New ‘deckers for Thames Travel as partnership renews
Thames Travel has added 13 new double-deckers into service as it renews a partnership with Milton Park.
The ‘deckers replace single-deckers previously used to increase capacity on the services to the UK’s largest single ownership innovation community.
News of the newly wrapped bus fleet follows the adoption of a refreshed Local Development Order (LDO) at Milton Park, enabled by an innovative Section 106 (S106) planning agreement with the Vale of White Horse District Council, which focuses on green travel. The LDO incentivises greener methods of travel, with contributions towards public investment in bus services in support of the ongoing partnership with Thames Travel, alongside new cycle and walking pathways and road upgrades.
To celebrate the double deckers’ introduction and new branding, people working at Milton Park were asked to give each vehicle a special name by picking their favourite names beginning with ‘M’. From Mabel to Mungo, members of the public can now keep an eye out to spot the branded Milton Park buses on the road.
The renewed partnership with Thames Travel, first established in 2021, was driven by increased demand for bus travel to Milton Park and the success of its £20 annual employee bus pass. The Milton Park bus pass provides unlimited travel on all Thames Travel services in the Didcot Zone, including Didcot Parkway railway station and the Orchard Centre, as well as Drayton, Steventon, Sutton Courtenay and Milton.
Milton Park’s dedication and ongoing investment into sustainable transport has led to an 18% increase in bus usage since the pandemic.
“We look forward to seeing the public making the most of the increased bus capacity” – Luke Marion, Managing Director of Thames Travel
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Thames Travel, said: “We’re thrilled to be continuing the partnership between Milton Park and Thames Travel, which has already proved a great benefit to Park occupiers, visitors and the public alike.
“We look forward to seeing the public making the most of the increased bus capacity, which we hope will lead to a further increase in sustainable travel to Milton Park this new year.”
The Park was recently recognised at the United Kingdom Science Park Association’s (UKSPA) 40th anniversary conference, where it received an Environmental Sustainability Award. Contributing to its win was its contribution as a test-bed location for the UK’s first electric, autonomous bus trial.