S6 - Swindon to Oxford

Route S6 is a Stagecoach Gold service operated by Stagecoach West at Swindon depot, running from Swindon to Oxford. It serves Shrivenham, Faringdon and Southmoor including Mollie's Motel & Diner just outside Buckland, and Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Watchfield.

History
Prior to the timetable change on 2nd September 2018, route S6 was numbered the 66. The renumbering coincided with the delivery of 14 brand new ADL Enviro400 MMC integral double decker buses. The exact reason for the change in service number is unknown but it is presumed to be so it can fit in with the other Stagecoach Gold services in Oxfordshire, as the 66 operated almost entirely within Oxfordshire.

For most of its history, route 66 was operated as a single decker service, at one point run by Swindon & District until acquisition by the Stagecoach group. It became a double decker route in January 2012 when it received Stagecoach Gold status with 7 brand new ADL Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD double decker vehicles.

When route 66 received Stagecoach Gold status, it was heavily subsidised by Oxfordshire County Council and operated up to every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday with a service every 60 minutes on a Sunday. However, due to a rise in passenger numbers since the launch, the frequency of the service was increased in May 2014 to every 20 mins on weekdays and Saturdays, Sundays rising to every 30 mins. As a result, 4 additional vehicles of the same model as 2012 were added to the fleet and subsequently the service no longer needs a council subsidy to run.

Since September 2018, peak journeys have increased to every 15 mins with interpeak and Saturdays at every 20 mins, evenings and Sundays at every 30 then 60 mins. Evening journeys were amended in October 2021 at the Swindon end with journeys starting at 25 mins past the hour instead of 40, and a new Faringdon short forming the new last S6 from Swindon at 22:25 an hour after the last S6 to Oxford at 21:25

Route
The service starts at Swindon Bus Station before making its way to Shrivenham and Faringdon via the A420 road. After serving Faringdon, the service continues along the A420 whereby the service also calls at Southmoor before reaching Oxford. Once in Oxford, the service travels down Botley Road leading up to Oxford railway Station and its terminus at Gloucester Green Bus Station.

Daytime journeys take roughly 85 minutes from start to end with weekday peak time journeys adding an average of 15 minutes to the total journey time.

Trivia

 * This is the only Stagecoach Gold route to operate in Oxfordshire that isn't ran by Stagecoach in Oxfordshire.
 * Despite being ran by Stagecoach West, most areas served by route S6 are in Oxfordshire.
 * The Wiltshire Rover multi-operator ticket is valid for the entire route, even the parts in Oxfordshire all the way to Oxford.
 * Some daytime journeys in Watchfield are diverted via the High Street and Shrivenham Hundred Business Park instead of Faringdon Road. They rejoin the main route at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (Swindon bound) and McDonald's/College Farm (Oxford bound). This is to compensate for the loss of route 65 (Faringdon - Swindon via Longcot, Fernham and South Marston village), one of many victims of the 2016 Oxfordshire County Council subsidy cuts