A BUS link between Rose Hill and Oxford train station may never return after “temporary” changes to its route were extended, it has been warned.

The No 3 service, operated by Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach, went from The Oval in the estate to the station until January 2015 when it was altered to terminate in Bonn Square.

Oxford Bus Company said this was due to the work taking place in Frideswide Square but despite the work being complete, the link to the station has not yet been restored.

Now the bus company has revealed the bus will not start running to the station again until at least the summer, blaming a planned closure of Queen Street.

Richard O Smith, who lives in Rivermead Road in Rose Hill said: “It would be good to ensure that this is just temporary rather than being a permanent thing.

“I would be disappointed if the closure of Queen Street was used to stop it permanently.

“It would be good to request or even press the bus operator for a date when they expect the roadworks will be complete so we know when it will be back running to the station.

“It is so handy to come down the station steps and the bus is there.”

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith confirmed Queen Street will close at some point as part of the redevelopment of the Westgate shopping centre, but did not say when or for how long.

Oxford Bus Company spokesman Phil Southall said the closure was expected for an “extended period” over the summer.

Mr Southall added work taking place in Old Greyfriars Street as part of the Westgate redevelopment had led to reliability issues for the company’s buses.

He said: “We don’t feel it’s the right time for the No 3 to return to the rail station.”

The No 3 also serves Iffley Road and the area’s county councillor Craig Simmons said the work in Old Greyfriars Street was not a good enough reason for the No 3 not serving the station.

He said: “There will always be roadworks in certain parts of the city but the work around the station has been done.

“It is not a justification not to extend the No 3 to the station.

“They clearly do not want to run it to the station and this is a way of stopping it.

“It is critical for commuters and we want to encourage people to use public transport, but if they are forced to change buses in the city centre to get to the station they are less likely to do so.

“I am not happy with the bus company’s response and I will be lobbying them. It is a lifeline for Iffley Road and the station.”