing areas situated off main roads at a considerable distance from main routes.”

County Council Officers say savings can be made as “There is barely any recorded use of the Abingdon town services in peak periods: as a result the peak hour journeys provided by service 40 in the morning and late afternoon are likely to be withdrawn.”

County Council Officers say “Usage reduces significantly in the afternoon, particularly on Saturdays. An earlier finish may provide an opportunity to reduce costs if necessary and protect the overall level of service for the busier part of the day.”

But this is a democracy. Let them know if they have got it wrong.

Heyfordian Replacement Bus

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Abingdon Town Bus
At the end of another busy week for the Abingdon Town Bus with 72 trips through South Abingdon, 48 trips to Abingdon Community Hospital, and 24 to the Peachcroft shops in North Abingdon, the town bus conked out and had to be towed away – just before the final part of the last circuit.
Abingdon Town Bus
Round the corner there was already a replacement in position, run by Heyfordian – a Scottish sounding bus company.