Thousands more young people take the bus during free travel initiative

Go Thames Valley recorded a 406 per cent increase in child passenger journeys on its Carousel Buses network during the government’s free summer travel scheme, while significant growth was also reported across its Pulhams, Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel operations.

Between 1st and 31st August, children aged between five and 15 were able to travel free on participating bus services as part of the government’s Great British Summer Savings campaign.

Across the Go Thames Valley network, the initiative was a resounding success, with Carousel Buses reporting an incredible 406 per cent increase in children travelling compared to August 2025.

The routes recording the strongest growth were the 1 between High Wycombe and Hemel Hempstead, the 37 between High Wycombe, Maidenhead and Windsor, and the 850 between High Wycombe and Central Reading. Core High Wycombe services, including the 30, 31, 32 and 33, also recorded significant growth.

At Pulhams, child passenger journeys increased by 301 per cent compared with August 2025. The 801 between Cheltenham and Chipping Norton, the 855 between Bourton-on-the-Water and Cirencester, and the L between Leckhampton and Bishop’s Cleeve enjoyed the biggest growth.

Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel saw a combined 229 per cent growth in children travelling compared to August 2025. Services between Oxford and Didcot (X32), Oxford and Reading (X40), and Blackbird Leys and Kidlington (700) recorded the biggest growth.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Go Thames Valley, said: “The figures speak for themselves – this was a hugely popular initiative.

“It was great to get young people onto our services and enjoying our local networks. We experienced no issues with overloading as the scheme allowed us to make use of spare capacity, that is often higher than usual in school summer holidays.

“Families and young people enjoyed affordable days out across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and beyond, travelling sustainably and safely.

“There will no doubt need to be number crunching and analysis of the data across the country, but we look forward to working with the relevant authorities should a similar scheme come into play later in the year, or next year.”

Although the free travel initiative has now ended, Go Thames Valley continues to provide a range of cost-effective initiatives for young passengers, including the CityZone ‘Get Around for £1’ scheme in Oxford.

Available to passengers aged 18 and under who hold a Get Around Card, the initiative allows travel on CityZone routes for just £1 and has helped make bus travel more affordable for young people since its launch in 2017.

Discounted travel for young people aged 18 and under is available for season and multi-trip tickets via the mobile app and key card scheme.