Go Thames Valley has launched the latest upgrades in Bicester and the surrounding area, supported by Oxfordshire County Council.
Six new double-decker buses and one single-decker, manufactured by Alexander Dennis, have been added to the fleet as part of the investment.
The vehicles feature Wi-Fi, USB charging points, and tap on, tap off payment.
Luke Marion, managing director of Go Thames Valley, said: “We’re really pleased to be providing new links for bus passengers in the Bicester area.
“These new services form part of our ongoing objective to enhance our network and improve connectivity across Oxfordshire with frequent routes and timetables.
“We’re particularly proud to be providing a regular daytime service in Chesterton, providing the village with important transport links, and I’d like to thank Oxfordshire County Council for their support with these service enhancements.”
The improvements follow recent contract wins and took effect from September 20.
They include more frequent services and better connections across the region.
The 21 service has been transferred from Oxford Bus Company to Thames Travel and now offers additional daytime journeys.
Its first weekday journey now begins at Bowmont Square instead of Chesterton.
Chesterton is now served by a new route, the 25, which gives the village a regular daytime bus for the first time in many years.
Developed in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, the 25/25A combines Thames Travel’s existing 25 with parts of Stagecoach routes H5 and 29 to create a more connected network.
The 25 runs hourly between Upper Heyford and John Radcliffe Hospital, passing through Heyford Park, Chesterton, Bicester, and Ambrosden.
Late evening journeys are also available between Bicester, Heyford Park, and Upper Heyford, with the last bus leaving Bicester Village Station at 11pm.
The combined 25 and 25A routes offer up to two buses per hour between Upper Heyford, Bicester, and Ambrosden.
Passengers are advised that road closures in Islip and Heyford Park may affect journeys on the new 25/25A routes in the coming months.
Stagecoach will continue to operate Sunday services between Upper Heyford, Bicester, and Upper Arncott.
Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “These improved services will help encourage more people in the north of the county to use the bus for more journeys.
“Restoring bus services to Chesterton and restoring a bus link between Heyford Park and Oxford are improvements I’m particularly proud of.
“Alongside our preservation of the Bicester Bee services for our villages, this is another example of our excellent partnership work between the council and bus companies to make bus travel more convenient for those who rely on them and for those who want to reduce their reliance on the car.”
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