New S3 timetable

Thu 9 Feb 2023, 16:39 (last edited on Thu 9 Feb 2023, 16:46)

It's as if this government doesn't care about reducing emissions or encouraging people to use public transport!

I'm disgusted that once again those who don't or can't drive, and those on lower incomes are penalised. Like I said, I travel to London often for work and often have to get the late train to Oxford Parkway. Now, I'm going to have to factor in paying for a taxi. Other people in the smaller villages - Fawler, Stonesfield, Coombe etc. have been completely cut off from any sort of night life in Oxford and with that, opportunities. 

Thu 9 Feb 2023, 16:22

The last bus back from Oxford to Charlbury after March 5th will be 21.55 from Oxford Station (22.05 from Magdalen Street) on weekdays and Saturdays. Still nothing at all on Sundays. This hardly encourages people to travel by public transport into Oxford for concerts, theatre, socialising etc.

There's also no direct route to Oxford Parkway or the 700 bus to the JR hospital in the early morning and, as Emily points out, no way of getting back from Oxford Parkway late at night. Even getting back in the late afternoon/evening will be very difficult. 

As Stagecoach hasn't given the exact times of the S7 buses at (or rather near) Oxford Parkway, it's impossible to work out just how long one might need to allow to get to Charlbury when changing at Woodstock from the S7 (half hourly then hourly in the evenings) to the S3 (90 mins gap in the evenings), but it's likely to be a very long time!

There will be more no 2 buses going into Oxford Parkway Park and Ride, but these buses stop in Kidlington, so aren't much help to us.

Stagecoach describes this as a "tweak" to their current timetable. Also an "improvement". For Charlbury, it's a downgrade and we should certainly appeal this decision. 

With the closure of Oxford Station for an upgrade, and parking restrictions in Woodstock also soon to come into force, this is an absolute nightmare for bus passengers and is certainly not conducive to increasing the use of public transport.

Thu 9 Feb 2023, 14:03

I've just seen the new S3 timetable and I'm angry. The omission of both the late night S3 from Oxford to Charlbury/Chipping Norton and the 7 is yet another example of cutting off people from the smaller villages and towns from opportunities and connections.

I often get back from London late and get the 7 from Oxford Parkway to Charlbury. It has been invaluable to me so I can continue to work.

Is it possible that Liz, Andy, Duncan and/or the town councillors can get in touch with Stagecoach to see if they can rethink their new timetable?