BUS passengers will see 'improved and maintained' services in the New Year, Oxfordshire County Council vowed.

As the county and the rest of England enters a third national lockdown operators have also taken a number of measures to promote safe travel.

They will be implementing social distancing measures on board, restricting capacity and enhancing cleaning regimes, particularly of key touchpoints.

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Oxfordshire County Councillor Yvonne Constance pointed out that these changes are only 'positive news' for residents who often use the services.

She added: "We have worked with the bus operators to revise bus services and frequencies to connect people with real upgrades in services to vital areas of growing employment and economic activity.

"This is particularly important as we look toward recovery from the pandemic and as a means of reducing our environmental impact as individuals within growing communities.

"The improvements to services will also mean real travel choices for people as we look to fight congestion and improve air quality too."

Thames Travel confirmed it will launch a 'raft of new services' this month to help drive the region's recovery and 'continue to improve congestion and air quality'.

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Services will now operate more frequently between Milton Park and Didcot, with improved links to the site from Wantage, Grove, Abingdon and Oxford.

Milton Park staff who live in Didcot can now buy a Didcot Zone travel pass for £20 per year, giving unlimited journeys on all Thames Travel services within the town and to work.

New service X36 is introduced between Wantage, Grove, Milton Park and Didcot, while the frequency of service X2 is increased between Didcot, Abingdon and Oxford.

These include an improved evening and Sunday service.

The X32 route will be extended to operate between Wantage, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Milton Park, Oxford and John Radcliffe Hospital, providing a new direct link between south Oxfordshire and the hospital.

Service 94 to/from Blewbury will be revised to also serve Chilton and Harwell Campus.

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There will also be improved links to Culham Science Centre from Didcot, with a new service 95 offering peak time connections from the town and the Ladygrove estate.

Long Wittenham, Clifton Hampden and Berinsfield will also see a new 95B service to and from Didcot on weekdays.

Abingdon will also once again be linked to Oxford railway station by service X2.

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