Category: travel

A NEW name for the so-called spine road around Lea Park has been agreed.
The stretch of the North East distributor road, sometimes called the Thame by-pass, running between the Aylesbury round-about and the Risborough round-about, will become known as Tythrope Way, subject to the approval of the family of the old Tythrope House, in Kingsey.
Giving a formal name to the road came about following some confusion when planning notices were sent out about the new proposed football complex, wrongly describing it as ‘Kingsey Road.’
The new name was chosen by Thame Town Council’s Planning committee.

THE first-ever guide to the Cotswolds & Malverns railway line, which runs through Oxfordshire for part of its course, has been launched.
The Cotswolds & Malverns line links gems such as Oxford, Evesham, Worcester, Malvern and Hereford and gets right to the heart of historic towns and cities, superb countryside and areas of outstanding natural beauty and idyllic, old-English villages.

The Partnership, which includes Oxfordshire County Council, neighbouring county and district councils, train operators and tourism organisations, hopes the new guide will increase off-peak leisure travel along the line and show how easy it is to combine train travel and sustainable tourism.

In Oxfordshire, the line calls at Hanborough, Combe, Finstock, Charlbury, Ascott Under Wychwood, Shipton and Kingham.

What is in the guide?
The fold-out guide highlights things to do and places to see along the line, profiles of the towns and cities, a large map, helpful information about buses and trains and details of how to explore the areas of outstanding natural beauty.

The guide will also be the first time the public will see the new identity created for the railway. The logo will gradually appear on station signs and publicity during 2008.

The free guide will be available at staffed First Great Western and London Midland stations, local council offices, libraries and tourist information centres.

Exciting time

Adrian Saunders Rail, Development Officer at Oxfordshire County Council, said: ?A lot of work has gone into producing our first ever guide. I hope people will make use of it when thinking about a day trip or short break.
“We?d like to boost use of the railway at times when the trains are less busy so we can push for an even-better train service. This is an exciting time for the line, with high speed trains, improved reliability and a government decision on building more track coming in the summer.?

Richard Rowland, Regional Manager for First Great Western, added: ?We have given our support to the Partnership for many years and their new guide shows how easy it is to explore one of the most attractive parts of the country by train. Our new range of ranger and rover tickets make it even more affordable to use the train for leisure travel.?

TODAY saw the officially opening of the final – and much fought for – final section of the Phoenix Trail, the shared use path that runs along the old disused railway line between Princes Risbough and Thame.
The Chairman of South Oxfordshire District Council, Colin Dauks cut the ribbon to allow the first official group of cyclists – pupils from Lord Williams’s school – to set off on their bikes.
Also present was teacher in charge of the school’s Travel Plan, Daniel Cuell, Headteacher, David Wybron and Simon Pratt from SUSTRANS who have planned, engineered and over-seen the development of the Phoenix Trail from its inception, eight years ago.
Cllr Dauks said: “We consider that the

CHILTERN Railways in partnership with Eurostar, have expanded their through-fares scheme from 15, new stations to Paris, Brussels, Lille, Disneyland

IF you?re not already a member of the Chiltern Carshare scheme, then why not join today, June 9, as as part of National liftshare Day.
National Liftshare Day aims to increase awareness of the many rewards that come from car sharing ? commuters who regularly share their journey save on average

LADIES; has your bike been in the shed for far too long? Would you like to get out in the fresh air to do some gentle exercise?
Well, now’s your chance. There’s to be a bike ride from Thame to Towersey along the Phoenix Trail especially for you – next Sunday, June 8.

Call Cathy: 01844 261430 for details

Prize draw to win a bike! www.fivemilestofabulous.com

BUSES in the area came up for some discussion at a recent meeting of Thame Town Council’s Planning Committee.
After pointing out that without county council subsidy, there would be no local public transport, Cllr Jeanette Matelot-Green, the town council’s Transport representative, reported back some changes in the Oxfordshire Local Travel Plan Bus Strategy:
1. The revenue budget is to be increased by 25%.
2. The Rural Bus Subsidy Grant would subsequently come
from the government.
3. With any new development, the council expects
developers themselves to subsidise any public
transport until that transport became viable.
4. There will now be only one review per year
instead of two. Thame and Wheatley will next be
reviewed in 2011.
5. If a service is stopped, it will now have to wait
10 years to be reconsidered for support.
6. Tenders for joint public and schools services will
no longer be sought, but school pupils and the
public kept separate.
7. New bus services will not be introduced if there
is another service available within 400 m i.e.
quarter of a mile.
8. If the cost per passenger is less than

FOLLOWING a public consultation, Oxfordshire County Council has now approved the implementation of a reduction of the speed limit on the Thame Bypass.
No official date for the commencement of a 40mph speed limit for the stretch between the Aylesbury roundabout and the Chinnor roundabout, has yet been announced.

TRAINS between Marlebone and Snowhill, Birmingham, (that includes Haddenham & Thame Parkway) are currently suffering delays.
This is due to a fatality in the Kings Sutton area.

CHILTERN Railways has launched its new summer timetable which comes into effect next Sunday, May 18.
Full copies of the new timetable are now available at all Chiltern Railways staffed stations and on the website at www.chilternrailways.co.uk.

Adrian Shooter, Chairman of Chiltern Railways said: ?We listen to our passengers and work hard to give them the high quality service they demand. This means that we often have to adjust our timetable to meet the needs of our passengers and continue to deliver these landmark punctuality rates.?

The main changes include: