THAMESDOWN Transport is set to roll out the largest overhaul of its bus services in over a decade across Swindon tomorrow (Dec 8).

The changes will see all but one service have either their timetable altered or route extended in a move which the bus company say has been made to accommodate the changing needs of passengers in the town.

Notable changes include a direct connection between Highworth and the Orbital Shopping Centre and a bus to the Great Western Hospital every 10 minutes.

Commercial director of Thamesdown Transport Peter Oliver said he hopes passengers familiarise themselves with the new services online.

He added: “These are big changes coming into effect and we hope that the new network will be well received by people.

“The town centre is really important to use and I don’t want to retract from that how important it is to us as a bus company. but we have spent a lot of time looking at North Swindon in particular, which is almost developing into a town in its own right, and that is why the biggest changes will take place in the Oakhurst area.

“We believe the changes are going to be a positive move for passengers and we hope they are received well but we understand it might take a couple of weeks for people to get used to their adjusted service.”

Thamesdown’s Service 12, which covers North Swindon, will be extended with a new route to serve Blunsdon and Highworth. Passengers in Haydon End who previously used the Service 12 will be able to use an amended Service 15/15A.

The Orbital Centre will also connect with Eldene and Liden via Regent Circus (Service 13/14) and with Middle Wichel through Taw Hill and Oakhurst (Service 15/15A).

Another major change will see a bus stop at the Great Western Hospital every ten minutes, in which Services 1/1A and 16 will combine to provide a single service with a new route and timetable from Fleming Way to the hospital.

Mr Oliver added that due to the volume of changes to Thamesdown’s services, he felt it was paramount to advertise them in plenty of time to let people familiarise themselves with the new timetables before they came into force.

He said: “Historically, Thamesdown Transport has left it, for various reasons, to a week or 10 days before the changes come into force. But this time we have done it much more in advance and I hope this is how we will continue to do things moving forward.

“The thing I am most excited about is the service running from Highworth and Orbital because that is completely new and hopefully it will be a success.

“We have very high hopes for the new services and we are hoping they will all be very popular.

“In Swindon around 95 per cent of our network relies on the fare box and we are the masters of our own destiny in that sense. It is in the interests of the company, its workers and passengers to run a network that people want to use and are happy to use and we hope these changes encourage that.”

For more information, visit www.thamesdown-transport.co.uk