Aylesbury bus service expanded to include neglected areas in Thame

The 120 service between Haddenham and Aylesbury has been expanded to include Thame town centre starting from today (May 10), Oxfordshire Council reveals.

Organised by the council and Redline buses, as well as stopping at the town centre, the service will also offer pickup points in parts of Thame which receive little coverage.

Currently the 280 bus route, ran by Arriva UK runs buses every 20 minutes from Thame to Aylesbury, but has only seven stops in the town. These stops are predominantly scattered across the High Street, meaning residents in large swathes of the town can't catch a bus quickly.

Bill Cotton, Oxfordshire County Council’s director of environment and place, said: “This improved service is positive news for residents of Thame; we’ve worked with Redline Buses to connect people with real upgrades in services.

“This is particularly important as we look toward recovery from the pandemic and as a means of reducing our individual environmental impact within growing communities. The improved 120 route will also mean real travel choices for people as we look to cut transport emissions and improve air quality too.”

The new service will run six times a day, Monday to Friday (except public holidays), on a one-way anti-clockwise loop around Thame, restoring links to the Towersey Drive area lost in 2016 as well as providing a new service to Cromwell Avenue. The service is being supported by new funding on an 18-month trial from the county council.

The first journey from Towersey Drive is at 08.40, with the last return from Thame Town Hall at 13.50. Buses operate broadly hourly between these times. The sections of route on Towersey Drive and Cromwell Avenue are hail and ride, meaning passengers can board or alight at any safe place on these sections of road.

Beyond Thame, buses operate to/from Haddenham and Thame Parkway station and Aylesbury. Concessionary pass holders can use the service after 09.00.