MAJOR route changes to two Oxford bus services have been blamed on “painful” council cutbacks.
Thames Travel will operate significantly altered timetables on its 101 and 106 services from June 6, affecting many urban and rural passengers.
The Wallingford-based company said the alterations have come about because the routes are no longer subsidised by Oxfordshire County Council.
Managing director John Wright said: “The move from contracted services to ‘commercial services’ has saved the county council around £130,000 per annum from its transport budget and, given the difficult decisions the county council and this country is having to face up to, will be one of many painful cuts.”
The 106 service will no longer operate beyond the Kassam Stadium in the direction of Dorchester and Wallingford, but will now include stops in Chalgrove, Stadhampton and Watlington.
The shortened 101 route, which links Oxford and Watlington, will no longer go via Templars Square in Cowley and most buses heading out of the city will terminate at Garsington.
Mr Wright added: “While it may inconvenience some existing passengers it will open new opportunities for other people, as there will now be links to Kassam Stadium, the Oxford Science Park, Littlemore Hospital and Sainsbury’s at Heyford Hill.”
For full details of the new timetables see thames-travel.co.uk
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