Both these buses are the X2 service connecting Oxford and Didcot via Abingdon, but the company and livery have changed in the last two weeks.
The X2 used to be run by the Red Oxford Bus Company based in Oxford, but is now run by the Blue Thames Travel based in Wallingford.
Thames Travel were bought by the Go Ahead Group in May 2011, which brought it under the management of the Oxford Bus Company which the Go Ahead Group bought in 1994.
It means that both the X2 and the 32 Oxford-Abingdon-Didcot services are run by Thames Travel. The main difference between these services, if any visitor asks, is that the X2 stops in South Abingdon and goes that way round, and the 32 stops on Bridge Street and goes that way round.
There is an X32 but it goes direct from Oxford to Didcot missing Abingdon. Do not make that mistake!
Does this mean if I buy a return ticket, I can’t come back on the X2 if I go up on the X3 as they are two different companies?
Excellent service, either way.
You can still travel on the X2 with tickets and passes bought for the X3 / X13 / 35 bus routes.
I write from the x32 – green & blue thames travel livery on the outside, red & orange oxf bus co on the inside!! Aramdillos. Agree these services much improved on a few yrs ago, and great to be able to use The Key on TT services in south oxon. V good value
The Key is no longer good value if you use it between Abingdon and Oxford. (Unless you travel daily and get the weekly product)
The cost of the Key went up by something like 44% at the last price rise. It now costs £30 for 12 single journeys. That is £2.50 per trip. To buy a return on the X3 from Abingdon to Oxford is £4.20!
So – the Key only now saves money if you make single journeys!
To be fair it says on the website that it may be cheaper to pay on the bus for short trips. But Abingdon to Oxford is hardly a short trip?
Well I say Thames Travel are better than Oxford Bus Company because they run their buses more on time than Oxford Bus Company and most Thames Travel drivers are not rude in fact Thames Travel are the best buses in Oxford
How can I find out the cost of the fare before getting on the bus?
(Given that bus drivers usually demand the exact fare & make such a fuss about giving change, I’m surprised that fares aren’t listed on the Thames Travel web site)