Oxford United Football Special buses return with Thames Travel

Private: Oxford Bus CompanyThu 4th Aug 20223 min

Thames Travel has renewed its partnership with Oxford United to continue its ‘Football Special’ match-day bus service this season.

Oxford United’s Sky Bet Football League Division One season kicked off last week at Derby County and the first home game is this weekend with Cambridge United visiting the Kassam Stadium on Saturday. The bus service provides crucial links to and from the Kassam Stadium for league matches for fans across the county. In keeping with previous seasons providing the services for cup fixtures will be considered on a match-by-match basis.

The OX2 begins in Didcot with stops in Great Western Park, Steventon, Drayton and Abingdon. The OX3 and OX7 services bring supporters to and from United home games from Witney, Carterton, Brize Norton, Curbridge, Witney, Eynsham, Botley, Kidlington, Summertown, Marston, Cowley and Headington.

In a further boost for football supporters Oxford Bus Company’s 3A service from the city centre now directly serves the Kassam Stadium. Supporters wishing to travel to the ground from the city previously had to alight at Knights Road in Blackbird Leys and walk to the stadium. However, an additional stop at the Kassam Stadium has been added to the timetable and improved bus stop infrastructure has been installed on Grenoble Road. The service operates every 30 minutes serving Iffley Road, Rose Hill, Oxford Science Park, Littlemore, Greater Leys, Blackbird Leys and Cowley.

Luke Marion, interim Managing Director of Thames Travel and Oxford Bus Company, said: “Our on-going partnership with Oxford United ultimately helps more supporters attend matches safely and support their local club. The Football Special service is made possible by working in partnership with Oxford United to make bus services more accessible on matchdays. The service has got stronger overtime and everyone at Thames Travel and Oxford Bus Company is looking forward to the new season. The addition of a bus stop at the Kassam Stadium on the Oxford Bus Company 3A service is also a positive improvement for people travelling to and from matches from the city centre.”

Mick Brown, Oxford United Secretary, said: “I’m delighted to continue our partnership with Thames Travel. Giving fans the opportunity to reach games is a priority for us, and this partnership proves that. While the club had to subsidise payments for the service last season, we believe this partnership is of great importance and as such bus fares for this season have been frozen.”

Child fares will be half the adult fares. Timetables will be shared via the bus company’s website ahead of the season here: https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/oufc-football-services

Private: Oxford Bus Company

The Oxford Bus group of companies has connected passengers across Oxford, South Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Reading since 1881.

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