Travel Football Special Bus (OX2/OX3/OX7)

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OnlyOneUnited

Level: Jack Midson
(68 Apps, 15 Gls)
No Fun
Anybody know whether the football special buses are going to be running for the new season?

I've emailed the club to ask, so will update in here if they respond. Wasn't sure if I'd missed any announcement on them though. Would be good to find out before I make a decision on renewing the season ticket.
 
I got an email from Lee Barton (who is very good by the way, very helpful and responsive) saying that they've made contact with the bus company following the release of the fixture list.

He's said that as soon as the bus company confirms it, they'll run a news story on the website. So sounds positive.
 
Good to their word, here's the news article

www.oufc.co.uk

Football Special Buses Return | Oxford United Football Club

With the relaxation of lockdown restrictions in sight, the club are pleased to report that we have reached an agreement with Thames Travel to restart the OX2, OX3 and OX7 football special bus services starting with our first Sky Bet League 1 home game against Charlton Athletic on August 13th
www.oufc.co.uk www.oufc.co.uk

Look forward to seeing the timetables when they release them closer to the time.
 
For the football special buses (OX2, OX3 and OX7), I personally think they should arrive at the stadium a little bit earlier. The 30 minutes (officially 30 minutes, sometimes 20-25) doesn't give enough time to buy a programme, eat a burger, use the toilet and have a drink without feeling a bit rushed, and certainly doesn't give supporters chance to use the club shop.
I personally feel it would be good if the buses could arrive at each stop 20 minutes earlier and therefore arrive 20 minutes earlier to the ground. This would have particularly helped for the Cambridge game where fans wanted to get in earlier for the Joey tributes, and the roadworks for the Ipswich game wouldn't have left us with just 8 minutes to get into the stadium before kickoff. Changing the bus times for one off games isn't practical as not everyone would get the message.
Just wondering what others who use these buses think, and if others agree, maybe this could be raised with the supporters panel?
Also, maybe someone who uses each bus regularly could be appointed to sell programmes and 50/50 tickets, to give us something to read on the journey there?
 
I definitely agree they should be leaving earlier. Aiming to get to the ground for 2:30 does not give much leeway for traffic and/or roadworks, the former of which can be particularly unpredictable. We also had a situation last month with a new driver not knowing the route - he took the wrong turn so had to double back so as to not miss a major pick up point. This was the day of the Cambridge game when everyone would have been hoping to arrive more promptly than usual. If the whole timetable had been set to 20/25 minutes earlier then this would have not been an issue or caused as much anxiety amongst the fans worrying we were going to miss the Joey tributes. As you rightly say, with the current set up there is zero chance of getting to the club shop, grabbing a quick bite to eat and being in your seat for kick off. So yes, I think it would be a good change if all the football special buses began their service a wee bit earlier.
 
I use the OX2 service and its current timings are perfect. Few pints in the Boundary House, son has something to eat hop on the bus at 2 and ground for 2.30. Most people on the bus are purely there for the football, our current 'ground' is not great for prematch amenities so the bus arriving any earlier would put me off using it and other I suspect
 
Essexyellows said:
I can foresee one complexity being drivers hours, especially if it's the same driver on the return bus.
By leaving 20 minutes earlier it might be necessary to factor in the return journey leaving 20 minutes later?
Great idea though, green credentials, mass transport and all that jazz.
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Yes, they would have to pay each driver for the extra 20 minutes which would add up over the course of the season (assuming of course the drivers want to start earlier too). Maybe increased revenue from the club shop/extra drink at the ground would help negate the extra cost though.
Not sure the bus would have to leave the ground 20 minutes later as well though.
 
With the new rules leading to additional added time at matches I've been discussing OX bus departure times with the club, and now have the following response:

The bus company has agreed to put departure times back 5 minutes for now to take account of the potential additional time added and have agreed to monitor it and see if this needs any further adjustment in due course.
They won't be able to formally make this change in time for the weekend and advertise it, so will brief drivers accordingly to wait the additional time before they can get the change registered with the Traffic Commissioners. This should be done prior to the Charlton Athletic fixture. We will advise those supporters who look after each bus for us to let fans know during the inbound journey on Saturday.

Interesting to know we had 11 matches last season with 10 or more minutes of time added including one with 14 and one with 15, and so it's already something the bus company has dealt with.
 
OUSP Secretary said:
With the new rules leading to additional added time at matches I've been discussing OX bus departure times with the club, and now have the following response:

The bus company has agreed to put departure times back 5 minutes for now to take account of the potential additional time added and have agreed to monitor it and see if this needs any further adjustment in due course.
They won't be able to formally make this change in time for the weekend and advertise it, so will brief drivers accordingly to wait the additional time before they can get the change registered with the Traffic Commissioners. This should be done prior to the Charlton Athletic fixture. We will advise those supporters who look after each bus for us to let fans know during the inbound journey on Saturday.

Interesting to know we had 11 matches last season with 10 or more minutes of time added including one with 14 and one with 15, and so it's already something the bus company has dealt with.
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We ALWAYS seem to be the last to finish :)
 
OUSP Secretary said:
With the new rules leading to additional added time at matches I've been discussing OX bus departure times with the club, and now have the following response:

The bus company has agreed to put departure times back 5 minutes for now to take account of the potential additional time added and have agreed to monitor it and see if this needs any further adjustment in due course.
They won't be able to formally make this change in time for the weekend and advertise it, so will brief drivers accordingly to wait the additional time before they can get the change registered with the Traffic Commissioners. This should be done prior to the Charlton Athletic fixture. We will advise those supporters who look after each bus for us to let fans know during the inbound journey on Saturday.

Interesting to know we had 11 matches last season with 10 or more minutes of time added including one with 14 and one with 15, and so it's already something the bus company has dealt with.
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get em to wait/ put the time back half hour- just in case?
 
Usually they're good at waiting and adapting depending on the match. They seem to be good at remembering who bought a return, and waiting for all of those people to turn up (like me!). Would prefer that continues rather than an arbitrary half an hour later, as we might all then be sat on the bus wanting to get home, but still with 20 minutes to kill!
 
OnlyOneUnited said:
Usually they're good at waiting and adapting depending on the match. They seem to be good at remembering who bought a return, and waiting for all of those people to turn up (like me!). Would prefer that continues rather than an arbitrary half an hour later, as we might all then be sat on the bus wanting to get home, but still with 20 minutes to kill!
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This is pretty much what they will be doing, and monitoring in case it needs tweaking.
 
Great service and cost but should people be allowed to use their bus passes and travel for free.
 
harrymark1 said:
Great service at £4 return absolute bargain although @OUSP Secretary the OX2 service was very busy what is the contingency if a bus reaches capacity with bus stops still to visit? Not happened yet however if our form and league position pick up hopefully it may become the norm!
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Spoke too soon
At Botley for Charlton game 20 + people left stranded at 2 05 with no notice.
@OUSP Secretary

If we continue our success on field and the end of the holiday period it's only going to get worse.

What is the contingency??
 
bazzer9461 said:
TSurely if you have a return ticket you should be allowed on first? If any people want a single then the driver would have to say returns on first?
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That only works on the return journey.

I've seen the bus that serves Didcot, Abingdon and then to the stadium near capacity when it goes down the Oxford road in Abingdon. It would only take a few more people to decide to use the bus and fans would get left behind.

There should be 2 X busses 30 minutes apart and maybe some sort of online booking through an app to guarantee a place (bit like the airport coaches).

I would use the abingdon one if it would arrive 30 minutes earlier to the ground and also return 30 minutes later. Can this be put forwards @OUSP Secretary ?

Might as well ditch the car now and not when our nice shiny stadium is built in north Oxford.
 
OX14 said:
That only works on the return journey.

I've seen the bus that serves Didcot, Abingdon and then to the stadium near capacity when it goes down the Oxford road in Abingdon. It would only take a few more people to decide to use the bus and fans would get left behind.

There should be 2 X busses 30 minutes apart and maybe some sort of online booking through an app to guarantee a place (bit like the airport coaches).

I would use the abingdon one if it would arrive 30 minutes earlier to the ground and also return 30 minutes later. Can this be put forwards @OUSP Secretary ?

Might as well ditch the car now and not when our nice shiny stadium is built in north Oxford.
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increase the service ( as in amount of buses), and run it earlier pre match- and leave a bit later post match ( especially with the 'new' time added approach in games) should IMO be considered
 
The only real answer is for a system to be introduced where people pre-book. Only then will the bus company know the capacity/staff they need to put on. It’s a commercial venture, so they won’t just put extra on and hope for the best.

On a general note, I’ve always thought the buses arrive too late at the stadium. Half and hour earlier would do the trick.
 
LeftSideLarry said:
The only real answer is for a system to be introduced where people pre-book. Only then will the bus company know the capacity/staff they need to put on. It’s a commercial venture, so they won’t just put extra on and hope for the best.

On a general note, I’ve always thought the buses arrive too late at the stadium. Half and hour earlier would do the trick.
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Agree 100%
Where I now live theres no 'easy' football special bus to the breeze block, where I lived previously ( off Headley Way) there was a bus- which I used a couple of times. Then decided driving suited me better due to the 'late' arrival at the breeze block. Going to Football, home games especially , is a day out. Or should be. - The Chuckle brothers bang on about many things, including improving the match day experience . Lets see if they back up their words with action ( for once!) and sort out bus arrival and departure times . Shant hold my breath , though @OUSP Secretary & @OxVox can you raise this please?
 
Sarge said:
Agree 100%
Where I now live theres no 'easy' football special bus to the breeze block, where I lived previously ( off Headley Way) there was a bus- which I used a couple of times. Then decided driving suited me better due to the 'late' arrival at the breeze block. Going to Football, home games especially , is a day out. Or should be. - The Chuckle brothers bang on about many things, including improving the match day experience . Lets see if they back up their words with action ( for once!) and sort out bus arrival and departure times . Shant hold my breath , though @OUSP Secretary & @OxVox can you raise this please?
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In fairness to our management, is the timetable theirs to sort out? Surely, it will be up to the bus operator.
 
Let's not beat on about arrival and departure times; the real issue is capacity
Was at Botley 2 05 and told bus full.

20 + people stranded.

What actions are being considered for this week or do we wait until 2.05 to discover our fate
 
As another regular bus user, I wanted to provide an alternative opinion. I think the bus times are perfect (I catch the OX7) and would not want it to arrive at the stadium any earlier than it does. I would also strongly oppose any attempt to introduce pre-booking, it would definitely stop me and others from using it as regularly as we do (especially if it was dependant on an app as I do not have a smart phone). One of the good things about it is the ability to make a last minute decision on whether to catch it (incidentally I use it more often than not).

The main issue seems to be capacity, just run more buses! In the past when we have expected big crowds then extra buses have been put on. If it's the case that the OX2 was at capacity and had to turn people away, then that means we need to run another bus on that line. If the club continues to do well on the pitch, this will only happen more often, so the club needs to work with the bus company to ensure there are enough buses put on, as they have always managed to do in the past.
 
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