A new hourly bus service will provide multiple links for residents between Witney and Oxford via Abingdon.

It comes as Oxford Bus Group has announced new routes and a series of network improvements.

The changes include a Sunday service linking Chipping Norton and Witney for the first time in many years.

The network improvements will benefit villages such as Ducklington, Standlake, and Southmoor, as well as Abingdon and Witney.

The new X15 service between Witney and Oxford has replaced Oxford Bus Company's sister company Pulhams’ 15 service.

This service now operates later trips and runs at twice the frequency of the previous 15 service.

Pulhams’ 19 service between Witney and Carterton has also increased its frequency, operating hourly throughout the day, providing more service for Clanfield, Bampton, and Aston.

Combined with the X15 service, there will be a bus every 30 minutes between Standlake, Ducklington, and Witney.

During school times, service 19 will also serve Henry Box School.

A new Sunday X9 service between Chipping Norton and Witney will operate every two hours.

Thames Travel has launched a new X2S school service to Abingdon Schools from Milton Park, Steventon, and Drayton. Buses will now directly serve Larkmead, John Mason, and Fitzharrys Schools.

A new X24 Thames Travel service will provide faster peak-time journeys between Didcot Parkway and Harwell Campus.

Thames Travel’s X35 service has been extended to Grove, providing a better link between Grove, Wantage, and Harwell Campus.

Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus Group, said: "We’re proud to have introduced multiple improvements to our bus network across Oxfordshire to provide increased connectivity for our customers.

Luke MarionLuke Marion (Image: Fortitude Communications)

"The government’s £2 single fare cap and the Oxfordshire MyBus ticket has helped us grow patronage and we have reinvested this into developing our network as part of our on-going commitment to make bus travel as appealing and accessible as possible."

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport management, added: "This is great news, especially for people in the west of the county.

"We know that not everyone has a car and also that better bus services get more cars off the road, reducing congestion for everyone.

"By working in partnership with Oxford Bus Group, we are helping to improve and enlarge the bus network and I look forward to seeing more people get on board in the future."

Oxford Bus Group’s operating companies, owned by the Go-Ahead Group, consist of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses, City Sightseeing Oxford, and Pulhams.

All the changes have been made in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council.