History of the Company

Public transport in Oxford commenced with a horse tram service between Magdalen Road and the Stations with the first trams running on December 1st 1881. Since Oxford has a very large transient population of University students, travel on public transport has and always has had a very important part to play in everyday life. Expansion was rapid and horse trams were still running in 1913 ! The tramway company started running its own motor buses on 30th December 1913. However William Morris, later to become Lord Nuffield, had started services on 5th December of the same year, using Daimlers. In January of 1914, Morris a proposal was made that his services should be taken over to prevent wasteful competition and on May 22nd an agreement was reached and services were thereafter run by Oxford & District Tramways.   Services run were:

Similarities can be seen today in the routes and the 1 is now the 52, running to Blackbird Leys.

In 1921 the company became The City of Oxford Motor Services and expansion continued including country services and eventually the companies buses could be seen in places such as Abingdon, Aylesbury, Banbury, Bicester, Buckingham, Henley, High Wycombe, Lechlade, Moreton-in-the-Marsh,Reading, Wantage and Witney.

The company was a BET company until 1968. In 1969 it became a subsidiary of the National Bus Company and on January 1st 1971, the fleet of South Midland, who operated coach services to London by both Henley and High Wycombe, was incorporated into the main fleet. Thereafter the vehicles carried the fleet name "Oxford-South Midland".

Pending the Government privatisation of bus companies, Oxford and South Midland were split, giving city services to Oxford and country services to South Midland. Coaching operations to London remained with Oxford since in 1978, the company had introduced the 190 Motorway service to London which today is the X90 service.

In 1987, following deregulation of bus services, the company was purchased by its then management and a period of consolidation followed. Competition was provided by a newcomer to the City when Thames Transit introduced a fleet of minibuses to City services, in a way replicating the position in 1913 with William Morris. At the same time Thames Transit also introduced a competing coach service to London, The Oxford Tube, thus contributing to what is probably now the world's most intensive express coach service.

In 1994 the management team sold out to The Go Ahead Group who today run the company, allowing it a deal of autonomy in its direction. New developments are planned, including Low Floor buses and a revamped Park & Ride fleet. Some £1.6 million has just been spent on updating the coach fleet which now boasts Air Conditioning and seat belts on its coaches.

The present depot in Cowley Road was opened in 1924 and today provides the company with an excellent facility for its fleet. Most of the buses and coaches can be housed under cover. Major maintenance and overhauls are done "in house" in well equipped workshops and painting is still done by hand in the paintshop. 

In 2000, the company embarked on a revamp of its image. The names Cityline and Citylink being replaced by the Oxford bus company and the Oxford express, bringing the company more of a link with the city it serves. New deliveries entered service with the new logos whilst older buses and coaches were rebranded as time permitted.

For those interested in the buses and coaches operated, details are given of the present fleet under the headings of the service type on which they operate. Photographs are available for each type in service with livery variations where appropriate. These are provided through clicking on the fleet number which will enable you to see the appropriate photograph. Click on the brand logo below to view the pages of fleet information.

(This history will be updated and enlarged as time permits - your contributions would be welcome !)

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