Residents of South Oxfordshire will continue to enjoy a direct bus link between Goring & Streatley Station and Wallingford Market Place after local operator Thames Travel stepped in to take over the service.
The new 134 service began this month, running Monday to Friday up to once an hour, serving villages including Cleeve, South Stoke, North Stoke and Mongewell, and calling at Wallingford Community Hospital before finishing in the town centre.
From community service to main operator
The route was previously run by Going Forward Buses, a not-for-profit community operator founded by Michael Ward in 2016. The small fleet of 16-seater minibuses became a familiar sight in the villages between Goring and Wallingford, plugging gaps left when commercial operators withdrew.
Ward announced his retirement earlier this year, prompting Oxfordshire County Council to seek a replacement. The council approached Thames Travel, the Didcot-based company already operating several South Oxfordshire routes, to ensure continuity.
The timetable is largely unchanged from Going Forward’s service, with only a few minutes’ variation. The big difference is capacity: a full-size single-deck bus will now be used, making the service more resilient at peak times and for school runs.
New 134 bus keeps vital school link
The new service not only mirrors Going Forward Buses’ timetable but also preserves the school run connection to Wallingford School.
Each weekday morning the 07:55 departure from Goring & Streatley Station runs through to the school, arriving at 08:20, timed for the start of lessons. In the afternoon a return journey leaves the school at 15:15, ensuring pupils can still travel home by bus.
These dedicated trips were a hallmark of the community service and have been retained in Thames Travel’s timetable, providing reassurance for parents and pupils who rely on the link.
Reaction from Thames Travel
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Thames Travel, said:
“We’re pleased to provide this new service in South Oxfordshire, ensuring the network continues for bus passengers in the area. We were asked to step in and help maintain the service and, thanks to support from Oxfordshire County Council, were able to help.
Congratulations to Michael Ward on delivering a fantastic community service for many years — we wish him a long and happy retirement. We now look forward to building on the service and welcoming more people on board.”
Why the route matters
The line connects Goring & Streatley Station on the Great Western main line with Wallingford town centre, offering a link to Reading, Didcot and London. For those without cars, it is a lifeline for shopping, school, hospital appointments and access to rail.
Rural services in Oxfordshire have faced repeated challenges: declining passenger numbers during the pandemic, driver shortages, and the difficulty of sustaining routes that pass through small villages. The county council has prioritised keeping socially vital services going, often by contracting operators or providing subsidies.
Councillors say the 134 is an example of partnership: local communities, county funding, and a commercial operator willing to integrate it into a wider network.
About Thames Travel
- Founded in 1998, based in Didcot.
- Now the third-largest bus operator in Oxfordshire, after Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach.
- Runs routes across South Oxfordshire and into Reading, including the Science Transit services linking Oxford with major employment hubs.
- Part of the Go-Ahead Group, the same parent company as Oxford Bus Company.
Service 134 Details
- Route: Goring & Streatley Station – Cleeve – South Stoke – North Stoke – Mongewell – Wallingford Community Hospital – Wallingford Market Place
- Days: Monday–Friday
- Frequency: Up to hourly
- Operator: Thames Travel (supported by Oxfordshire County Council)
- Timetable: oxfordbus.co.uk/services/THTR/134
