A record number of towns and villages in Oxfordshire will be linked directly to the Kassam Stadium as part of Oxford Bus Group’s Football Specials services on matchdays this year.
Seven dedicated matchday services will be operated by Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Pulhams as the U’s prepare for another campaign in the second tier of the English Football League. A new OX1 service linking Wantage, Grove, East Hanney, Marcham and Abingdon to the Kassam Stadium has been launched.
Fans travelling from Burford, Minster Lovell, Witney, Eynsham and Botley can board the new OX4 route, while Oxford Bus Company’s OX8 service will now start in Chinnor before travelling to Thame, Tiddington, Wheatley, Thornhill Park & Ride and Risinghurst.
Existing OX2, OX3, OX5 and OX7 routes from last season will remain in operation throughout the U’s 2024-25 Championship campaign, linking Didcot, Carterton, Bicester and Kidlington to the Kassam Stadium.
Thames Travel’s OX2 service, which stops at Didcot, Great Western Park, Steventon, Drayton and Abingdon, will be delivered by two buses.
Passengers using Oxford Bus Company’s 3A city service can also travel from Oxford, Iffley, Rose Hill, Littlemore, Sandford and Cowley to a stop just outside the Kassam Stadium. The 5 service connects Oxford rail station, Oxford city centre, to Cowley to Blackbird Leys.
In a further boost for U’s fans, fares for matchday services are still included in the Government’s bus fare cap scheme. It means adults will pay £3 for a single bus fare. The services will operate for all league matches – including weekday fixtures and Saturday games which kick-off outside of 3.00pm, and selected cup games.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Group, said: “We’re really pleased to expand our Football Special services for a second consecutive year ahead of the start of the new season on Saturday.
“It represents not only a boost in attendances for the football club following its promotion to the Championship, but also an increase in demand from fans opting to travel to games using sustainable methods of transport.
“The Football Special services are an important community asset and help supporters to attend matches and support their local club safely, while helping reduce congestion and carbon emissions.
“It’s an exciting time for Oxford United fans, with the start of a second season in the Championship on the horizon and prospect of a multi-functional new stadium, which we are wholly supportive of.
“It’s great that our Football Special services will be back on the road this weekend, and we wish everyone Oxford United all the best for the season ahead.”
