Bus operators serving Oxfordshire have received three nominations at the UK Bus Awards 2026, recognising the county’s electric bus partnership and a community health initiative involving Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
Go Thames Valley, Oxfordshire County Council and partner operators have been shortlisted in the Partnership for Excellence category. Oxford Bus Company is also a finalist for Top Shire Operator, while Carousel Buses has been nominated for the Bus and the Community Award for its work with Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
The nominations recognise different aspects of the region’s bus services, from investment in electric vehicles to initiatives designed to improve public awareness of life-saving techniques.
Oxford Bus Company increased its electric fleet to 117 vehicles this summer. The company works with Oxfordshire County Council and Stagecoach to deliver a combined fleet of 173 electric buses across the county. Oxford Bus Company introduced its first electric bus in March 2020.
The transition to electric buses is intended to reduce air and noise pollution, including emissions associated with road transport in Oxford. The scale of the fleet reflects the role of collaboration between operators and the county council in changing the vehicles used on local routes.
Carousel Buses’ nomination recognises its partnership with Thames Valley Air Ambulance through the Brand the Bus competition. The charity was announced as the inaugural winner in summer 2025, receiving a prize package valued at £60,000.
As part of the initiative, Carousel converted a bus into a vehicle promoting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) awareness. It also equipped the bus with a defibrillator and worked with the charity on CPR training, including sessions intended to help colleagues respond to medical emergencies.
Thames Valley Air Ambulance attended 1,230 cardiac arrest incidents in 2025, according to figures supplied by the organisations. Early CPR and defibrillation can substantially improve the chances of survival following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Luke Marion, managing director of Go Thames Valley, said the nominations recognised the work of colleagues across the business and its partnerships with Oxfordshire County Council.
Councillor Gareth Epps, the county council’s cabinet member for transport, said the electric bus fleet demonstrated the benefits of collaboration between the authority and bus operators.
The winners of the UK Bus Awards 2026 will be announced at a ceremony at Troxy in London on Tuesday 24 November. Established in 1996, the awards are judged by a panel of senior industry stakeholders.
Go Thames Valley operates Oxford Bus Company, Carousel Buses, Thames Travel, Pearces, Pulhams, City Sightseeing Oxford and an airline coach service.
