The River Rapids Route and New X40 Buses – Welcome to Thames Travel

What: The River Rapids Route and New X40 Buses – Welcome to Thames Travel

When: 14 September 2026 - 18:00 - 19:30

Where: Thames Travel, Collett, Didcot, OX11 7WB

The Thames Valley Group are delighted to have secured a tour and visit from Luke Marion, Managing Director & Glenn De Sousa, Commercial Director .

***Note to assist persons travelling to Thames Travel , they have kindly arranged a Shuttle bus to pick up members from Didcot Station at 17:45

***Thames Travel have requested guests bring a high viz vest

Thames Travel is based in Didcot, Oxfordshire. The Company started in 1998 with a fleet of four vehicles and has gone from strength to strength, expanding to its position as the third-largest bus operator in Oxfordshire.

They employ about 150 colleagues and maintain a fleet of over 60 vehicles. Their services cover the geographical area of South Oxfordshire and into Berkshire, usually carrying over 3 million passengers per year.

Thames Travel strive to make their services accessible and safe for everybody by providing low floor, easy access vehicles fitted with the latest CCTV technology, spacious wheelchair and buggy areas, and user-friendly timetable information. Our drivers are trained to the highest standards including customer service skills.

The environment is a primary concern of Thames Travel, and they have invested in a large number of ultra-low emission Euro 6 rated buses in recent years. Many of their buses have "stop-start" technology, which turns the engine off when at bus stops.

As a result Thames Travel is introduced 10 new ultra-low-emission buses for its X40 River Rapids service, which runs between Reading and Oxford, via Wallingford.

The investment also supports an upgraded timetable, which launched on August 3rd 2025, with services running every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes at weekends in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council. Night bus service improvements were also introduced from the same date, including the return of the NX40 service to Reading, in partnership with Reading Borough Council.

In all, Thames Travel aims to secure confidence in both customers and colleagues and make them feel that they are part of a forward-thinking, innovative company that cares for the people and environment of our region.

As you will learn from Luke and Glenn, these are exciting times for bus passengers in Oxfordshire, including those on the growing Thames Travel network of services, such as the River Rapids corridor between Oxford, Wallingford and Reading.

As usual with Thames Valley Group events, afterwards attendees are warmly invited to continue the evening at the Prince of Wales Public House outside Didcot Station.

Booking for Members - Free & Non-Members -£5.00

Note: If you are not a current Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, please be aware our membership team may be in touch with you using your email address provided regards membership opportunities. If you do not wish to be contacted please email and let us know at [email protected]

Competencies;

• PAS1.1 Passenger Movement Principles
• PAS2.3 Access, Inclusion and Sustainability through Transport
• SUS1.1 Social, Economic and Environmental Resilience