A YEAR after it was introduced, Oxford’s landmark joint ticketing system has been hailed a success by bosses and passengers.

The £10m scheme allows passengers to get on any bus on the same route, even if they are run by different bus companies.

Along with shared timetables, this has cut the number of buses on the city’s streets, with more double deckers rather than single deckers.

The project was the first of its kind in the UK and was made possible by a 2008 relaxation in competition laws by the Government.

Bosses and passengers praised the scheme – but there are concerns some routes need more buses to meet demand.

The “SmartZone” routes go out as far as Kidlington, Begbroke, Wheatley, Kennington and Cumnor.

In a statement, Stagecoach managing director Martin Sutton and Oxford Bus Company MD Philip Kirk said: “We believe it’s gone very well and bus users in Oxford have benefited from the flexibility it offers.”

They said about half the journeys are being made using a SmartZone card, adding: “Feedback and research shows it has proved extremely popular with passengers.

“With so many passengers now using pre-paid smartcards the boarding time at stops has been significantly reduced.”

There had been a “significant reduction” in carbon emissions.

In February, the Oxford Mail reported extra buses were to put on in Barton after complaints about hold-ups.

Hugh Jaeger, chairman of the Oxford branch of passenger group Bus Users UK, said: “I think it has worked very well. I get the impression it has got more people on to the buses.”

But he added the introduction of double deckers in 2010 created extra seats which, when cut as joint ticketing went live, left some services “squeezed” for seats.

Passenger Argia Gilbey, a legal secretary from Wheatley, said it had made trips to Blackbird Leys to visit family easier.

She said: “You always had to wait for your particular bus, now you don’t. You have less time to hang around. I wish they would expand it.”

Barton kitchen assistant Martin Brain, 23, said: “It is a good idea and a bit cheaper but the buses are always packed now.”

Oxfordshire County Council helped establish the scheme and deputy leader Rodney Rose said it had “gone from strength to strength”.

He said: “It’s clear that bus users have really taken to joint-ticketing and have helped make the scheme a success.”