A NEW bus service will transport thousands of students and staff between Oxford University’s science corridor and the John Radcliffe Hospital in just half the time current journeys take.

The 600 will take people from the Medical Sciences departments in South Parks Road to the hospital in 14 minutes, a journey that currently takes 30 minutes including a walk to the High Street and a bus ride.

The Oxford Bus Company service starts at Pear Tree Park and Ride and ends at the John Radcliffe Hospital, going via Woodstock Road, Banbury Road, St Clement’s and Headley Way.

It will run every half an hour Monday to Friday between 9.50am and 3.20pm beginning on September 29.

Oxford University has welcomed the new service that will improve its links with the hospitals.

William James, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Virology at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, said: “The new 600 service is an excellent initiative that I hope will enable not only further collaboration between our medical sciences departments and a closer partnership with the NHS, but also help reduce traffic and parking in Oxford.”

Ed Wigzell, travel officer for Oxford University said: “The main aim is to provide a link between the science area and the Headington hospitals.

“There’s more than 4,000 staff and many more students working and studying here in the science corridor and many of these need to travel to and from the hospitals.”

The service will also benefit North Oxford residents who at the moment do not have a direct link to the city’s hospitals.

Wolvercote and Summertown county councillor Jean Fooks said: “It’s something people have been asking for for a long time, a direct route to the JR. Anyone south of Summertown has to currently get a bus into the centre, wait for a change and then get a bus east, a very tedious journey.”

“I’m delighted, it improves connectivity and will be useful to very many people, particularly those visiting the JR.”

If the service is well received it could be extended to run during peak times and at weekends.

Andrew Morison, commercial manager of Oxford Bus Company, said: “The new route opens up a whole new area that’s currently not served by a bus service of any kind.

“We have decided to launch a service to gauge demand and so at first it will only run during the daytime on weekdays.

“However if the service proves popular we will look to extend the hours and days the bus service operates.”

While Monday, September 29, will see the 600 come into force, it will also see the city23 service be withdrawn.

Oxford Bus Company said passengers could use the cityX13 service as an alternative.

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