06/02/2007
- Pilot on 24-hour Oxford Tube link to London made permanent
- Customers attracted by free email and web access on the move
- New journeys for Europe’s most frequent express coach service
Passengers have switched from the train to Stagecoach’s Oxford Tube service to London after the company offered customers free email and web access as part of a trial of Wi-Fi technology.
Around 4,500 users registered for the service during the three-month trial, which saw all 25
Research by Oxford Tube has revealed that a number of commuters have transferred from the railways and from the rival Oxford Espress coach operator due to the popularity of the free Wi-Fi service.
The trial has been such a massive success – with more than 16,000 online sessions and an average duration of 42 minutes - that the service is being made permanent from today (6 February 2007).
Oxford Tube is also improving its timetable in April with the introduction of two extra morning peak journeys to meet the increased demand.
Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group, said: “Many of our passengers on Oxford Tube are commuters and students, and we have had a huge amount of positive feedback about the Wi-Fi service.
"It puts Stagecoach at the forefront of offering next-generation on-board services for coach customers and we are delighted it is helping win new passengers to Oxford Tube."
Oxford Tube, which runs a 24-hour service every day of the year with coaches leaving up to every 10 minutes at peak times, is Europe’s most frequent express service.
The entire fleet was replaced two years ago at a cost of £8 million - the UK’s biggest investment in new vehicles on a single route - allowing more than 6,000 passengers a day to travel on the service to London.
The 81-seat double-decker coaches are fully wheelchair-accessible with low-floors and air-conditioning. Featuring reclining seats, generous legroom, seatbelts, toilets and powerpoints for laptops and mobile phones, they are also equipped with CCTV technology for additional passenger security.
Stagecoach's trial of the Wi-Fi technology also included the first major deployment of Moovera’s moovTrac vehicle tracking system. It gives Stagecoach a real-time at-a-glance view of its fleet and precise locations of individual vehicles on the road via the web.
Jim Baker, founder and Chief Executive of Moovera Networks, said: "We're delighted that the Wi-Fi trial has been such a great success. The sheer number of users who have taken advantage of the service over the last three months clearly demonstrates its popularity.
"With the Oxford Tube Wi-Fi and built-in GPS tracking, Stagecoach has pioneered a new class of
Oxford Tube services run up to every 10 minutes between Oxford and London – stopping at Lewknor, Hillingdon, Shepherds Bush, Notting Hill, Marble Arch and Victoria.
A secure e-commerce website, www.oxfordtube.com, allows customers to book single, return and period tickets online as well as access timetable and service information.
Oxford Tube also supplies complimentary breakfast and newspapers on its early morning commuter services.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Steve Stewart, Head of Media and Public Affairs, Stagecoach Group
Tel: 01738 442111
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Oxford Tube was launched in 1987 with a 30-minute frequency and since 1993 has run
24-hours-a-day. It runs every day of the year, including Christmas Day. - Annual passenger volumes have grown from 230,000 in 1987 to nearly 2 million today.
- On average a passenger boards the Oxford Tube every 20 seconds.
- The Oxford Tube fleet of coaches travels the equivalent of nearly three times around the globe every week!
