Oxford Bus Company (OBC) withdrew its longstanding X90 coach service between the university city and London last Saturday 4 January.
To mark the event, free vintage coach and bus rides were provided between Gloucester Green in Oxford and Thornhill park-and-ride site.
A commemorative booklet has also been produced on the route’s history.
A commemorative banner was mounted on the coach that undertook the last journey back to Oxford in the early hours of Sunday morning, a Plaxton Elite-i-bodied Volvo B11R.
OBC withdrew the service because of increasing rail competition to the X90 between Oxford and London and journey times that have grown by up to 50% in two years. Passenger numbers dropped by 35% since 2015 despite the operator’s efforts to make the product more attractive.
Says OBC MD Phil Southall: “We are aware of the difficult decision to withdraw the service has inconvenienced loyal customers and we are doing all we can to minimise any impact.
“We are proud of the route’s long history and we have honoured it with special free heritage rides and a fantastic commemorative booklet.”
OBC’s coach services to Gatwick and Heathrow airports continue.
