New Bus Service

A new bus service will soon be arriving in the village.  Going Forward Buses is introducing a Wallingford to Didcot service calling at Long Wittenham on Wednesdays starting on 24th April.  The return journey from Broadway in Didcot will be nearly two hours later.

The 15-seater mini-bus will leave The Plough at Long Wittenham at 10.11am arriving at the Tesco store in Didcot at 10.18.  Other stops are: Aldi (10.21), Broadway (10.23) and the railway station at 10.28.  The return journey is: Didcot Station at 12.05pm, Broadway 12.09, Aldi 12.13, and Tesco at 12.17.  The bus arrives back at The Plough at 12.24pm.

A single fare to Didcot will cost £3, a return £6.  Children 5 to 18 will be able to travel at half-price.  The bus will accept concessionary travel passes.

Going Forward Buses celebrates its second birthday later this year.  The company has filled a gap left by Thames Travel and other bus companies when Oxfordshire County Council withdrew bus subsidies nearly three years ago.

The new not-for-profit bus company based in Goring says it has the interests of local communities at its heart and is working to expand services in south Oxfordshire for the benefit of communities.  The company says: “There are no shareholders and no dividends. Our only concern is to give the best service possible with the resources we have.”

The new Wednesday service for Long Wittenham will be welcomed by residents, particularly the elderly and those without transport.  Parish Council chairman Gordon Rogers said: “After the disappointment of losing village bus services almost three years ago this new service is welcome and long overdue.  But its success will depend on how much use villagers make of it.”

“In the summer of 2016, prior to the withdrawal of services, the parish council canvassed opinion in the village for an alternative bus service.  There was  a disappointing response and it was decided not to pursue it.  It comes back to the old phrase: use it or lose it. The same applies to this new service.”

For more information see the Going Forward Buses website: www.goingforwardbuses.com

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2 Responses to New Bus Service

  1. David Haylett says:

    If it’s a Wallingford to Didcot service what are the timings for the Wittenham to Wallingford part of the service?

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