ITEM TIC20E - ANNEX 1TRANSPORT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE – 6 DECEMBER 2002BUS SUBSIDIESINFORMATION ON SERVICESThis Annex gives background information to the services under review.
Contract Ref. PT/W 240 The proposal is to extend this contract from July 2003 to October 2003 in order for it to be considered as part of the Chipping Norton area contract review. Service Description – A Monday to Friday daytime service designed to connect with trains at Charlbury Rail Station. There are two complementary operations; a ‘Country’ circuit via Charlbury Town, Finstock, Leafield, Shipton and Ascott (with on demand diversions to Ramsden, and Chilson off-peak) and a Charlbury Station – Charlbury Town link that loops round the town. This service is the main bus service for Leafield and Ascott-under-Wychwood. Operated
by – Worth’s Motor Services – route 72/73. Average
passengers per day – 40.3.
The proposal is for consideration of a replacement service between West Hagbourne and Didcot by diversion of a Newbury – Didcot contract that is primarily funded by West Berkshire District Council. The previous service to West Hagbourne was discontinued from 24 October 2002 Service Description –Former service The
withdrawn service (which in itself was a short-term temporary replacement
for one provided by Tappin’s Coaches until July 2002), was operated
by Abingdon Minicoaches. Details are: - Service Description – Possible Replacement Service A
Monday to Saturday service consisting of the diversion of one bus in
each direction on an otherwise hourly frequency service between Rowstock
Corner and Didcot Town Centre, to serve West Hagbourne and Coscote.
Currently the only bus service in West Hagbourne is one return shopping
journey to Wallingford on Fridays.
The following former Chiltern Queens contracts were awarded to Thames Travel (Wallingford) Ltd, following a re-tendering exercise in June 2002, after Horseman Coaches (who had acquired the former company) prematurely surrendered them. Although awarded until July 2004, a joint review has been undertaken by the company and the County Council to identify any rationalisation of services and economies of operation. Contract Ref. PT/S 30 (Henley Town Services) Service
Description – A network of daytime town bus services in Henley (Mon-Sat).
Two buses per hour serve the Valley Road area (service 151), with one
bus per hour to Vicarage Road Estate (service 152) and two journeys
per day to Abrahams Estate (service 153). These are the only bus services
to serve the areas mentioned above, although most main roads in Henley
are served by longer distance country services. Contract Ref. PT/S 135 (Pangbourne – Woodcote – Henley) Service
Description – 7 journeys per day (Mon-Fri) between Woodcote
and Henley via Checkendon, Stoke Row, Sonning Common and Rotherfield
Greys. Certain journeys continue beyond Woodcote to Whitchurch Hill
and Pangbourne. This is the only service linking these communities with
Henley although alternative services do operate to Reading. However
this is the only bus service for Rotherfield Greys. Contract Ref. PT/S 141 (Nuffield – Reading) Service
Description – One shoppers’ journey each way, Mondays to Saturdays,
between Nuffield and Reading via Stoke Row, Rotherfield Peppard, Gallowstree
Common and Kidmore End. This is the only bus service for Nuffield, Gallowstree
Common and Kidmore End and the only service to Reading for Stoke Row. Contract Ref. PT/S 72 (Stadhampton - Wallingford) Service
Description – Fridays only shoppers’ facility comprising three journeys
in each direction between Stadhampton and Wallingford via Warborough.
This is the only bus service for Warborough and Newington. Stadhampton
has alternative facilities to Oxford and Watlington.
Contract Ref. PT/S 176 (Didcot Town Services) Service
Description – A network of local services in Didcot serving Ladygrove
and South Didcot approximately hourly daytime (Mondays to Saturdays).
Certain peak buses continue to/from Milton Park. These are the only
services to the housing areas, although longer distance buses do serve
the main roads.
These short term de-minimis contracts are being reviewed. Contract Ref. PT/S 166 (Wallingford – Goring (evenings)) Service
Description – Three late evening journeys between Wallingford and
Goring, outward via Cholsey and Moulsford returning via South and North
Stoke. The first two run Mondays to Saturdays with the last journey operating
on Fridays and Saturdays only (and is only supported financially between
Wallingford and Cholsey). Contract Ref. PT/S 170 (Henley - Wallingford AM Peak) Service
Description – One journey only on service X39 at 08.10 from Henley
to Wallingford (Mondays to Fridays). Contract Ref. PT/S 171 (Oxford - Wallingford PM Peak) Service
Description – One journey only on service X39 at 16.45 from Oxford
to Wallingford (Mondays to Fridays). Service
Description – Evening journeys on service X39 comprising: -
5. Contract PT/S 178 Service 98, Berinsfield – Didcot The contract for this service, funded under the Rural Transport Partnership with a 75% grant from the Countryside Agency, has been prematurely surrendered by the current operator (White’s Coaches) from 8 February 2003 on the grounds of uneconomic operation. Passenger numbers have fallen far short of the consultant’s estimates. Contract Ref. PT/S 178 Service
Description – Monday to Saturday hourly (peak and off-peak) service
between Didcot Parkway Station and Berinsfield via Long Wittenham. Peak
journeys also serve Milton Park and Culham Science Centre. Berinsfield
and Didcot both have bus services to other destinations but this service
is the only one linking these two places. This is the only service for
Long Wittenham. 6. Contract PT/C 33 Service 83, Duns Tew – Oxford Tendered as part of the Banbury area review in July 2001, The contract for this service was only initially issued until July 2002 in view of the possible replacement by the proposed Cherwell Valley Taxi-bus network funded by the Rural Bus Challenge. The existing operator (Heyfordian) then agreed a further extension until February 2003, but is now reluctant to accept another extension of the contract at the existing price. It has consequently been retendered until 2005 to bring this Contract in to line with others in the Bicester Area Review. Contract Ref. PT/C 33 Service
Description – A Wednesday only shoppers service comprising one journey
in each direction between DunsTew and Oxford City via Sandford and Middle
Barton. DunsTew, Sandford and Middle Barton have additional shopping services
to Banbury, Bicester and Chipping Norton whilst Middle Barton also has
a peak service to Oxford. 7. Contract PT/S 11 Services 331/332 Thame – High Wycombe This contract, administered by Buckinghamshire County Council, has been awarded by them until July 2004 to Arriva the Shires. In July 2002 the depot operating this route was changed (by Arriva) from High Wycombe to Aylesbury and this has created a number of operational problems. Bucks wish to review the operation of this route together with their wholly supported services between Aylesbury and Thames and Thame and Oxford via the villages. The aim is the better deployment of the existing level of resources whilst retaining broadly the existing level of service over the trunk section of route. It is unlikely that there will be change in costs (although the proportional payment by Oxfordshire may vary slightly)
Contract Ref. PT/S 11 Service
Description – An hourly service (Mondays to Saturday daytimes)
between Thame and High Wycombe. Service 331 operates via Sydenham, Kingston
Blount, Chinnor and Bledlow Ridge whilst 332 operates via Towersey Village,
Chinnor, and Princes Risborough, alternately every two hours giving an
hourly frequency between common points. Buses also provide a local route
within Thame Town to the Cottismore Gardens area. Within Oxfordshire these
services provide the only public transport for Towersey Village, Sydenham
Kingston Blount and Chinnor, although Chinnor does have an additional
infrequent shopping service to Aylesbury and a peak Rail Link service
to Princes Risborough. 8. Contract PT/O 6 Service 107 Bainton Road – City – Headington Quarry This contract awarded as part of the Oxford City review in July 2002, and joins together, on a cross-city basis, two areas previously covered by other separate routes. Bainton Road (off Woodstock Road was previously part of Thames Travel route X39 whilst the J.R. Hospital – Headington Quarry – City route was run by Oxford Contract Vehicles (OO1 Taxis) using a minibus. Poor usage has prompted the operator to suggest alterations to improve the usefulness of the service. Contract Ref. PT/O 6 Service
Description – An hourly daytime between Bainton Road, Oxford
City Centre, London Rd, J.R. Hospital (outbound only) and Headington Quarry.
This is the only service to serve Headington Quarry and Bainton Road itself,
although Bainton Road is also served by a frequent City service at it’s
Woodstock Road end.
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