Stagecoach has introduced a new brand and livery for its Oxford Tube scheduled coach service between the university city and London alongside the rollout of new stops and timetable improvements.
The new overarching identity retains the longstanding blue and red and includes a new livery for coaches used. The operator says the change will extend to the Oxford Tube website and app as well, with the scheme displayed on one of the Plaxton Panorama-bodied Volvo B11RLE coaches used on the 24/7 service.
In addition, the route is changed to one described by Stagecoach as “simpler, smarter, and more reliable” that will introduce a stop close to Acton Main Line railway station. Doing so will allow connections to the Elizabeth Line, including to Heathrow airport.
All trips will also serve Shepherd’s Bush to give consistent access to the Westfield London shopping centre. Coaches will no longer operate via White City, while Baker Street will see only peak express journeys.
In addition, customers that use the Oxford Tube app will receive a discount compared to paying onboard. Fares are consistent across the day and week with no peak periods or charges for luggage, the operator adds.
For users in west Oxfordshire, the Tube will introduce weekend journeys between Carterton and Witney and London, building on what Stagecoach says is “strong demand” for travel to those locations during weekday peaks.
Speaking about the changes, Stagecoach West Managing Director Chris Hanson adds: “We have listened carefully to what our customers have told us, and these changes are all about making Oxford Tube even easier, simpler and better value to use.
“By focusing on our core Oxford to London service and improving connections across the capital, we are setting the service up to deliver a range of extra leisure and hospitality options for our customers.”
Mr Hanson says that addition of a stop in Acton “is a real gamechanger” given how it opens connections via the high-frequency Elizabeth Line.
