Thamesdown Transport

Infobox Bus transit
name = Thamesdown Transport
slogan = Let's go traveling!

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logo_size = 250


image_size = 250
image_caption = One of Thamesdown's Scania/Wright Solars
founded = 1904
headquarters = Swindon
locale = Borough of Swindon
service_area = UK
service_type = Urban and interurban bus services, school bus, Park and Ride
destinations = Swindon Urban Area, Aldbourne, Ashton Keynes, Avebury, Axford, Baydon, Beckhampton, Berwick Bassett, Bishopstone, Broad Hinton, Cricklade, East Kennet, Foxhill, Fyfield, Greatfield, Hinton Parva, Idstone, Kingstone Lisle, Lambourn, Leigh, Liddington, Lockeridge, Lydiard Millicent, Manton, Marlborough, Mildenhall, Newbury, Purton, Purton Stoke, Ramsbury, Stitchcombe, Uffington, Wanborough, West Kennet, West Overton, Winterbourne Bassett, Winterbourne Monkton
fleet = 112 buses
bus types = Dennis Dart SLF/SPD, Scania L94/K230, Dennis Dominator, Volvo Olympian, Leyland Fleetline, Leyland Olympian.
operator = Thamesdown Transport Ltd
ceo = Paul Jenkins
website = [http://www.thamesdown-transport.co.uk/ www.thamesdown-transport.co.uk]

Thamesdown Transport is a bus operator serving the town of Swindon and the surrounding area in the Borough of Swindon and county of Wiltshire. The company is owned by Thamesdown Transport Ltd and Swindon Borough Council holds the majority of the shares. As such, it is one of the few remaining municipal bus companies in the UK.

Operations

The current fleet is comprised of 112 buses and 5 ancillary vehicles (including recovery and repair vehicles).Cite web|url=http://www.thamesdown-transport.co.uk/latest/scripts/fleetcodes-0107.doc|title=Fleet Codes|accessdate=2007-01-09|publisher=Thamesdown Transport|format=DOC] Low Floor single decker buses are steadily replacing double deckers in all routes with the larger buses now repainted yellow and used mainly as school buses during term time.ch

Thamesdown implemented a "fastFare" system on 1 August 2005 in which passengers must pay the exact fare as change will not be given by the driver.Cite web|url=http://archive.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/2005/8/2/80840.html|title=Just the exact change please|accessdate=2007-01-09|publisher=Swindon Advertiser|author=Lyndsay Scanlan] This has generated some criticism as its implementation often results in passengers paying more than the necessary fare.Cite web|url=http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2005/11/5/253616.html|title=Expensive and inconvenient as well|accessdate=2007-01-09|publisher=thisiswiltshire.co.uk|author=S Watson] This can be due to not having the correct change or, more commonly, tourists and visitors being unaware of the policy until after they have deposited money. The reasoning behind the policy is that if the driver does not have to deal with giving change, passenger loading times are shortened, resulting in a faster and more reliable service. It also reduce the risk of attacks on drivers.

Swindon's other main bus company Stagecoach in Swindon does not participate in the scheme.Cite web|url=http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2005/7/25/81444.html|title=No change in bus company's policy|accessdate=2007-01-09|publisher=Swindon Advertiser] Tickets are valid on both companies services for the majority of destinations in the Swindon Urban Area and beyond, with Stagecoach providing Sunday services to the region.

Thamesdown have also implemented a Text and Go service, where passengers can send an SMS message containing a seven digit bus stop identifier to a premium number to receive information about the next three buses due to arrive at that stop.Cite web|url=http://www.thamesdown-transport.co.uk/text_go/text_go.htm|title=Text and Go|accessdate=2007-01-09|publisher=Thamesdown Transport]

Bus types

Dayrider and Dayrider Plus

Day Rider tickets allow you to use Thamesdown and Stagecoach buses within the Swindon urban area for the whole day. No time restrictions.

Day Rider Plus tickets allow you to use Thamesdown and Stagecoach buses for a wider area including Highworth, South Marston, Bishopstone, Wanborough, Liddington, Chiseldon, Wootton Bassett, Purton, Cricklade and Ashton Keynes.

Travelpass and Travelpass Plus

Travelpasses are travel season tickets for a set period. Purchase entitles you to unlimited travel on the services for the duration of the ticket.

Travelpass tickets give unlimited travel on all Thamesdown and Stagecoach buses within the Swindon area. No time restrictions.

Travelpass Plus tickets are available for a wider area including Highworth, South Marston, Bishopstone, Wanborough, Liddington, Chiseldon, Wootton Bassett, Purton, Cricklade and Ashton Keynes.

Networkcard

Networkcard is a pre-paid system similar to the Oyster Card system used in London. Card's are topped up with money by the user periodically and the amount for each journey is debited by the driver.

ee also

*Buses in Swindon
*List of bus operating companies
*Municipal bus companies

References

External links

* [http://www.thamesdown-transport.co.uk Official website]
* [http://www.swindonbus.info Swindon Borough Council public transport homepage]
* [http://www.swindonweb.com/parkride/ Swindon Park and Ride]
* [http://www.showbus.co.uk/gallery/boc/scptd.htm EFE Showbus photo gallery] - Swindon Corporation Passenger Transport Department and Thamesdown Transport
* [http://www.freewebs.com/svos112168/currentthamesdownfleet.htm Swindon Vintage Omnibus Society] - Fleet information and images