A new enhanced 600 bus service will begin running in Oxford on Sunday 3 May, linking Oxford Rail Station and Frideswide Square with Redbridge Park & Ride, The Oxford Science Park, Cowley, the Churchill Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital and Thornhill Park & Ride. The service will be operated by Oxford Bus Company after Oxfordshire County Council awarded it the contract following a tender process.
For passengers, the biggest change is that the route will now start at the rail station and city centre, giving direct access to the science park and hospital sites seven days a week without needing to change buses in central Oxford. Oxford Bus Company says the service will also restore buses around the Churchill Hospital grounds, serving stops by the main entrance, Sobell House and east entrance.
What the new 600 route will do
Oxford Bus Company says the 600 will run from Oxford Rail Station through the city centre and along Abingdon Road to Redbridge Park & Ride, then continue via The Oxford Science Park, Kassam Stadium, Greater Leys, Cowley, Churchill Hospital, Oxford Brookes University and the John Radcliffe Hospital before finishing at Thornhill Park & Ride. Within Cowley, the route will also use Horspath Road, improving links to the hospitals as well as major employment sites including ARC Oxford and The Oxford Science Park.
The Oxford Science Park’s own travel page lists the 600 among the bus routes serving the park, saying it provides regular connections to central Oxford, including a direct service to Oxford railway station, as well as links to Redbridge Park & Ride and Abingdon.
How often will buses run?
According to Oxford Bus Company, the 600 will run every 30 minutes during the daytime from Monday to Saturday, and hourly in the evenings and on Sundays. The timetable page confirms the service is introduced “from 3rd May” and shows the route operating between Oxford Rail Station and Thornhill Park & Ride.
That frequency matters because the route links several of Oxford’s largest employment and healthcare destinations, while also giving passengers a way to travel between the south and east of the city without relying on a central interchange.
Better access to the hospitals
Oxford University Hospitals has welcomed the enhanced service. Its travel pages already list the 600 as one of the park-and-ride routes serving the John Radcliffe, Churchill and nearby hospital sites, and the Trust says reliable public transport is important for patients, visitors and staff travelling to appointments and work. Oxfordshire County Council’s hospital travel page also highlights the 600 as one of the routes from Thornhill that can be used to reach the hospitals.
For hospital users, the improved routing around the Churchill site may be particularly important, as it restores access deeper into the hospital grounds rather than stopping only nearby.
Free Park and Ride travel still available
Passengers using the 600 can also make use of free Park and Ride bus travel, which has been extended until at least the end of May 2026. Oxford Bus Company says customers with a valid parking ticket can claim a free return journey by showing the ticket to the driver, with up to two adults and three children able to travel free. The tickets are valid on any Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel or Stagecoach service that calls at an Oxford park-and-ride site, not just routes branded as Park and Ride.
Oxford Bus Company says parking at Oxford’s park-and-ride sites costs £2.50 for up to 16 hours, and the city’s sites are at Redbridge, Seacourt, Thornhill, Pear Tree and Oxford Parkway.
At a glance
| Detail | Information |
| Route | 600 |
| Starts | Sunday 3 May 2026 |
| Operator | Oxford Bus Company |
| From | Oxford Rail Station / Frideswide Square |
| Via | Redbridge P&R, Oxford Science Park, Kassam, Greater Leys, Cowley, Churchill, Brookes, JR |
| To | Thornhill Park & Ride |
| Frequency | Every 30 mins daytime Mon–Sat; hourly evenings and Sundays |
| Park and Ride offer | Free return bus travel with valid parking ticket until at least end of May |
For commuters, the new 600 gives a more direct link between the rail station, Oxford’s hospital sites and The Oxford Science Park. For visitors, it creates a simpler public transport option to some of the city’s biggest destinations. And for park-and-ride users, it strengthens the usefulness of the temporary free-bus initiative at a time when Oxfordshire County Council continues to promote public transport links to the hospitals and major employment sites.
FAQs
When does the new 600 bus service start?
The enhanced 600 starts on Sunday 3 May 2026.
What places will the 600 connect?
The route will link Oxford Rail Station, Frideswide Square, Redbridge Park & Ride, The Oxford Science Park, Kassam Stadium, Greater Leys, Cowley, Churchill Hospital, Oxford Brookes University, John Radcliffe Hospital and Thornhill Park & Ride.
How often will the 600 run?
It will run every 30 minutes during the daytime Monday to Saturday and hourly in the evenings and on Sundays.
Can I use the 600 with free Park and Ride travel?
Yes. If you have a valid park-and-ride parking ticket, up to two adults and three children can claim free travel on services including the 600 until at least the end of May.
Does the 600 serve the Churchill and John Radcliffe hospitals?
Yes. The service will run through the Churchill site and then on to the John Radcliffe Hospital before continuing to Thornhill Park & Ride.
