Commuters switch to bus

7:10pm Friday 15th December 2006

Comments (2)   Have your say »

Oxford commuters angered by train timetable changes are switching to the coach.

Changes brought in by First Great Western on Monday prompted a furious reaction from regular passengers.

City MPs Andrew Smith and Evan Harris have been inundated with calls from commuters urging them to intervene.

First Great Western upset passengers when it withdrew the 6.45am and 7.25am services from Oxford to Paddington.

There are now trains at 6.38am and 7.05am, but they start from Moreton-in-Marsh and Great Malvern and are packed by the time they reach Oxford.

Hundreds of passengers have signed a petition demanding the reinstatement of the 7.25 service.

Ann Black, of Howard Street, Oxford, said: "The 7.25 was usually on time and passengers could find a seat because it started in Oxford.

"In future, I shall travel by bus, which costs £10 per trip instead of £40 and will allow me to sit down. More importantly, unlike First Great Western, the bus companies actually seem to welcome customers."

Both bus companies (Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach) which run London services said they had noticed an increase in trade during the past week - but it was too early to say if the rail changes were the cause.

If you are affected by the timetable changes, add your comments to our earlier story, linked to below.