Thamesdown Transport
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Wright Solar bodied Scania K230UB at the 2008 Alton bus rally at Anstey Park.
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| Parent | Go-Ahead Group |
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| Founded | September 1904 |
| Headquarters | Swindon |
| Service area | Swindon |
| Service type | Bus services |
| Fleet | 85 (February 2017) |
| Website | www.thamesdown-transport.co.uk |
Thamesdown Transport is a bus operator, serving Swindon and the surrounding area. Previously owned by Swindon Borough Council, in February 2017 ownership passed to the Go-Ahead Group.
Thamesdown Transport has its origins in 1904, when Swindon Corporation started to operate electric trams. Bus operation started in 1927 and two years later all the trams were replaced.
On local government re-organisation in April 1974, the functions of the corporation were transferred to the new Thamesdown district, and the name of the bus operation was changed to Thamesdown Transport. To comply with the Transport Act 1985, the operation was transferred into a separate legal entity.Swindon Borough Council retained ownership from 1986 until the company was sold to the Go-Ahead Group in February 2017. It will be integrated into its Go South Coast subsidiary.
During the 1980s, operations were expanded to rural areas around Swindon, to replace services withdrawn by Alder Valley and Bristol Omnibus Company.
Thamesdown implemented a fastFare system on 1 August 2005 in which passengers must pay the exact fare as change will not be given by the driver. This has generated some criticism as its implementation often results in passengers paying more than the necessary fare. This can be due to not having the correct change or, more commonly, tourists and visitors being unaware of the policy until after they have deposited money. The reasoning behind the policy is that if the driver does not have to deal with giving change, passenger loading times are shortened, resulting in a faster and more reliable service. It also reduces the risk of attacks on drivers.
Swindon's other main bus company Stagecoach West does not participate in the scheme. Tickets are valid on both companies services for the majority of destinations in the Swindon Urban Area and beyond, with Stagecoach providing Sunday services to the region.
Thamesdown have also implemented a Text and Go service, where passengers can send an SMS message containing a seven digit bus stop identifier to a premium number to receive information about the next three buses due to arrive at that stop.
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