Great Western Railway (GWR) and Pulhams Coaches have announced that they are working in partnership to make it easier for passengers to travel around the Cotswolds.

The two public transport providers have agreed to introduce a single ticket that can be used on both trains and buses.

Under the partnership, GWR’s Rail Link network now includes Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Norton.

This enables passengers to take a GWR train service to Moreton-in-Marsh station, and then connect to a Pulhams’ 801 bus service to reach their destination.

GWR has officially designated the Pulhams 801 service as a GWR Rail Link route.

Buses will have joint GWR and Pulhams branding, to make it easier for passengers to find their connecting service and to reflect the closer collaboration between the two operators.

GWR has set up connections between bus and train services in other areas as well, including in Somerset and in Cornwall, encouraging passengers to use combinations of public transport modes to complete their journeys.

Pulhams has recently increased the frequency of its 801 bus service, with buses now running every hour during the day, and the addition of extra journeys in the late evenings and on Sundays. This has seen the number of passengers using the route rise by 60 per cent.

The same ticket will cover both the train trip and the onward bus journey. Passengers can buy the ticket on the GWR website and receive it as an e-ticket.

Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire County Councils have both welcomed the initiative, with the latter’s cabinet member for sustainable transport and road safety, Cllr Roger Whyborn, describing the new partnership as the county’s “first fully-integrated rail-bus service”.

GWR sees its expansion of its Rail Link network as part of its broader efforts to make it easier for people to access integrated and sustainable travel.

“Good, efficient local transport links are vital in bringing the railway closer to people as we become more mindful of the need to live and travel more sustainably, and in supporting the local economies we serve.

“The Cotswolds is a really important destination for the community on this part of our network, for residents and visitors alike, and we are delighted to have worked with Gloucestershire County Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Pulhams to deliver these improvements.”

GWR Transport Integration Manager, Nick Reid