Residents in Oxfordshire who rely on a bus service will be delighted that the 801 from Cheltenham to Moreton-in-Marsh, has been extended to Chipping Norton.
The 801 route serves Cheltenham via Cotswolds tourist spots Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water, and has been operated by Pulhams continuously since 1934.
In a further boost for passengers and the tourism industry, buses will be timed to meet train services at Moreton-in-Marsh station, to make the Cotswolds more accessible for car-free days out. It is also improving the transport infrastructure connecting Oxford, Reading, Worcester and London.
The wide-ranging bus service improvements being introduced for the benefit of communities was made possible thanks to Gloucestershire County Council securing funding from the Department of Transport via their Bus Service Improvement Plan.
As part of wider improvements Pulhams will also launch a range of great value season tickets, a new website and an app for passengers.
From 31st March the service will be enhanced from the current frequency of every 90 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays, to hourly with extra buses to and from Cheltenham at peak times.
There will also be a big improvement to buses on Sundays, with the current summer only seasonal Sunday service replaced with an all-year-round service operating every two hours.
Alex Chutter, Managing Director of Pulhams, said:
“This is excellent news for bus users and for the communities on the whole route. It will enable more people travel sustainably for work, education and leisure, helping connect communities and support the economy.
“It is a wonderful way to mark the 90th anniversary of Pulhams operating this vital route and we are grateful to Gloucestershire County Council for securing BSIP+ funding that made the wide-ranging improvements possible.”
Gloucester County Council was awarded more than £4.4M from the Department of Transport via Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus (BSIP+) funding to improve bus services in the county over two years.
Cllr Philip Robinson, cabinet member with responsibility for buses at Gloucestershire County Council, said:
“I’m delighted to be working with Pulhams to make these wide-ranging improvements to the 801 service, thanks to Department for Transport funding. This enhanced route will make it easier for people to travel between the Cotswolds and Cheltenham for work, education and leisure.
“More widely, the investment demonstrates our commitment to improving and supporting the many bus services across Gloucestershire. This improvement to the 801 is just one part of a large programme of bus service improvements that we are delivering right across the county.”
Gloucestershire-based Pulhams Coaches was established in 1880 and operates bus and coach routes in the Cotswolds and surrounding areas, as well as being the area’s premier coach hire provider.
Pulhams Coaches is part of its Oxford Bus Group portfolio of operating companies owned by the Go-Ahead Group which also consists of Oxford Bus company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and City Sightseeing Oxford.
Key Takeaways
- Moreton-in-Marsh to Cheltenham service frequency to increase
- Extra buses to and from Cheltenham during peak hours
- New, all year round Sunday and bank holiday timetable
- Buses timed to meet train services to make Cotswolds more accessible
- Route extended to Chipping Norton
- Improvements delivered via funding secured by Gloucestershire County Council
