The green mounds on the South side of the A40 into London are indeed mounds of rubble. These mounds are the remnants of the old Wembley stadium. All if not part of the old stadium is buried here and the area was turned into a park and conservation area. The views from the top are quite impressive.
Fantastic Al! Didn’t realise that and it would make a fascinating video I’m sure! Must be reachable by tube so I may just go and have a look next time I’m down there. Btw, I recall hearing that an old tube train was buried under the original Wembley stadium. I wonder if it’s still there?
@@LetsMakeaTrip Not sure about the old tube train story so cannot comment I’m afraid. There will be a tube stop fairly near to the mounds, but not sure which would be the nearest. There is a small car park and it would also be reachable by bus. Great video as always - thanks.
@@al6773 it wasn't a tube train, it was a small line bringing stuff into the original Wembley when it was built. it fell into a large hole apparrently where the pitch was to be. the small engine would cost too much to be recovered and had served it's purpose so they just filled it in and surfaced over it.
I believe its called the "Oxford Tube" due to its frequency in past times. It used to have departures every 5-10 mins during peak hour times and pretty frequent during the off peak too. (Similar to the London tube line frequencies). Up until a few years ago there was also competition on the Oxford - Victoria route between the Oxford Tube and Oxford Citylink. Coaches were so frequent ( like 10 per hour and fares as low as £3 - £4 single !!).
Cheers GN, the high frequency does seem to be the general consensus. Interesting to learn how it used to be and how that would have been considered sustainable. Must’ve been a lot of coaches on the roads then!!
@@LetsMakeaTrip I believe that the X90 (the other service operating this route) was cancelled because it didn't make any money - in fact iirc it consistently made a loss. It was nice having two services when waiting for an Oxford coach at Hillingdon though - that's a grim place to wait, especially when it's raining.
It was indeed called the Oxford Tube, due to its frequency. I used to work on the Green Line route 790 / 290 from Oxford, Gloucester Green to London Victoria. The Green Line route had many more stops and went through High Wycombe and other small towns along the A40, so took a lot longer. The original 790 even went down through Uxbridge, Southall and Ealing, before being re routed down the Western Avenue to speed it up.
In the early nineties there was a bus war and Citylink and the Oxford Tube got as low as 25 GBP for a twelve single journey ticket. It was cheaper than a bus in Oxford or a bus in London
A lot of people get on the Oxford Tube from High St or Headington. Oxford centre is very small, and the suburbs used to be separate villages, hence the coach station not being a focal point. In the 80s there was genuinely a French travel guide that had options to Oxford being coach and metro!
It reminds me of the Red Arrow pretty much non stop between Nottingham and Derby. It feels like a coach, but operates like a bus. There is definitely room for this type of operation
@@LetsMakeaTrip It doesn't need one due to the short end-to-end journey. I think the Red Arrow coaches are the only Plaxton Elites NOT fitted with a toilet.
In the 1990s I was living and working in Oxford and twice a week had to go to Central London for my evening degree course in Chinese. There were two coach companies on this route, the newer one was the Oxford Tube, I however got the other company as they stopped near where I had my class in Euston. At the time there was a bus war and the fares were 25 GBP for twelve single journeys on a supersaver. I didn't bother with going to the centre of Oxford as there was a stop at the park-and-ride car parks in Headingley. I parked there and caught the bus/coach/express coach from there.
Great to see another of your travel videos and I can answer a few of your queries raised. Gloucester Green used to be a bus and coach station in years gone by, but as Oxford city centre was redeveloped over the years, space became a premium. Thus, the network of local bus routes connecting the city to the suburbs and regional towns, all set down or start in city centre streets. Gloucester Green handles the longer distance services, such as National Express, Megabus, Oxford Tube and other operators connecting further afield. Regarding the Bus Station office not appearing open, that is down to Stagecoach who, at the start of the pandemic, decided to close down all enquiry and ticket offices at Bus Stations across the entire UK and made their staff redundant. These offices have not been reopened, but some may still be retained for Admin reasons only. You queried whether the vehicle you travelled on was a bus or a coach? In the UK, a coach is regarded as a vehicle used for transporting passengers on longer distance routes, and invariably will have features such as air conditioning, comfortable seating, lights at each seat, underfloor luggage space, an on board toilet and washroom, and even entertainment options. In contrast a Bus is defined as moving larger masses of passengers around within cities and towns, each possible having a wider metropolitan area to cover. Passengers may well only ride for a short distance, and thus, don't Thus require all the features that a coach has.
Thanks Iain. Great info as usual and that explains the situation with Stagecoach and that office in Oxford is obviously just used as an admin office/rest room for crews by the looks of it. I guess they just need to remove some of the existing counters in there. The thing with the coach Vs bus, I understand what you’re saying, the thing that confused me more than anything was on boarding, it looks very much like a bus with the ticket machine, card scanner and drivers cab, then you’ve got things like stop request buttons above the seats. And unlike a bus, I agree it’s very comfortable and you’ve also got a toilet on board. Ultimately, it was an efficient, comfortable journey. I’d quite happily take it over a longer distance too. Cheers Iain 😊👍
The Oxford Tube used to pick up outside the Shakespeare pub Buckingham Palace Road/Grosvemor Gardens, Victoria. I think it still does. This avoids the coach station experience.
I think the expensive train fare from London to Oxford makes this business viable with all the shiny new coaches and regular service pattern etc London - Cambridge is in similar distance, but such business is not feasible there because of the relatively cheaper fare from GA/Northern/Thameslink
Love the way you refer to Lewknor as ‘a shed off the side of the M40’ It’s grandly titled M40 Bus corridor!! Though cars just seem to randomly park along the main road to use it as a cheaper alternative to the park and ride (where no doubt you also stopped)
Ah cheers Martin. Yep, all I happened to see was a road and the bus shelter (the shed)! Seems like there’s one on the other side of the M40 too looking at Google Maps. Not sure I’d want to leave my car there all day though tbh!
@@LetsMakeaTrip I think I can explain the seemingly pointless stop at Lewknor. I used to use the service from time to time, about 15 years ago, and never saw anybody get on or off there. Then one day I was returning to London in mid afternoon and at the Headington shops stop a large number of girls from Headington School got on. Almost all got off at Lewknor, presumably to be picked up by parents with car, since it’s really just a road junction. As for the Tube name, I think it’s because it’s frequent enough that you can treat it like the Tube, i.e. just turn up any time and get on, without having to check the timetable.
Interesting, the interior looks quite comfy, though it is not the usual beachball seats! The journey is quite smooth and relatively cheap. I’d say it is a coach, and it always has been on the oxford tube. Before this, they used van hools, neoplan skyliners, and jonckheere Monacos. I think my favourite are the van hools because of how they look and how smooth and quiet they are. I noticed that the livery looks like what stage coach used to have in London before the all red policy was applied. I think it was first applied to the neoplans, as the jonckheeres had the stripes based one. Do you maybe know if some received the swirls before they were replaced?
Great video, Mark. Those buses look really comfortable and having a loo on board is a nice touch, too. What is it about selfish parking and cylists though. Something that is sadly becoming more common. Thank you again.
As a car driver, I think standards have definitely deteriorated over the years. Tbh, I hardly use the car at weekends now, just prefer public transport (when it works)!
Excellent review clear precise and visually pleasing. Glad you retrospectively admonished the Doritos eater. I note the explanatory comments made by other viewers. Well done enjoyed it Mike.
Not many people know that, on the Plaxton Panarama coaches, to get the window seats reclined, you have to raise the centre armrest & the button is below it.
Great video, by definition you traveled on a Coach, A large bus with a maximum gross weight of more than 7,500kg and a maximum.speed exceeding 60mph. It's called an Express, definied as, a fast coach which goes from one place to another directly or with very few stops.
Good point about the max speed Andrew. I should’ve done a mph check actually now I think about it. And yes, it does stop at a few stops at the beginning and end but it’s definitely not hanging about in between! Cheers 😊👍
@@highpath4776 not the case mate, while most HGV's are limited to 56mph this coach will be limited to 62mph, 100km/h, therfore meeting the definition of a coach
The name Oxford Tube is apparently just because it’s a tube (London underground) type frequency of service. Just turn up and go, no need to bother with timetables . And I understand the frequency used to be every better than it is now.
Yep, you don’t find many £1 Megabus deals anymore unfortunately! Price-wise though £12 (or less by the sounds of it) is pretty good and if I lived in Oxford, I’d be on it all the time - especially when you can get back late at night 👍
in my home town (Wadebridge, Cornwall) the bus station hardly ever gets used, it's really just a turning circle with a shelter with no other facilities. Most people get on/off in the main street.
I feel the pain of the Oxford Tube driver, I really do! I'd always assumed it was called the Oxford tube, because the actual Tube didn't make it that far out, but that was always my assumption. Great video as always Mark, really do enjoy the bus ones!
Cheers Myles and I appreciate your engagement mate (on here and Twitter 👍). The other thing I suppose it must get a bit boring doing the same run over and over again. Not sure I’d be too keen on that tbh.
As someone who lived in Headington around 1986/87 I remember the early services of the Oxford Tube (and rival Oxford CityLink services). Invariably I'd use the train to commute to Hammersmith as this was far quicker via Paddington but would also take the bus home at times if out around the West End or when the trains weren't running. Regarding the conjecture around the name, I hesitate to agree that the Oxford Tube was so named because it linked Oxford to Tube stations for two reasons: 1. The (early) branding was very much "Oxford to Central London" - I don't recall ever hearing mention back then of the convenience of connecting into Tube Stations enroute 2. The sister service to Heathrow (and later Heathrow then Gatwick IIRC) was branded "Heathrow Tube" and this was very much direct M40/M25. I do recall - and maybe this is selective memory - the back of the early buses extolling the frequency "like a tube service" - but maybe that's just the mists of time rolling in!!
Hi Mark, thanks for the info - most interesting. The tube thing is, well, just a guess on my part. As someone not very local to the area, it struck me that the amount of tube stations it stopped at were no coincidence. But happy to be proved wrong and if, like you say, the early buses referenced the actual tube then that makes sense really. All the best, Mark 😊👍
Some of the buses used on the X76 Kilmarnock to Glasgow route here in Scotland also use some older VanHool Astromega TD927 that were formally used on the OxfordTube.
I used to make use of the OxfordTube, back in my drinking days, it was very good for heading out from Oxford for an evening in London, as there used to be OxfordTube services back to Oxford well, well after the last train back had gone…I’m sure that’s still the case…
From what I remember of it, Oxford Gloucester Green is more of a Coach Station akin to London Victoria Coach Station; predominantly used by long distance and inter-city services. Most of the local buses terminate or start from the bus bays outside Oxford Railway Station.
It seems that whenever I drive down the M40 past Oxford into London you'll see at least ten of these or other London-Oxford bus companies coming the other way. I'm always intrigued as why there is so much demand to travel between Oxford and London.
Thank you so much for this! My sister and I will be traveling from London to Oxford and I was debating about taking that train or the bus! I’ll definitely be taking to bus now.
It is a coach but as per Stagecoach requirements they are basic specifation i.e no isle carpet or curtains..The toilet is standard build on the Plaxton Panorama ...Some of the coaches from this fleet are making their way to megbus rubgy to replace our 63 plate coaches
Cheers Lee. I quite liked the flooring tbh without carpet. I did notice the absence of curtains though which was one of the reasons I thought it may classify as a bus. Get your point though and yep agree and I note their website says ‘express coach’ on it anyway 👍
A great video as always, and seemingly an excellent bus service at great value. At Northolt I believe the green mounds you enquired about is Northala Fields, a park which has 4 hills constructed from rubble. We have both been to RAF Northolt then, I had to go there once when I was based at RAF Uxbridge, I think it was for a rugby match!
Ah cheers Keith. I guess more piles of rubble could be used in this way! Yep, RAF Northolt, cartographer with the RAF was my thing (I didn’t get it, but that’s life). I’m still interested in maps though 😊
I use to use Oxford tube when I went to uni that wasn't Oxford. Gasp!. I still take Oxford tube if I do day trips to Oxford. It's cheaper and more convenient than train as it's half hour walk from where I live.
Stagecoach receive (or at least received) a subsidy from south Oxfordshire Council for stopping at Lewknor, and a subsidy from TFL for stopping at Hillingdon for passengers going towards London. As I’m sure you noticed, most people get on at the high street or Headington as it’s much easier to get to from the populated east side of Oxford. Definitely a coach. As someone born and raised in Oxford, I’ve only heard it being called a coach.
Ah cheers Justin - very useful info. I would call it a coach ultimately I think. I don’t profess to know exactly why tbh (which is why I asked the question) and some comments I’ve read on here swear it’s a bus! It says ‘express coach’ on their website though so 🤷♂️😊
Yeah, Oxford's local buses start from street stands. Gloucester Green used to be larger until the nineties but has always been home to country services.
From memory the coach route started as Oxford to Tube but the ‘to’ got dropped. So yes you were right. The green hills as already mentioned were the spoils from the ‘redesign’ of Wembley centre as well as a shed load of spoils when the A40 was realigned as was Hillingdon underground station.
Cheers Colin, never knew that but it would make sense! Also never knew anything about those green mounds so I’m glad I asked the question now. Fascinating really and I must have a closer look sometime. 😊👍
Great video, as always. In my bus and coach driving days I used to see these on stand at Victoria on a daily basis and always thought I would like to ride on one. Now retired I recently took a return trip to Oxford and have to say that, for £16 return, it is one of the best passenger experiences on a bus service I have had. I did wonder why the bus stopped at Lewknor on the way to Oxford. I left Oxford on the 4.30pm weekday service and was surprised to find that by the last stop in Oxford the bus was completely full, with a large proportion of students, a number of which alighted at Lewknor to be picked up by waiting cars blocking the bus stop!
Cheers David, yes it’s an odd one at Lewknor but it seems to be some kind of park and ride or pick up/drop off point as there certainly wasn’t much else there! Overall though yes, I’m glad I did it, a great service I would definitely use if I lived down that way. 😊👍
Hey Mark how you doing mate? Great coach/bus video once again very small bus station for Oxford indeed the driver was peed off at that person indeed especially with hitting the car at the back which made a mark on the back every 20 mins in the week is good very nice bus/coach indeed though and modern reminds me a bit of Megabus but more better the toilet facilities were good surprising for a coach well stocked £13 isn't bad at all really for a couple hours drive to London I would possibly go on that coach and go to London myself if I was in the area hope your having a good day Mark and great editing as always so professional and entertaining as always keep up the good work 👍
Hi FG, cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it. Yep, like I said this service had some of the best facilities I’ve seen whether that’s on a bus or coach! And the toilet was excellent really. Price-wise yep, gotta say, if I lived in Oxford I would take this all the time. Thanks for the comment 😊👍
That Hampton by Hilton next to Park Royal is an excellent place to stay. Not only is it next to Park Royal on the Piccadilly Line but also just down the road from Hangar Lane on the Central Line
Yes you're right about stopping at the tube stations. Not all of us Londoners need to go into central London, zone 1 to get home or to our final destination. Plus it can be cheaper. Its like a bus come cheaper commute come national express/megabus.
Thanks for this. As a repeat visitor to the UK (from the US), I like the idea of an inexpensive coach trip to Oxford from London for a day trip. I'll be on holiday and am not a rush-around-see-it-all-or-die kind of tourist. I enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of the place I'm visiting. I'd rather not try to drive in the UK but from a coach seat I can see things I won't see from a train. And at a slower pace, thanks to the road traffic. 🤣 In my holiday scheme of things, I don't care if this coach/bus/whatever takes an hour or so more than a train. I'm all okay with relaxing and experiencing the ride. This is now on my list as part of a possible day trip to Oxford. Or perhaps a way to move from London to a hotel in Oxford. Hmm.
Hi suzatlarge,many thanks for the comment. Yes of course this works both ways and that’s a great idea as Oxford itself is a lovely city, well worth a trip out. There’s no risk of cancellations either I would say and with a frequency of every 20 mins you can take your time in Oxford then just turn up at the bus station when you’re ready and be sure one will turn up pretty soon to take you back. Enjoy the trip 😊
My mum lives in Oxford so I've done the trip from London many times. Always use the coach, it's a convenient service and a lot cheaper than taking the train 👍
The office you referenced at Gloucester Green is just a staff rest room. They usually have a ticket seller outside on the stand, but I guess that’s only during peak times.
Yes it definitely looked that way Ian even though they still had what looked like counters up. No worries, they probably get fed up with people like me going in asking for tickets 😂
I think the name also emphasise the frequency and ease of use - kind of "no fuss and no planning required". You didn't mention that it continues all night.
Yep, definitely no fuss and, like I said, next time I’d just buy the ticket on the app. The very fact they’ve got an app helps in that respect. Cheers.
Cheers Ian, yes I didn’t know much about it tbh but certainly great to hear from people on here who’ve done it in the past. Never realised it’d been going so long. I’d definitely use it if I lived in Oxford 👍😊
The two (three if you count the old passing through National Express Services) nigh 24/7 coach services arose out of what were two different bus companies. City of Oxford Motor Services (which I think was British Electric Traction owned pre 1968). and the South Midland company (which I think was one of the Watts Group - Red and White- mix of local bus companies roughtly along a line from SE Wales to the London Area) South Midland ran the Oxford-London Coach Service. After nationalisation one company called Oxford - South Midland was created and the main route remained, gradulally having more variations - the 190 was direct, the 290 via Heathrow and the 390 out via Abingdon onto the M4 and more heathrow (from memory). At privatisation South Midland was recreated and got some of the local buses , and City of Oxford got the Oxford-London service. As one ended up loosely with Go-Ahead and the Other with Stagecoach both got branded coach sevices. Oxford was also interesting with other local bus operators - Pearce Coaches got the inter-varsity service licence quite early for Oxford-Cambridge hike, Charlton on Otmoor ran local buses as did House's of Watlington. Bristol Omnibus under their Swindon brand came in from the West and used Gloucester Green.
@@LetsMakeaTrip I had forgotten the Lewkner Turn stop on the stagecoach operated service. This split the route into less than 30 miles between stops, thus it could be registered as a stage carriage service, getting fuel rebate duty for a start plus better drivers hours regulation keeping as a timetable meant no tachometer need as well.
How frustrating for coach drivers up against drivers and cyclists like those at the start! I did like the interior of the coach/bus, looked very comfy and had all amenities. For hop on hop off, Mark you should come up here to Scotland and go on the Glasgow City Sightseeing tour bus, can recommend it👍
Hi Sheila, thanks for the recommendation. I’m up in Scotland at the end of this month actually - not in Glasgow this time but pretty much everywhere else! I will be trying out a couple of Citylink services and then maybe in the Summer I’ll get up again and try the Glasgow sightseeing tour 😊👍
I use the Oxford Tube regularly, such a good service. Thornhill park & ride is only £2 for 16 hours, then £18 return, a good deal. They used to have Astromega coaches, with an impressive glass roof, which I preferred to the new Plaxton coaches, but good that Stagecoach has invested in new vehicles.
The Oxford Tube was started in the late 1980s by a company called Thames Transit to compete with the Oxford Bus Company's 'Oxford Citylink' service. A catchy name was required and as the service ran at a relatively high frequency for an inter-urban route it gained the Oxford Tube name. Thames Transit was later acquired by Stagecoach and in 2020 The Oxford Bus Company withdrew their x90 'Oxford Citylink' competing service.
Hi Ian, great info, thanks very much and it’s interesting to discover how competitive it must have been back when the Oxford Bus Company were running. Stagecoach must have a few vehicles on this route too, I reckon we must’ve passed about half-a-dozen on the way in. Mind you with the 20 minute frequency, that’s probably about right thinking about it. Cheers 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip I'll add a bit more info. City Of Oxford Motor Services (Now Go Ahead Oxford) were the original operator of the 190 Oxford Citylink service to London. Then, along came Thames Transit (part of Devon General from Exeter; with their high frequency minibuses on local routes) and The Oxford Tube express coaches to nibble into the Citylink monopoly on the route. The service frequency was an insane "up to every ten minutes" from both companies; which couldn't be sustained financially or operationally. Over the years things settled down and eventually Oxford gave up to concentrate on the city routes. The Tube name refers to the turn up and go, high frequency nature of the route. Another great video by the way.
@@CB-OnTheGo cheers Colin, when you said ‘turn up’ I did wonder whether the word ‘tube’ is actually an acronym for something? ‘Turn up be efficient’? 😂 - just a thought!!
Yes, it was a catchy marketing name meant to show customers that they could use it the way they used the Tube system - no booking, no frills, one every few minutes. Clever idea and it obviously worked.
The Oxford Tube was started in 1987 by Oxford Transit, a then newly formed company that was later bought by Stagecoach. I just think the Tube was used to link it with London.
Cheers mate. I sampled something similar from Windermere to Grasmere and agree it was nice (if a bit cold when I did it). I’ll make a note of this one too 👍
This service seems to supplement the train service. Although no idea why the train costs more given they service both areas and would be a similar fare zone or distance from London. Not a bad bus though even has a toilet too.
If I lived down there and needed to get into London regularly, I think I’d take the Oxford Tube most of the time and just allow for the extra time. It’s purely a money thing then I guess and at least you know what you’re going to pay each time and can budget accordingly 👍
Technically, it’s a bus service due to the stops being so close together (they have an ‘lsp’ permit) but obviously use coaches as they can go faster than traditional buses and much more comfortable :D
@@LetsMakeaTrip It's what all coach & bus companies need to run a scheduled bus service in London, that's isn't part of TFL's red buses. Every company needs one if you can get on and off of the bus within 15 miles as the crow flies. Hope this answers your question!
i use the oxford almost every time when i go into london its one of the greatest stagecoach coach services in the uk and in the past is was a private coach trip by thames transit before stagecooach took over in 1998
I forgot Thames Transit - that was one of Harry Blundred's minibus operations that i think he ran taking over South Midland(or did he compete with it ?)
Believe it or not, but Lewknor (and area) is well worth an explore. Ridgeway (Ancient path) and the Stokenchurch Gap (up close) is a spectacular piece of Engineering!!!!!
As I live in West London, the Oxford Tube would be more convenient for me than travelling into central London to get the train to Oxford. Tickets from Marylebone look dead cheap but it takes an hour to get there lol.
@@LetsMakeaTrip I'd do the York open top one as they have a rainy day guarantee; so you can travel on another day if it chucks it down. York is also handy for the scenic Coastliner routes between Leeds, York & Scarborough/Whitby.
Stagecoach also run a similar service from Oxford to Cambridge, designated X5 It's been a few years since I travelled but is a coach that you pay for like a bus. Check it out.
Not anymore they don’t, X5 hasn’t gone beyond Bedford for several years now. The other side has become the 905 with a stop added in Cambourne And they don’t use coaches either, it’s now the same type of bus as the standard Stagecoach deckers you tend to see around the city in a horrible yellow cheese/American school bus livery. They’re only meant to trundle around local urban links but go cross country, so don’t be surprised if they break down!
During my time working at Heathrow. Always talk of extending the Tube to Oxford? Then came the M40. Hillingdon North is good access to Heathrow by Bus if you working, Uxbridge is better.
@@LetsMakeaTrip yes many away trips to the Manor Ground in the day. Boarding the Oxford Tube at Headington post office after the match. Always been an excellent enjoyable coach to take
Wow that is a blast from the past. I used this service back in 1999 to travel from Oxford to London. I had caught the train to Oxford from Paddington to watch Stockport play. However the old ground was was good 20 mins bus ride from the station. On the bus stop outside the ground I saw the Oxford Tube sign so decided to use it on the way back especially as I needed to reach Victoria Coach Station and the added time at both ends meant the coach/bus was about the same travel time. I was very impressed and great to see it still going strong with very nice interiors. ❤
The old Manor Ground in Oxford I’m presuming? What a classic ground that was - much better than the 3-sided effort that replaced it! I never went, but always remember seeing it on the tv when Oxford had hit the big time! Great days 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip Yes it was indeed. I travelled overnight from Uni in Middlesbrough to Victoria Coach Station. then train to Oxford, we lost 5-0 but Oxford still went down. Took the OT back to Victoria. Fell asleep on the coach and missed my stop as there was a temp stop rather than the usual jolt up to the upper deck of the bus station. All in all an epic trip. 😂
Most bus services serve George Street outside the bus station and most don't call in there, a lot of buses terminate at Magdalen street and then head off on the Woodstock or Banbury road.
11:00 I think it's way better to get off the bus at an underground station of a line to Central London, but a 2-hour bus ride from Oxford to London, making stops at underground stations in Suburban London & named "The Oxford Tube"... That can't even be a kind of suburban bus journey, so the company should be renamed to "The Oxford-London Shuttle", for example
Hiya Pedro, yep that’s a good name for it! But I think it’s a service that’s been going for a number of years now so the name’s stuck. Would I get off at one of those tube stations? Maybe, but then you’re in the outer reaches of the tube network and pay high zone prices so it all adds up cost-wise doesn’t it. Cheers mate 😊👍
When I was in the army, we had 'mounds' like the ones you showed. They held large tankers containing fuel. Although the mounds we had, had a flat top, so I'm not sure this is what you saw.
Oxford tube was formed by a company called Thames transit. This was just after deruglation. There was a bus war between the national bus company Oxford city and then. Ticket sellers used to vie for your custom. Then Stagecoach took over . But I believe the name came from that the bus ran into London just by Victoria railway station.
Interesting Andrew, thank you. Stagecoach must have a big monopoly now. Did you notice how many Oxford Tube buses we passed coming the other way! Mind you, my service wasn’t particularly busy so I’m not sure every 20 mins is sustainable at that time of day?
@@LetsMakeaTrip Originally I can't exactly remember but the frequency was at least 6 buses a hour, at peak times, and the service ran through the night. Obviously less frequently.
surprisingly small bus station for Oxford. would have thought loads of students with bin bags full of sweaty clothing etc. then realised ..Mum picks 'em up in a 4x4 so some kid studying for an 'OLOGY doesn't be seen on public transport (sic)...next point..a pound extra if you pay driver onboard. yes this is due to the additional cost incurred that he or she has to press a button. love your vids mate keep em coming! all the best
If it was a bus, the fare would have been capped at £2, wouldn't it? It strikes me as a similar type of service to the Green Line 702, which I used to use regularly for commuting and leisure travel when I lived in Slough. It serves some (but by no means all) local bus stops. You can pay the driver. But it also runs on the motorway. Interestingly you can go all the way from central London to Reading (albeit via quite a ridiculous route) for £2 at the moment under the subsidised fares scheme. Not very practical for London to Reading journeys, perhaps, but it is practical (and extremely good value) for those travelling from London to Slough or London to Windsor.
The Oxford tube is a coach, wouldn’t really class it as a bus and I believe the main reason is because it had a taco-meter, which most regular buses don’t have. Although one regular bus has actually done it before (it had a taco)!
Bicycles are allowed to pass on the left of other vehicles however this seemed like a pretty dangerous move in this situation. The Highway Code says that bicycles can pass stationary and slow moving traffic on the left or right.
Things like that happen all the time in Oxford with the cyclists, I'm surprised in the many years of visiting the city I've only seen one accident. A lot of them ignore the road signs and traffic lights many of which are for their benefit.
Technically, an express or coach service is one that dosen't carry passengers within 15 miles, so this is technically a coach service. The vehicle is most definitely a coach.
The green mounds on the South side of the A40 into London are indeed mounds of rubble. These mounds are the remnants of the old Wembley stadium. All if not part of the old stadium is buried here and the area was turned into a park and conservation area. The views from the top are quite impressive.
Fantastic Al! Didn’t realise that and it would make a fascinating video I’m sure! Must be reachable by tube so I may just go and have a look next time I’m down there. Btw, I recall hearing that an old tube train was buried under the original Wembley stadium. I wonder if it’s still there?
Spot on with the mounds and Wembley spoil, I think I’m right in that the spoil from the BBC White City development on Wood Lane went in there as well.
@@LetsMakeaTrip Not sure about the old tube train story so cannot comment I’m afraid. There will be a tube stop fairly near to the mounds, but not sure which would be the nearest. There is a small car park and it would also be reachable by bus. Great video as always - thanks.
@@al6773 it wasn't a tube train, it was a small line bringing stuff into the original Wembley when it was built. it fell into a large hole apparrently where the pitch was to be. the small engine would cost too much to be recovered and had served it's purpose so they just filled it in and surfaced over it.
One also has the Northala Fields ponds that are an excellent facility for angling, especially newcomers.
The scenes as the coach arrived were hilarious 😂
Oh I know! I seem to attract this kind of chaos sometimes!
I believe its called the "Oxford Tube" due to its frequency in past times. It used to have departures every 5-10 mins during peak hour times and pretty frequent during the off peak too. (Similar to the London tube line frequencies). Up until a few years ago there was also competition on the Oxford - Victoria route between the Oxford Tube and Oxford Citylink. Coaches were so frequent ( like 10 per hour and fares as low as £3 - £4 single !!).
Cheers GN, the high frequency does seem to be the general consensus. Interesting to learn how it used to be and how that would have been considered sustainable. Must’ve been a lot of coaches on the roads then!!
@@LetsMakeaTrip I believe that the X90 (the other service operating this route) was cancelled because it didn't make any money - in fact iirc it consistently made a loss. It was nice having two services when waiting for an Oxford coach at Hillingdon though - that's a grim place to wait, especially when it's raining.
It was indeed called the Oxford Tube, due to its frequency. I used to work on the Green Line route 790 / 290 from Oxford, Gloucester Green to London Victoria. The Green Line route had many more stops and went through High Wycombe and other small towns along the A40, so took a lot longer. The original 790 even went down through Uxbridge, Southall and Ealing, before being re routed down the Western Avenue to speed it up.
In the early nineties there was a bus war
and Citylink and the Oxford Tube
got as low as 25 GBP for a twelve single journey ticket.
It was cheaper than a bus in Oxford or a bus in London
A lot of people get on the Oxford Tube from High St or Headington. Oxford centre is very small, and the suburbs used to be separate villages, hence the coach station not being a focal point.
In the 80s there was genuinely a French travel guide that had options to Oxford being coach and metro!
Most buses start at Madgelan St or St Aldates or train station tbf
It reminds me of the Red Arrow pretty much non stop between Nottingham and Derby. It feels like a coach, but operates like a bus. There is definitely room for this type of operation
I agree. I wonder if that has a toilet onboard too?
@@LetsMakeaTrip No
@@LetsMakeaTrip It doesn't need one due to the short end-to-end journey. I think the Red Arrow coaches are the only Plaxton Elites NOT fitted with a toilet.
@@LetsMakeaTrip Red Arrow does not have toilets on their coaches
@@danielsellers8707 You are correct
In the 1990s I was living and working in Oxford
and twice a week had to go to Central London
for my evening degree course in Chinese.
There were two coach companies on this route,
the newer one was the Oxford Tube,
I however got the other company as they stopped
near where I had my class in Euston.
At the time there was a bus war and the fares were
25 GBP for twelve single journeys on a supersaver.
I didn't bother with going to the centre of Oxford
as there was a stop at the park-and-ride car parks in Headingley.
I parked there and caught the bus/coach/express coach
from there.
Great to see another of your travel videos and I can answer a few of your queries raised.
Gloucester Green used to be a bus and coach station in years gone by, but as Oxford city centre was redeveloped over the years, space became a premium. Thus, the network of local bus routes connecting the city to the suburbs and regional towns, all set down or start in city centre streets. Gloucester Green handles the longer distance services, such as National Express, Megabus, Oxford Tube and other operators connecting further afield.
Regarding the Bus Station office not appearing open, that is down to Stagecoach who, at the start of the pandemic, decided to close down all enquiry and ticket offices at Bus Stations across the entire UK and made their staff redundant. These offices have not been reopened, but some may still be retained for Admin reasons only.
You queried whether the vehicle you travelled on was a bus or a coach?
In the UK, a coach is regarded as a vehicle used for transporting passengers on longer distance routes, and invariably will have features such as air conditioning, comfortable seating, lights at each seat, underfloor luggage space, an on board toilet and washroom, and even entertainment options.
In contrast a Bus is defined as moving larger masses of passengers around within cities and towns, each possible having a wider metropolitan area to cover. Passengers may well only ride for a short distance, and thus, don't Thus require all the features that a coach has.
Thanks Iain. Great info as usual and that explains the situation with Stagecoach and that office in Oxford is obviously just used as an admin office/rest room for crews by the looks of it. I guess they just need to remove some of the existing counters in there.
The thing with the coach Vs bus, I understand what you’re saying, the thing that confused me more than anything was on boarding, it looks very much like a bus with the ticket machine, card scanner and drivers cab, then you’ve got things like stop request buttons above the seats. And unlike a bus, I agree it’s very comfortable and you’ve also got a toilet on board. Ultimately, it was an efficient, comfortable journey. I’d quite happily take it over a longer distance too. Cheers Iain 😊👍
The Oxford Tube used to pick up outside the Shakespeare pub Buckingham Palace Road/Grosvemor Gardens, Victoria. I think it still does. This avoids the coach station experience.
I think the expensive train fare from London to Oxford makes this business viable with all the shiny new coaches and regular service pattern etc
London - Cambridge is in similar distance, but such business is not feasible there because of the relatively cheaper fare from GA/Northern/Thameslink
Good points mate. I’d definitely use the Oxford Tube if I lived in the city. Can’t go far wrong with the price 👍
I have been to Oxford couple times and Oxford is such a incredible city.
I’ve never spent much time there Andrew tbh. In the Summer I reckon it’s lovely yes.
Love the way you refer to Lewknor as ‘a shed off the side of the M40’
It’s grandly titled M40 Bus corridor!! Though cars just seem to randomly park along the main road to use it as a cheaper alternative to the park and ride (where no doubt you also stopped)
Ah cheers Martin. Yep, all I happened to see was a road and the bus shelter (the shed)! Seems like there’s one on the other side of the M40 too looking at Google Maps. Not sure I’d want to leave my car there all day though tbh!
I think it’s mostly used for commuters in the local villages, getting into and out of London. Hence the many parked cars etc
@@LetsMakeaTrip
I think I can explain the seemingly pointless stop at Lewknor. I used to use the service from time to time, about 15 years ago, and never saw anybody get on or off there. Then one day I was returning to London in mid afternoon and at the Headington shops stop a large number of girls from Headington School got on. Almost all got off at Lewknor, presumably to be picked up by parents with car, since it’s really just a road junction.
As for the Tube name, I think it’s because it’s frequent enough that you can treat it like the Tube, i.e. just turn up any time and get on, without having to check the timetable.
Interesting, the interior looks quite comfy, though it is not the usual beachball seats! The journey is quite smooth and relatively cheap. I’d say it is a coach, and it always has been on the oxford tube. Before this, they used van hools, neoplan skyliners, and jonckheere Monacos. I think my favourite are the van hools because of how they look and how smooth and quiet they are. I noticed that the livery looks like what stage coach used to have in London before the all red policy was applied. I think it was first applied to the neoplans, as the jonckheeres had the stripes based one. Do you maybe know if some received the swirls before they were replaced?
Great video, Mark. Those buses look really comfortable and having a loo on board is a nice touch, too. What is it about selfish parking and cylists though. Something that is sadly becoming more common. Thank you again.
As a car driver, I think standards have definitely deteriorated over the years. Tbh, I hardly use the car at weekends now, just prefer public transport (when it works)!
Well at least it was a short journey could even see myself doing it, thanks mate and take care,cheers.
There you go Simon, I would definitely recommend it for a relatively short, easy and comfortable journey. You should try it 😊👍
Excellent review clear precise and visually pleasing.
Glad you retrospectively admonished the Doritos eater.
I note the explanatory comments made by other viewers.
Well done enjoyed it
Mike.
Many thanks for the comment Mike, glad you enjoyed it 😊👍
That's a very nice bus. Loved the wireless charger on the seat back.
Yep,very useful I’ve just bought another phone actually (with wireless charging) so next time I’ll be sure to try it 😊👍
The food market in Oxford is amazing and well worth a visit!
Smelt great in there. Lots of different aromas from all over the world!
Not many people know that, on the Plaxton Panarama coaches, to get the window seats reclined, you have to raise the centre armrest & the button is below it.
I didn’t Mark! I’ll try this next time I’m on one. Cheers 😊👍
Went on an bus tour of Oxford a few years ago and it turned out to be the vehicle that was used in an episode of Lewis!
Great video, by definition you traveled on a Coach, A large bus with a maximum gross weight of more than 7,500kg and a maximum.speed exceeding 60mph. It's called an Express, definied as, a fast coach which goes from one place to another directly or with very few stops.
Good point about the max speed Andrew. I should’ve done a mph check actually now I think about it. And yes, it does stop at a few stops at the beginning and end but it’s definitely not hanging about in between! Cheers 😊👍
coaches etc limited to 56mph
@@highpath4776 not the case mate, while most HGV's are limited to 56mph this coach will be limited to 62mph, 100km/h, therfore meeting the definition of a coach
Thanks for taking me back! The OT was a bit of a lifeline during my Uni days!
Glad you enjoyed it!
The name Oxford Tube is apparently just because it’s a tube (London underground) type frequency of service. Just turn up and go, no need to bother with timetables .
And I understand the frequency used to be every better than it is now.
That makes sense and it’s certainly the reason I didn’t bother booking in advance👍
Great video . I booked this in advance through Megabus for around seven pounds a while back . Tickets were available for one pound at one time !!
Yep, you don’t find many £1 Megabus deals anymore unfortunately! Price-wise though £12 (or less by the sounds of it) is pretty good and if I lived in Oxford, I’d be on it all the time - especially when you can get back late at night 👍
in my home town (Wadebridge, Cornwall) the bus station hardly ever gets used, it's really just a turning circle with a shelter with no other facilities. Most people get on/off in the main street.
I feel the pain of the Oxford Tube driver, I really do! I'd always assumed it was called the Oxford tube, because the actual Tube didn't make it that far out, but that was always my assumption. Great video as always Mark, really do enjoy the bus ones!
Cheers Myles and I appreciate your engagement mate (on here and Twitter 👍). The other thing I suppose it must get a bit boring doing the same run over and over again. Not sure I’d be too keen on that tbh.
@@LetsMakeaTrip I could imagine it does get boring, but the route is quite long maybe that makes up for it ?
As someone who lived in Headington around 1986/87 I remember the early services of the Oxford Tube (and rival Oxford CityLink services). Invariably I'd use the train to commute to Hammersmith as this was far quicker via Paddington but would also take the bus home at times if out around the West End or when the trains weren't running. Regarding the conjecture around the name, I hesitate to agree that the Oxford Tube was so named because it linked Oxford to Tube stations for two reasons:
1. The (early) branding was very much "Oxford to Central London" - I don't recall ever hearing mention back then of the convenience of connecting into Tube Stations enroute
2. The sister service to Heathrow (and later Heathrow then Gatwick IIRC) was branded "Heathrow Tube" and this was very much direct M40/M25.
I do recall - and maybe this is selective memory - the back of the early buses extolling the frequency "like a tube service" - but maybe that's just the mists of time rolling in!!
Hi Mark, thanks for the info - most interesting. The tube thing is, well, just a guess on my part. As someone not very local to the area, it struck me that the amount of tube stations it stopped at were no coincidence. But happy to be proved wrong and if, like you say, the early buses referenced the actual tube then that makes sense really. All the best, Mark 😊👍
Some of the buses used on the X76 Kilmarnock to Glasgow route here in Scotland also use some older VanHool Astromega TD927 that were formally used on the OxfordTube.
Cheers Taite. You never know, I may end up on one of those at some point!
I used to make use of the OxfordTube, back in my drinking days, it was very good for heading out from Oxford for an evening in London, as there used to be OxfordTube services back to Oxford well, well after the last train back had gone…I’m sure that’s still the case…
The 'hop on, hop off' Megabus tour of Rome was very good when we did it four years ago.
If I’m down that way Mark, I’ll give it a go 👍
Great video thanks. Keep them coming...
Cheers Kevin 😊👍
Looks like a good service. At 10:40 - looks like someone had a bump! Thanks for the video!
Yeh I noticed that. London drivers eh 😂
From what I remember of it, Oxford Gloucester Green is more of a Coach Station akin to London Victoria Coach Station; predominantly used by long distance and inter-city services.
Most of the local buses terminate or start from the bus bays outside Oxford Railway Station.
Ertwinly seemed that way. I got there by train and yes there did seem quite a lot of space outside the station. Cheers 👍
It seems that whenever I drive down the M40 past Oxford into London you'll see at least ten of these or other London-Oxford bus companies coming the other way. I'm always intrigued as why there is so much demand to travel between Oxford and London.
Yeh totally agree. I saw more of these than anything else put together! There must be the demand but mine wasn’t particularly busy tbh.
Thank you so much for this! My sister and I will be traveling from London to Oxford and I was debating about taking that train or the bus! I’ll definitely be taking to bus now.
It is a coach but as per Stagecoach requirements they are basic specifation i.e no isle carpet or curtains..The toilet is standard build on the Plaxton Panorama ...Some of the coaches from this fleet are making their way to megbus rubgy to replace our 63 plate coaches
Cheers Lee. I quite liked the flooring tbh without carpet. I did notice the absence of curtains though which was one of the reasons I thought it may classify as a bus. Get your point though and yep agree and I note their website says ‘express coach’ on it anyway 👍
A great video as always, and seemingly an excellent bus service at great value. At Northolt I believe the green mounds you enquired about is Northala Fields, a park which has 4 hills constructed from rubble. We have both been to RAF Northolt then, I had to go there once when I was based at RAF Uxbridge, I think it was for a rugby match!
Ah cheers Keith. I guess more piles of rubble could be used in this way! Yep, RAF Northolt, cartographer with the RAF was my thing (I didn’t get it, but that’s life). I’m still interested in maps though 😊
@@LetsMakeaTrip My limit with maps was getting lost doing orienteering, or route marches! LOL.
I use to use Oxford tube when I went to uni that wasn't Oxford. Gasp!.
I still take Oxford tube if I do day trips to Oxford. It's cheaper and more convenient than train as it's half hour walk from where I live.
Stagecoach receive (or at least received) a subsidy from south Oxfordshire Council for stopping at Lewknor, and a subsidy from TFL for stopping at Hillingdon for passengers going towards London.
As I’m sure you noticed, most people get on at the high street or Headington as it’s much easier to get to from the populated east side of Oxford.
Definitely a coach. As someone born and raised in Oxford, I’ve only heard it being called a coach.
Ah cheers Justin - very useful info. I would call it a coach ultimately I think. I don’t profess to know exactly why tbh (which is why I asked the question) and some comments I’ve read on here swear it’s a bus! It says ‘express coach’ on their website though so 🤷♂️😊
Yeah, Oxford's local buses start from street stands. Gloucester Green used to be larger until the nineties but has always been home to country services.
Hi Mark, thanks for the info. I was also told there’s quite a bit of ‘bus space’ next to the railway station. Cheers 👍
From memory the coach route started as Oxford to Tube but the ‘to’ got dropped. So yes you were right. The green hills as already mentioned were the spoils from the ‘redesign’ of Wembley centre as well as a shed load of spoils when the A40 was realigned as was Hillingdon underground station.
Cheers Colin, never knew that but it would make sense! Also never knew anything about those green mounds so I’m glad I asked the question now. Fascinating really and I must have a closer look sometime. 😊👍
Great video, as always. In my bus and coach driving days I used to see these on stand at Victoria on a daily basis and always thought I would like to ride on one.
Now retired I recently took a return trip to Oxford and have to say that, for £16 return, it is one of the best passenger experiences on a bus service I have had. I did wonder why the bus stopped at Lewknor on the way to Oxford. I left Oxford on the 4.30pm weekday service and was surprised to find that by the last stop in Oxford the bus was completely full, with a large proportion of students, a number of which alighted at Lewknor to be picked up by waiting cars blocking the bus stop!
Cheers David, yes it’s an odd one at Lewknor but it seems to be some kind of park and ride or pick up/drop off point as there certainly wasn’t much else there! Overall though yes, I’m glad I did it, a great service I would definitely use if I lived down that way. 😊👍
Hey Mark how you doing mate? Great coach/bus video once again very small bus station for Oxford indeed the driver was peed off at that person indeed especially with hitting the car at the back which made a mark on the back every 20 mins in the week is good very nice bus/coach indeed though and modern reminds me a bit of Megabus but more better the toilet facilities were good surprising for a coach well stocked £13 isn't bad at all really for a couple hours drive to London I would possibly go on that coach and go to London myself if I was in the area hope your having a good day Mark and great editing as always so professional and entertaining as always keep up the good work 👍
Hi FG, cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it. Yep, like I said this service had some of the best facilities I’ve seen whether that’s on a bus or coach! And the toilet was excellent really. Price-wise yep, gotta say, if I lived in Oxford I would take this all the time. Thanks for the comment 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip Its alright Mark i would also too its very convenient
That Hampton by Hilton next to Park Royal is an excellent place to stay. Not only is it next to Park Royal on the Piccadilly Line but also just down the road from Hangar Lane on the Central Line
Cheers Ben, I might try that out at some point - maybe a bit cheaper than central London too 👍
Yes you're right about stopping at the tube stations. Not all of us Londoners need to go into central London, zone 1 to get home or to our final destination. Plus it can be cheaper. Its like a bus come cheaper commute come national express/megabus.
Good point 👍 and I agree with your description 😊
Thanks for this. As a repeat visitor to the UK (from the US), I like the idea of an inexpensive coach trip to Oxford from London for a day trip. I'll be on holiday and am not a rush-around-see-it-all-or-die kind of tourist. I enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of the place I'm visiting. I'd rather not try to drive in the UK but from a coach seat I can see things I won't see from a train. And at a slower pace, thanks to the road traffic. 🤣 In my holiday scheme of things, I don't care if this coach/bus/whatever takes an hour or so more than a train. I'm all okay with relaxing and experiencing the ride. This is now on my list as part of a possible day trip to Oxford. Or perhaps a way to move from London to a hotel in Oxford. Hmm.
Hi suzatlarge,many thanks for the comment. Yes of course this works both ways and that’s a great idea as Oxford itself is a lovely city, well worth a trip out. There’s no risk of cancellations either I would say and with a frequency of every 20 mins you can take your time in Oxford then just turn up at the bus station when you’re ready and be sure one will turn up pretty soon to take you back. Enjoy the trip 😊
My mum lives in Oxford so I've done the trip from London many times. Always use the coach, it's a convenient service and a lot cheaper than taking the train 👍
The office you referenced at Gloucester Green is just a staff rest room. They usually have a ticket seller outside on the stand, but I guess that’s only during peak times.
Yes it definitely looked that way Ian even though they still had what looked like counters up. No worries, they probably get fed up with people like me going in asking for tickets 😂
Great video, well filmed & narrated.
I have seen many of your video's keep up the great work. 😎
Thanks mate - much appreciated 😊
I think the name also emphasise the frequency and ease of use - kind of "no fuss and no planning required". You didn't mention that it continues all night.
Yep, definitely no fuss and, like I said, next time I’d just buy the ticket on the app. The very fact they’ve got an app helps in that respect. Cheers.
Worked on the oxford tube in the 1990s we had the single deckers then loved doing the run
Cheers Ian, yes I didn’t know much about it tbh but certainly great to hear from people on here who’ve done it in the past. Never realised it’d been going so long. I’d definitely use it if I lived in Oxford 👍😊
A good watch as always. Although who’d be a bus/coach driver? What a start to your trip.
Cheers mate. Yep I think Oxford can be quite a challenge in terms of other road users judging by the comments on here!
A coach imo is a luxury travel vehicle that can do 100kph.
A bus does 66kph and has upright seating benches
The two (three if you count the old passing through National Express Services) nigh 24/7 coach services arose out of what were two different bus companies. City of Oxford Motor Services (which I think was British Electric Traction owned pre 1968). and the South Midland company (which I think was one of the Watts Group - Red and White- mix of local bus companies roughtly along a line from SE Wales to the London Area) South Midland ran the Oxford-London Coach Service. After nationalisation one company called Oxford - South Midland was created and the main route remained, gradulally having more variations - the 190 was direct, the 290 via Heathrow and the 390 out via Abingdon onto the M4 and more heathrow (from memory). At privatisation South Midland was recreated and got some of the local buses , and City of Oxford got the Oxford-London service. As one ended up loosely with Go-Ahead and the Other with Stagecoach both got branded coach sevices. Oxford was also interesting with other local bus operators - Pearce Coaches got the inter-varsity service licence quite early for Oxford-Cambridge hike, Charlton on Otmoor ran local buses as did House's of Watlington. Bristol Omnibus under their Swindon brand came in from the West and used Gloucester Green.
Many thanks for the info High Path, interesting reading 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip I had forgotten the Lewkner Turn stop on the stagecoach operated service. This split the route into less than 30 miles between stops, thus it could be registered as a stage carriage service, getting fuel rebate duty for a start plus better drivers hours regulation keeping as a timetable meant no tachometer need as well.
York has the best open buses. I recommend the x46 from hull interchange to York then get off at york railway station then get on the open top bus
Cheers TBS, that sounds a great option. Noted 😊👍
How frustrating for coach drivers up against drivers and cyclists like those at the start! I did like the interior of the coach/bus, looked very comfy and had all amenities. For hop on hop off, Mark you should come up here to Scotland and go on the Glasgow City Sightseeing tour bus, can recommend it👍
Hi Sheila, thanks for the recommendation. I’m up in Scotland at the end of this month actually - not in Glasgow this time but pretty much everywhere else! I will be trying out a couple of Citylink services and then maybe in the Summer I’ll get up again and try the Glasgow sightseeing tour 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip Great, look forward to the Scottish series, hope you enjoy your time here😊
I use the Oxford Tube regularly, such a good service. Thornhill park & ride is only £2 for 16 hours, then £18 return, a good deal. They used to have Astromega coaches, with an impressive glass roof, which I preferred to the new Plaxton coaches, but good that Stagecoach has invested in new vehicles.
The Oxford Tube was started in the late 1980s by a company called Thames Transit to compete with the Oxford Bus Company's 'Oxford Citylink' service. A catchy name was required and as the service ran at a relatively high frequency for an inter-urban route it gained the Oxford Tube name. Thames Transit was later acquired by Stagecoach and in 2020 The Oxford Bus Company withdrew their x90 'Oxford Citylink' competing service.
Hi Ian, great info, thanks very much and it’s interesting to discover how competitive it must have been back when the Oxford Bus Company were running. Stagecoach must have a few vehicles on this route too, I reckon we must’ve passed about half-a-dozen on the way in. Mind you with the 20 minute frequency, that’s probably about right thinking about it. Cheers 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip I seem to remember that, when it started, there were services every 10 minutes at some times in the day.
@@LetsMakeaTrip I'll add a bit more info. City Of Oxford Motor Services (Now Go Ahead Oxford) were the original operator of the 190 Oxford Citylink service to London. Then, along came Thames Transit (part of Devon General from Exeter; with their high frequency minibuses on local routes) and The Oxford Tube express coaches to nibble into the Citylink monopoly on the route. The service frequency was an insane "up to every ten minutes" from both companies; which couldn't be sustained financially or operationally. Over the years things settled down and eventually Oxford gave up to concentrate on the city routes. The Tube name refers to the turn up and go, high frequency nature of the route. Another great video by the way.
@@CB-OnTheGo cheers Colin, when you said ‘turn up’ I did wonder whether the word ‘tube’ is actually an acronym for something? ‘Turn up be efficient’? 😂 - just a thought!!
Yes, it was a catchy marketing name meant to show customers that they could use it the way they used the Tube system - no booking, no frills, one every few minutes. Clever idea and it obviously worked.
Mark thanks for another great video, looking forward to the next.
Cheers Kim, appreciate the comment 😊👍
yeay...Looking forward to a new trip. thanks for the upload, much appreciated
Cheers Mike, thanks for watching 😊👍
The Oxford Tube was started in 1987 by Oxford Transit, a then newly formed company that was later bought by Stagecoach. I just think the Tube was used to link it with London.
A nice open top bus ride is the Stagecoach 78 Keswick - Seatoller up in the Lake District
Cheers mate. I sampled something similar from Windermere to Grasmere and agree it was nice (if a bit cold when I did it). I’ll make a note of this one too 👍
This service seems to supplement the train service. Although no idea why the train costs more given they service both areas and would be a similar fare zone or distance from London. Not a bad bus though even has a toilet too.
If I lived down there and needed to get into London regularly, I think I’d take the Oxford Tube most of the time and just allow for the extra time. It’s purely a money thing then I guess and at least you know what you’re going to pay each time and can budget accordingly 👍
Loved the video very informative especially about the cycle storage on the coach.
Cheers Colin, yep very useful that. It sure how many you can load on tbh as I only saw one from a distance.
Really enjoyed your video, the coach looked really nice and I would definitely use it.
Cheers Mark. Yes if I lived in Oxford, I’d be on it all the time I reckon 👍
Shame I heard that the Berry’s Service is being scrapped , guess it felt weird anyway and a little underused
Enjoyed the video ;)
Cheers Xilla, thanks for watching 😊👍
Re doing the open top buses .
Try the Liverpool one
Technically, it’s a bus service due to the stops being so close together (they have an ‘lsp’ permit) but obviously use coaches as they can go faster than traditional buses and much more comfortable :D
Certainly was comfortable Alex. What’s an lsp permit out of interest?
@@LetsMakeaTrip It's what all coach & bus companies need to run a scheduled bus service in London, that's isn't part of TFL's red buses. Every company needs one if you can get on and off of the bus within 15 miles as the crow flies. Hope this answers your question!
@@alexanderstephenson1068 it does, cheers 😊👍
i use the oxford almost every time when i go into london its one of the greatest stagecoach coach services in the uk and in the past is was a private coach trip by thames transit before stagecooach took over in 1998
I would if I lived nearby. Thought it was really good overall 👍
I forgot Thames Transit - that was one of Harry Blundred's minibus operations that i think he ran taking over South Midland(or did he compete with it ?)
@@highpath4776 he competed with them with some of the routes not doing the full route of the other company
Believe it or not, but Lewknor (and area) is well worth an explore.
Ridgeway (Ancient path) and the Stokenchurch Gap (up close) is a spectacular piece of Engineering!!!!!
I had to google the Stokenchurch Gap tbh but now I know about it, I’ll look forward to travelling through it in the future. Cheers D 👍
As I live in West London, the Oxford Tube would be more convenient for me than travelling into central London to get the train to Oxford. Tickets from Marylebone look dead cheap but it takes an hour to get there lol.
A very good Tuesday evening buddy from Alan in Lowestoft buddy
Hello Alan, good evening to you mate 😊
I would recommend having a journey on City Sightseeing Tour great way to explore a place I have done York, Cardiff, Oxford, Stratford and Chester
Cheers Jack, I’ll make a note of that 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip I'd do the York open top one as they have a rainy day guarantee; so you can travel on another day if it chucks it down. York is also handy for the scenic Coastliner routes between Leeds, York & Scarborough/Whitby.
Stagecoach also run a similar service from Oxford to Cambridge, designated X5 It's been a few years since I travelled but is a coach that you pay for like a bus. Check it out.
Cheers Robert, I’ll add it to the list 👍
Not anymore they don’t, X5 hasn’t gone beyond Bedford for several years now. The other side has become the 905 with a stop added in Cambourne
And they don’t use coaches either, it’s now the same type of bus as the standard Stagecoach deckers you tend to see around the city in a horrible yellow cheese/American school bus livery. They’re only meant to trundle around local urban links but go cross country, so don’t be surprised if they break down!
@@ChilternTransportProductions thanks for the warning. I may give it a miss atm then tbh!
During my time working at Heathrow. Always talk of extending the Tube to Oxford? Then came the M40. Hillingdon North is good access to Heathrow by Bus if you working, Uxbridge is better.
Cheers Peter. Could be another way of getting to LHR. I’m always trying to figure out a better way of getting in and out of that place!
Loved the video think it's a coach as seats are too good I'd rather get the train though
You have to be a Reading fan with that Oxford comment. COYL tomorrow. Love the review, nice work mate
Haha, I’m not but I remember Oxford in the days of John Aldridge etc and the old, classic ground. Good times those 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip yes many away trips to the Manor Ground in the day. Boarding the Oxford Tube at Headington post office after the match. Always been an excellent enjoyable coach to take
Wow that is a blast from the past. I used this service back in 1999 to travel from Oxford to London. I had caught the train to Oxford from Paddington to watch Stockport play. However the old ground was was good 20 mins bus ride from the station. On the bus stop outside the ground I saw the Oxford Tube sign so decided to use it on the way back especially as I needed to reach Victoria Coach Station and the added time at both ends meant the coach/bus was about the same travel time. I was very impressed and great to see it still going strong with very nice interiors. ❤
The old Manor Ground in Oxford I’m presuming? What a classic ground that was - much better than the 3-sided effort that replaced it! I never went, but always remember seeing it on the tv when Oxford had hit the big time! Great days 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip Yes it was indeed. I travelled overnight from Uni in Middlesbrough to Victoria Coach Station. then train to Oxford, we lost 5-0 but Oxford still went down. Took the OT back to Victoria. Fell asleep on the coach and missed my stop as there was a temp stop rather than the usual jolt up to the upper deck of the bus station. All in all an epic trip. 😂
@@matthewdoyle3877 👀👀
Most bus services serve George Street outside the bus station and most don't call in there, a lot of buses terminate at Magdalen street and then head off on the Woodstock or Banbury road.
Cheers BGF, thanks for providing this info 😊👍
Great trip. I think it was Intercity bus route but using coach as a fleet.
Cheers mate, still not totally sure tbh. It was a nice vehicle though.
11:00 I think it's way better to get off the bus at an underground station of a line to Central London, but a 2-hour bus ride from Oxford to London, making stops at underground stations in Suburban London & named "The Oxford Tube"... That can't even be a kind of suburban bus journey, so the company should be renamed to "The Oxford-London Shuttle", for example
Hiya Pedro, yep that’s a good name for it! But I think it’s a service that’s been going for a number of years now so the name’s stuck. Would I get off at one of those tube stations? Maybe, but then you’re in the outer reaches of the tube network and pay high zone prices so it all adds up cost-wise doesn’t it. Cheers mate 😊👍
When I was in the army, we had 'mounds' like the ones you showed. They held large tankers containing fuel. Although the mounds we had, had a flat top, so I'm not sure this is what you saw.
Hi mate, I believe they’re consolidated rubble heaps - most of which came from the old Wembley Stadium according to other comments 👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip Wow, who would have thought ! I'm not sure why they had to make mounds out of that rubble, though...
@@anianoenrique2115 interesting talking point I suppose. And great views 👍
Hi mark, good video very informative. Keep up the good work! AV
Cheers mate, I will 😊👍
Great video, very informative, thanks 👍
No probs, cheers for the comment 😂
Hi Mark, excellent content I think it’s a coach very upmarket anyway.
Yep definitely good enough for much longer journeys imo. Cheers Michael 😊👍
Shame you couldn't video the cycle storage. I would also like to have seen the Lewknor stop.
Nice scenery 😊
Thanks Sarah!
@@LetsMakeaTrip 👍☺️
Oxford tube was formed by a company called Thames transit. This was just after deruglation. There was a bus war between the national bus company Oxford city and then. Ticket sellers used to vie for your custom. Then Stagecoach took over . But I believe the name came from that the bus ran into London just by Victoria railway station.
Interesting Andrew, thank you. Stagecoach must have a big monopoly now. Did you notice how many Oxford Tube buses we passed coming the other way! Mind you, my service wasn’t particularly busy so I’m not sure every 20 mins is sustainable at that time of day?
@@LetsMakeaTrip Don't forget...Stagecoach also have Megabus and now i believe the plymouth - Bristol airport falcon service is megabus
@@LetsMakeaTrip Originally I can't exactly remember but the frequency was at least 6 buses a hour, at peak times, and the service ran through the night. Obviously less frequently.
@@leeallen1407 that Falcon service is on my list of routes to do 👍
I enjoyed your video if you could do mega taurs in London it's run by Megabus
Cheers David, I’ll have a look 👍
Definitely worth a trip
Yes Gary, I think so 👍
surprisingly small bus station for Oxford. would have thought loads of students with bin bags full of sweaty clothing etc. then realised ..Mum picks 'em up in a 4x4 so some kid studying for an 'OLOGY doesn't be seen on public transport (sic)...next point..a pound extra if you pay driver onboard. yes this is due to the additional cost incurred that he or she has to press a button. love your vids mate keep em coming! all the best
Haha, thanks Peter. I am very much familiar with the bin bag and smelly clothing routine (or rather my partner is!). Love the comment, cheers mate 😊👍
Awesome video thank you for doing this trip
Cheers Zuuu1 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip no worries looking forward to your next video
Go and review the hop on hop off tourist bus in Bath.
i love oxford tube :) yea boiiiiii
If it was a bus, the fare would have been capped at £2, wouldn't it?
It strikes me as a similar type of service to the Green Line 702, which I used to use regularly for commuting and leisure travel when I lived in Slough. It serves some (but by no means all) local bus stops. You can pay the driver. But it also runs on the motorway.
Interestingly you can go all the way from central London to Reading (albeit via quite a ridiculous route) for £2 at the moment under the subsidised fares scheme. Not very practical for London to Reading journeys, perhaps, but it is practical (and extremely good value) for those travelling from London to Slough or London to Windsor.
Yep, fair point. It seems to be classed as a coach service in his respect.
Would like to see you do the sightseeing bus in Glasgow. Always seen it go round and wondered what it actually shows you 🤣
Had a couple of votes for Glasgow now Ben. Maybe I could ask Steve Marsh to do a collab 😂
@@LetsMakeaTrip saw it today actually. Seems like it covers some ground.
The Oxford tube is a coach, wouldn’t really class it as a bus and I believe the main reason is because it had a taco-meter, which most regular buses don’t have. Although one regular bus has actually done it before (it had a taco)!
Cheers for the info mate, the tacho thing is something that hasn’t been mentioned I don’t think. Thanks😊👍
Bicycles are allowed to pass on the left of other vehicles however this seemed like a pretty dangerous move in this situation. The Highway Code says that bicycles can pass stationary and slow moving traffic on the left or right.
Cheers Tobey, I suppose the issue was that the slow moving vehicle was turning left though the cyclist ‘may’ not have known that.
@@LetsMakeaTrip if the coach was indicating the cyclist probably shouldn’t have passed especially since such large vehicles have blind spots
Things like that happen all the time in Oxford with the cyclists, I'm surprised in the many years of visiting the city I've only seen one accident. A lot of them ignore the road signs and traffic lights many of which are for their benefit.
You should try the bus that goes from Whitby to Scarborough. I think it starts In Middlesbrough first and think it’s the x93 .
Cheers Jack, I’m considering that for next month 😊👍
It doesn't start from Middlesbrough. It starts at Leeds bus station and ends in Whitby I have used it a few times
Hillingdon old ski centre in the ninetees
Technically, an express or coach service is one that dosen't carry passengers within 15 miles, so this is technically a coach service. The vehicle is most definitely a coach.
Looked great value to me
Yes it was. I’d definitely use it if I lived in Oxford 👍