Thames Travel and Go-Ahead Group invest in upgrading Didcot depot

Olly Glover MP has officially opened Thames Travel’s refurbished depot. 

Thames Travel has completed an extensive refurbishment of its Didcot depot, as part of its continued growth plans.

The upgrade works have also seen Pearces Coaches move into the depot, following the recent acquisition of the operator by The Go-Ahead Group, part of its subsidiary, Oxford Bus Group. Pearces was previously based in Berinsfield and the move has completed its integration into Oxford Bus Group.

Investment by Go-Ahead Group into the depot funded a raft of improvements. It has increased the size of the yard via new surfacing and improved office and rest facilities for colleagues. There has also been funding into better technology for the depot control room.

The expansion of the yard comes as Thames Travel has increased bus services across its network.

Olly Glover, MP for Didcot and Wantage, was given a tour of the depot by Luke Marion, Thames Travel Managing Director, and Martin Dean, Go-Ahead Group Managing Director, UK Regional Bus.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Thames Travel, said: “We’re pleased to have introduced extensive improvements to our depot, thanks to a significant investment by our parent company The Go-Ahead Group.

“The changes have improved our working environment and enabled us to successfully complete the integration of our Pearces colleagues into our group and welcome them to Didcot. Several of the improvements followed valued feedback from colleagues which we listened to and acted on.

“It looks fantastic, and the changes have been well-received. The increase in the size of our yard will also enable us to expand our fleet and continue to improve our network where possible.”

Olly Glover MP said: “It was a pleasure to open the fantastic new facilities for staff at the Didcot depot. Access to convenient, frequent and affordable buses is vital for employment and quality of life, particularly in rural areas which, of course, cannot happen without bus drivers. 

“Nationally, the Liberal Democrats are campaigning to replace multiple funding streams with one integrated fund for local authorities to expand bus services, but in the meantime, I am pleased to see Oxfordshire County Council using funds from the temporary congestion charge to work with bus operators to improve routes like the X2 and X32 and trial free Park and Ride services.”

Thames Travel has also been shortlisted in the Go-Ahead Group’s inaugural "Gold Awards" in the depot of the year category, recognising the continuing improvement in services being delivered by the depot, which has been reflected in double digit increases in passenger numbers using the company’s services over each of the past two years.

The operator recently increased the frequency of its River Rapids service between Oxford and Reading, and its X32 service between Didcot and the John Radcliffe Hospital, as well as taking over operation of the 134 service between Goring and Wallingford from a local community transport operator.