Campaigners see Swindon to Carterton bus route restored

The route, which has long been campaigned for, is among services being reinstated in many Oxfordshire communities who have been without regular public transport since 2016.

A new Pulhams Coaches 64 starts on November 27 between Witney and Swindon via Carterton, Lechlade and Highworth.

There will be four buses per day on Mondays to Saturdays (except public holidays) from Carterton to Swindon, including journeys arriving before 9am and departing after 5pm.

Further details will be made available once the timetable has been confirmed.

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The number 64 used to travel 16 miles up the A361 across three counties from Swindon to Highworth to Lechlade and Carterton but got pulled from service in 2016 due to funding cuts, despite a fight to save it.

Lee Bennett, who lives in Filkins, led a community effort to get it restored after neighbours in the village of Filkins and Broughton Poggs said they felt 'isolated' and 'cut off' and younger villagers wanted links to college campuses in Swindon and part-time jobs.

He said: "I personally feel this is a fantastic outcome and welcome the return of a service that we lost in 2016, however, my current concern is that it may not follow the complete route and may be a more direct route and service.

"If that is the case, then depending on the success of the service, any villages or towns left off of the route should negotiate with Pulhams to see if they will adjust the route. If it is a funding issue, parish councils will need to discuss this."

In addition, Oxfordshire County Council has recognised that bus journey times from Carterton to Oxford are too long and has secured funding for a trial of two fast journeys in each direction on Mondays to Fridays – two in the morning towards Oxford, and two in the evening from Oxford.

It is hoped this will start in February 2024.

Meanwhile in 2024 the county council hopes to introduce a new peak-time express service from Carterton to Oxford, and increased frequency on the Oxford–Witney–Cheltenham S2 route along the A40.

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And on the Oxford–Witney corridor, electric hybrid buses are expected to enter service this winter.

The services are funded by the government through the national Bus Service Improvement Plan which was bid for by Oxfordshire County Council and follow the cabinet’s decision to allocate £1.2million to improve rural public and community transport.

Revisions to the Villager Community Bus V26 service to link Ramsden with Witney, and providing new journeys on Thursdays, began in early October.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport management, said: “Many people rely on buses to get around the county, and beyond, and we’re committed to working with providers to make it as easy and reliable for them to do so.”