Journeys made by children on Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel services more than tripled during August’s free-travel initiative, according to figures released by their parent operator on 8 September 2026.
At a glance
| Free-travel period | 1 to 31 August 2026 |
| Who qualified? | Children aged five to 15 on participating local bus services |
| Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel | 229% increase in child passenger journeys compared with August 2025 |
| Strongest-growing routes | X32 between Oxford and Didcot, X40 between Oxford and Reading, and 700 between Blackbird Leys and Kidlington |
| Carousel Buses | 406% increase |
| Pulhams | 301% increase |
| Overcrowding | Go Thames Valley says it recorded no problems with buses becoming overloaded |
| Is travel still free? | No. The national summer offer ended on 31 August |
| Important data point | The operator’s 8 September release did not include underlying journey totals or the number of individual children who travelled |
Child passenger journeys on Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel routes increased by 229% during August compared with the same month last year, Go Thames Valley said in its 8 September announcement.
A 229% increase means the two operators recorded around 3.29 times as many child journeys as they did in August 2025.
The strongest growth was reported on the X32 between Oxford and Didcot, the X40 between Oxford and Reading, and the cross-city 700 linking Blackbird Leys and Kidlington.
The increase coincided with the Government-funded Great British Summer Savings initiative, which allowed children aged five to 15 to travel free on participating local buses throughout August.
The temporary offer was designed to reduce the cost of family days out and give young people more opportunities to travel independently during the school holidays.
Oxford and Thames Travel journeys rose by 229%
Go Thames Valley has not provided a separate percentage for Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, instead combining the two businesses in its local result.
The reported increase coincided with the free-fare period. The year-on-year comparison does not establish how much of the growth was caused by removing fares.
The three routes identified as recording the strongest growth serve very different journeys.
The X32 connects Oxford and Didcot, including important employment and transport links around the city and Science Vale. The X40 provides a cross-boundary connection between Oxford, Wallingford and Reading, while the 700 links communities in south and north Oxford through the city and hospital areas.
The operator’s 8 September release did not give route-level journey totals or a breakdown of reasons for travel.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Go Thames Valley, said: “The figures speak for themselves. This was a hugely popular initiative.
“It was great to get young people onto our services and enjoying our local networks.”
Larger percentage increases elsewhere in the group
The increase was even greater on other parts of the Go Thames Valley network.
| Operator | Increase from August 2025 | Equivalent journey level | Routes with strongest reported growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel Buses | 406% | Just over five times the previous August’s level | 1, 37 and 850, alongside High Wycombe routes 30, 31, 32 and 33 |
| Pulhams | 301% | Just over four times the previous August’s level | 801, 855 and L |
| Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel | 229% | Just over three times the previous August’s level | X32, X40 and 700 |
Carousel’s largest reported increases were on the 1 between High Wycombe and Hemel Hempstead, the 37 linking High Wycombe, Maidenhead and Windsor, and the 850 between High Wycombe and Reading.
Pulhams identified the 801 between Chipping Norton and Cheltenham, the 855 between Bourton-on-the-Water and Cirencester, and the L between Leckhampton and Bishop’s Cleeve as its strongest-performing routes.
Go Thames Valley said no overloading problems were recorded during the scheme.
Mr Marion said the school holidays normally created more spare capacity on parts of the network, allowing the additional child journeys to be accommodated.
He added: “Families and young people enjoyed affordable days out across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and beyond, travelling sustainably and safely.”
What the figures do not tell us
The figures show higher recorded use during the offer, but do not isolate the effect of ticket prices from other changes between the two summers.
The operator’s 8 September release did not include the number of child journeys made in either August 2025 or August 2026.
Without those totals, it is not possible to calculate independently the change in the total number of child journeys across Oxfordshire or the wider network.
The figures also count journeys rather than individual young passengers. One child making an outward and return trip would normally account for at least two passenger journeys, while someone travelling regularly throughout the month could appear many times in the data.
That release did not provide a breakdown showing:
- the number of individual children who used the offer;
- the absolute journey total for each operator or route;
- how many journeys were made by children travelling independently;
- whether transfers were recorded as separate journeys;
- how child travel affected accompanying adult patronage; or
- whether first-time passengers continued travelling after the offer ended.
The percentages should therefore be treated as operator-reported patronage growth rather than a complete evaluation of the scheme.
A comparison with August 2025 does help account for the usual seasonal reduction in school travel, but other changes to routes, frequencies and travel patterns may also have affected individual services.
Free summer travel has now ended
The national free-travel offer ended on Monday 31 August.
Children and families should now check the normal fare for their journey before boarding rather than assuming the August arrangement is continuing into the school term.
Several discounted options remain available in Oxford and across the county.
Young-person bus fares checked on 16 October 2026
| Ticket or discount | Who can use it? | Current published price | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child local fare | Ages 5–15 | Typically 35%–50% off the equivalent adult fare | Most local services; the discount depends on the ticket and journey |
| Get Around Card | Passengers aged 18 and under | £1 per journey, with a £15 application fee | Eligible journeys within Oxford’s CityZone |
| CityZone weekly pass | Ages 18 and under | From £13.50 through the app | Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel services within CityZone |
| SmartZone weekly pass | Ages 18 and under | From £15 through the app | Participating Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Stagecoach services around Oxford |
| MyBus young-person day ticket | Ages 5–18 inclusive | £5.50 | Nearly all local bus services within Oxfordshire |
| MyBus young-person weekly ticket | Ages 5–18 inclusive | £24 | Seven days of unlimited travel on nearly all local services within Oxfordshire |
Fares and eligibility conditions can change. Some school, airport, sightseeing and specialist services are excluded. Check the operator’s current conditions before travelling.
The Get Around Card is available to people under 19 and allows qualifying journeys within Oxford’s CityZone for £1.
The card carries a one-off £15 application fee and remains valid until either three years after issue or the end of the month in which its holder turns 19, whichever comes first.
Applicants need to provide proof of age, and a replacement fee may apply if a card is lost.
For young people travelling regularly across several operators, SmartZone or MyBus may be more useful than an operator-specific ticket.
MyBus lists more than 150 services across 12 local operators, although some school, airport, tourist and cross-boundary routes are excluded.
Weekly ticket prices are listed on the operator’s CityZone and SmartZone pages. Full details are available from the Oxford Bus Company young-person fare page, the Get Around Card guide and the MyBus Oxfordshire website.
Could free child bus travel return?
The operator’s 8 September announcement did not confirm a repeat of the August offer. Families should check current official fare information rather than assume another free-travel period will take place.
Go Thames Valley said the patronage figures would need to be considered alongside evidence from other operators and regions before decisions were made about any future initiative.
Mr Marion said: “There will no doubt need to be number crunching and analysis of the data across the country, but we look forward to working with the relevant authorities should a similar scheme come into play later in the year, or next year.”
The Government’s national £3 cap on participating adult single fares remains in place until the end of December 2026. It is due to be replaced by a £2 cap on eligible participating services in England outside London from 1 January to 31 December 2027.
The adult cap can reduce the overall cost of a family journey, but it is separate from the expired August offer for children.
Frequently asked questions
How much did child travel increase on Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel?
Go Thames Valley says the two operators recorded a combined 229% increase in child passenger journeys during August 2026 compared with August 2025.
Does a 229% increase mean 229% as many journeys?
No. An increase of 229% means the final number was 329% of the previous total, or approximately 3.29 times as high.
Does the figure represent individual children?
No. It represents passenger journeys. The same child may have been counted several times while making outward, return or repeated trips.
Which Oxfordshire routes recorded the strongest growth?
The operator identified the X32 between Oxford and Didcot, X40 between Oxford and Reading, and 700 between Blackbird Leys and Kidlington.
Were buses overcrowded?
Go Thames Valley says it experienced no overloading problems and was able to use spare capacity normally available during the school summer holidays.
Can children still travel free?
The Government-funded summer offer ended on 31 August. Normal child fares and local discount schemes now apply.
What is the Get Around Card?
It allows passengers aged 18 and under to make eligible journeys within Oxford’s CityZone for £1. A one-off £15 application fee applies.
What is MyBus?
MyBus is a multi-operator Oxfordshire ticket valid on nearly all local services. Young-person tickets for ages five to 18 currently cost £5.50 for one day or £24 for seven days.
Will the free summer scheme return?
The operator’s 8 September release did not confirm another free-travel period. Go Thames Valley said it would work with the relevant authorities if a similar initiative were introduced.
