Stagecoach Oxfordshire

Infobox Bus transit
name = Stagecoach in Oxfordshire
|center]
logo_size = 250


image_size = 250
image_caption = A Stagecoach bus in Oxford
founded = 2002, formerly Stagecoach South Midlands
headquarters = Oxford, Oxfordshire
locale = Oxfordshire
service_area = UK
service_type = Urban and interurban bus services
destinations = Oxford, Witney, Banbury, Bicester, Chipping Norton and Wantage
fleet = Optare Solo Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200 Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2 Volvo B6LE/Alexander ALX200 Volvo B10M MAN 18.220/Alexander ALX300 Volvo Olympian Dennis Trident 2/Plaxton President Dennis Trident 2/Alexander ALX400 Neoplan Skyliner
operator = Stagecoach Group
ceo =
website = [http://www.stagecoachbus.com/oxfordshire/ Official Website]

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire is the name given to Stagecoach Group bus operations in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It used to be part of Stagecoach South Midlands along with Stagecoach in Warwickshire until March 2004.

Operation

Stagecoach South Midlands operated under three different brands:

* The Oxford Tube brand, used for express buses between Oxford and London.
* The Stagecoach in Banbury brand, used for local buses in and around the town of Banbury in Oxfordshire.
* The Stagecoach in Oxford brand, used for local buses in and around the city of Oxford.

From 1 July 2002, the Oxford and Banbury brands were merged to become Stagecoach in Oxfordshire. Then from 1 March 2004 Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Stagecoach in Warwickshire were split to become two entirely separate divisions of Stagecoach Group.

The local buses in Oxford operate in fierce competition with local buses operated by the Oxford Bus Company. Oxford is one of the few UK cities where such free and unsubsidised competition (as envisaged by the architects of bus deregulation in the 1980s) still exists. Similarly the Oxford Tube coaches compete with the Oxford Bus Company's "Espress" service. This unusual level of both service and competition is facilitated by Oxford's status as a prestigious university city, lack of car parking spaces in the city centre, and the consequent large numbers of young, affluent but car-less inhabitants.

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire operates four sub-brands, namely: Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, Oxford Tube, Brookesbus (for local buses serving the campuses of Oxford Brookes University), and a National Express franchise from Oxford to Luton and Stansted airports (737).

Oxford Tube

The Oxford Tube currently operates a fleet of 25 Neoplan Skyliner double decker coaches, with free Wi-Fi internet access and 240V mains power points on board every coach. With departures up to every 10 minutes, the service begins at Gloucester Green coach station in Oxford City Centre, then stops at Queens Lane, St Clements, Brookes University, Headington Shops, Green Road Roundabout, Thornhill Park & Ride, Lewknor Turn, Hillingdon, Shepherd's Bush, Notting Hill Gate, Marble Arch, and finally two stops at Victoria.

There are three express services on Monday to Friday at 0600, 0624, and 0700: these services do not stop at Lewknor, Hillingdon, Shepherd's Bush or Notting Hill Gate. A complimentary breakfast is served on board from Oxford on Monday to Friday between 0540 to 0700.

History

Stagecoach South Midlands was created from Midland Red (South) Ltd and Thames Transit Ltd, both companies acquired by the Stagecoach Group. Legally these companies still exist, with buses in Warwickshire and Banbury still carrying legal lettering for Midland Red (South) Ltd, whilst buses in Oxford (including the Oxford Tube) and Witney are legally lettered for Thames Transit Ltd.

Depots

In Oxfordshire:
* Banbury, Canal Street
* Oxford, Horspath Road
* Witney, Corn Street

Also, Oxford depot has out-stations at Bicester, Chipping Norton and Harwell.

In Warwickshire:
* Leamington Spa, Station Approach
* Nuneaton, Newtown Road
* Rugby, Railway Terrace
* Stratford-upon-Avon, Avenue Farm

ee also

*List of bus companies

External links

* [http://www.stagecoachbus.com/oxfordshire Stagecoach in Oxfordshire website]
* [http://www.stagecoachbus.com/warwickshire Stagecoach in Warwickshire website]
* [http://www.oxfordtube.com/ Oxford Tube website]
* [http://www.brookesbus.net/ Brookesbus website]
* [http://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/arcindex.htm Weekly news page for buses in Oxford and the Chilterns]
* [http://www.buszone.co.uk/ Bus Zone - enthusiast website]