The X5 service to Oxford and Cambridge

One day, I hope, Bletchley will be restored as the key junction on an Oxford to Cambridge rail service. It was that position which made Bletchley Park such an attractive site for the wartime code-breaking centre.

But, until that happens, we do enjoy and excellent and frequent service between Milton Keynes and the two cities which such a pleasure to visit. The X5 service

There is a website about the service at http://www.stagecoachx5.com/

A New timetable is due to come into force tomorrow. The following describes the new timetable.

CAMBRIDGE SERVICE

If you are heading for Cambridge the service can be picked up at stop Y4 at the Central rail station; H3 at the Point; and at Milton Keynes Coachway. The service stops at a number of places including Bedford and St Neots. In Cambridge it will drop you off at Madingley Road Park & Ride (if you let the driver know when you get on) or at Parkside in the City Centre.

On Weekdays the first service leaves the station at 07-00, arriving in Cambridge at 09-40. The next service leaves at 07-30, then from 08-20 services run every 30 minutes at 20 past and 10 to the hour until 17-50. The evening services to Cambridge leave at 18-50, 19-50, 20-50. (The 20-past services between six and eight, and the 21-50,22-50 and 23-50 only  go to Bedford)

On Saturdays the first two services leave at 07-20 and 07-50, then are the same as for weekdays. On Sundays services run hourly at 20-past 9;10;11 and 12 – and from 12-50 every half hour at 20-past and 10-to the hour until 17-50. Evening services run at 18-50; 19-50 and 20-50.

Services LEAVE Cambridge, Parkside at 06-10; 06-40 and 7-00 (first Saturday service is at 07-00 with an extra service at 07-30).  They leave on the hour and half hour until 18-30. On Sundays they run hourly from 08-30 to 11-30 then on the hour and half hour until 16-30. The last two services leave at 17-30 and 18-30.

The journey normally takes about two and a quarter hours (longer at peak times)

OXFORD SERVICE

For Oxford the service can be picked up at stop Z4 at the Central rail station; H4 at the Point; and at Milton Keynes Coachway. The service stops at Buckingham and Bicester. In Oxford it will drop you off at the Gloucester Green bus station near the City Centre.

On Weekdays the first service leaves the station at 05-20, arriving in Oxford at 06-40. The next services leave at 05-50, 06-20, 06-50, 07-20, 07-55, 08-45, 09-05, 09-45 then every 30 minutes at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour until 16-45. The evening services to Oxford leave at 17-25, 17-55, 18-45, 19-45 and 20-45.

On Saturdays the first service leaves at 05-15, then every 30 minutes at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour until 17-45. The evening services to Oxford leave at 18-45, 19-45 and 20-45.  On Sundays services run hourly at a quarter past 6;7;8; 9; and 10. From 10-45 they run every half hour at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour until 16-45. Evening services run at 17-25, 17-55, 18-45, 19-45 and 20-45.

The first weekday and Saturday service LEAVES Oxford, Gloucester Green at 07-00. They leave on the hour and half hour until 19-30. The last three services run at 20-30, 21-30 and 22-30.

Sunday services are hourly from 08-00 until 11-00 then they leave on the hour and half hour until 19-30. The last three services run at 20-30, 21-30 and 22-30.

The journey normally takes about one hour and twenty minutess (longer at peak times)