Oxford Bus Group has been renamed Go Thames Valley to reflect its network expansion.
The group of companies consisting of Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses, Pulhams, Pearces Coaches and City Sightseeing Oxford, will now sit within the umbrella of Go Thames Valley, owned by parent company The Go-Ahead Group.
The new name better reflects the operating companies’ bus and coach network spanning Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and beyond.
The rebrand was also done in preparation for the pending local government reorganisation which is expected to end the two-tier council system and establish new single-tier unitary councils, along with higher-level regional authorities, therefore changing the make-up of local transport stakeholder authorities.
By introducing Go Thames Valley now, the transition for customers and stakeholders will be seamless.
The new branding has been inspired by the winding River Thames which flows through each county served by Go Thames Valley. While a new overarching brand has been created, each operating company will retain its established brand, alongside its existing website, email and social media channels, ensuring customers continue to engage with the local businesses they know and trust.
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Go Thames Valley, said: “The new name for our group of companies better reflects who we are as a business, our market position and where we are going.
“This will provide greater clarity and longevity for us as we continue to develop our network and adjust to local government reorganisation.
“Go Thames Valley ensures we are ready for devolution and more relevant to the communities we serve, while future planning and fuelling continued local growth.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for stakeholders to navigate the changes associated with local government restructure and believe this step will allow us to do just that.
“While each of our companies has its own history, identity and local connections, they share a common purpose: delivering safe, reliable and welcoming sustainable transport that supports our communities.
“Our parent company remains Go-Ahead Group and as part of the group’s network of operating companies we are all committed to creating a transport network that is accessible, sustainable and built around the needs of our customers.”
Go-Ahead Group bought Pulhams in June 2023 and acquired Pearces in March 2025, while in July 2024, Carousel stepped in to replace a large number of services following the closure of Arriva’s Buckinghamshire depots.
Go Thames Valley employs 1,300 people across the group and has a portfolio consisting of 540 vehicles, including 132 electric vehicles.
For more information about Go Thames Valley, please visit: www.gothamesvalley.co.uk
