Oxford Bus Company contributed £170 million to the UK economy in 2025, according to a new report published by Oxford Economics.
The report also found that Oxford Bus Group supports 2,500 jobs across its operations, highlighting the scale of its role both locally and nationally. The group’s portfolio includes Carousel Buses, City Sightseeing Oxford, Pearces Coaches, Pulhams and Thames Travel, with more than 490 buses managed across the network.
Among the findings, the report revealed that 66,400 passengers took part in open-top tours with City Sightseeing Oxford in 2025, underlining the importance of tourism to the region’s transport sector.
At a national level, the report shows that Go-Ahead Group, the parent company of Oxford Bus Company, contributed £6.4 billion to the UK economy last year. This included supporting 86,900 jobs, spending £2.4 billion with UK suppliers and delivering 2.8 million tourist journeys.
Go-Ahead operates more than 6,000 buses across the UK and manages the country’s largest fleet of zero-emission buses. Locally, Oxford Bus Company currently operates 110 electric buses, reflecting a wider shift towards sustainable transport.
A major milestone in this transition came in January 2023, when an £82.5 million partnership with Oxfordshire County Council and Stagecoach introduced 159 electric buses to Oxford’s roads. Oxford Bus Company was responsible for ordering 104 of those vehicles.
Known as the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership, the initiative recently won the ‘Best Public Transport Decarbonisation Award’ at the inaugural Decarbonising Transport Awards.
Further investment has continued in 2026, with more than £5.1 million funding the addition of 13 new electric buses to the Oxford Bus Company fleet. Six are already in service, with the remaining seven expected to launch later this spring.
The project included a £3.9 million contribution from Go-Ahead, supported by £1.2 million from Oxfordshire County Council’s Vehicle Improvement Fund.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said:
“This new report published by Oxford Economics is fantastic recognition of the contribution which Go-Ahead makes to the UK economy.
“The numbers are seriously impressive and reflect how important buses are to our society and economy.
“Locally, I’m proud of what our teams continue to achieve day in and day out. Colleagues work tremendously hard and the figures in this report would not be possible without their input.
“Our contribution to both the local and national economy underlies our status as we continue to further enhance and grow the network.”
Patrick Verwer, Chief Executive Officer, Go-Ahead, Rail, added:
“We are proud to see the impact of Go-Ahead as a driver of local growth showcased in this report, putting money into communities and helping high streets to thrive.
“Alongside the economic impact we generate to the jobs we support, our people take real pride in delivering for our customers and we know the vital role we play in keeping the country moving every day.
“Whether it’s a commute to work, school or a visit to family and friends, we understand how important these journeys are, and we remain focused on delivering reliable services and investing in the future of transport.”
Founded in 1981, Oxford Economics is a leading independent economic advisory firm with more than 450 economists and analysts worldwide.
