Oxford Bus Company (OBC) will withdraw its long-established X90 scheduled coach service between the city and London from 4 January 2020.
The decision “has not been taken lightly,” the operator says in a statement. Rail competition and worsening congestion are the major reasons for the move. The time taken to complete a journey has grown by up to 50% in two years. Despite many efforts to improve the service’s viability it has continued to lose money.
Says Managing Director Phil Southall: “This was a difficult decision that was taken to safeguard the overall sustainability of the company.
“Unfortunately, the X90 coach service makes a significant annual loss. We have tried to develop a niche by offering a high-quality product at more affordable fares to better compete in the market. This has not been successful.”
Drivers will be deployed to other roles within OBC. The operator says it aims to keep job losses relating to the service’s withdrawal to a minimum.
