The new contract includes two routes – the ST1, running between Oxford and the Harwell Campus, and the ST2 that links Oxford City Centre with Wytham and the JR Hospital, stopping at Seacourt Park & Ride, Oxford rail station and Old Road Campus on the way. See www.thames-travel.co.uk/science-shuttle for more information.
The new services are open to the public, fully accessible, provide double the passenger capacity and will offer a far wider range of ticketing options, including contactless payments and the Key travel card. Another advantage is that tickets covering a fixed period will also be usable on other Thames Travel bus services.
Thames Travel are investing in a fleet of ultra-low emission buses to provide the service, further increasing its environmental benefit. These will be full-sized buses, so there should always be room for all customers to get on – not always the case at busy times with the minibuses used under the old contract. The service is part-subsidised by the University and the Science & Technology Facilities Council. As the pilot comes to an end it will now become a public bus service with the aim of little or no further subsidy being required by 2022. If you have any questions, please email the Sustainable Travel team on travel@admin.ox.ac.uk.
