OXFORD SmartZone, a ticketing arrangement allowing passengers to travel with both major bus companies, has announced key fares are to be frozen for 2019.

The first arrangement of its kind in the UK, the Oxford SmartZone was introduced in July 2011 to make bus travel around the city simpler, cheaper and greener.

It saw Stagecoach Oxfordshire, Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel agree to accept each other’s tickets mainly within Oxford city, and coordinate timetables, to create one major bus network.

Now bus bosses have announced that fares for its weekly tickets, popular five-day and 12-trip bundles have been frozen for 2019. This marks the third consecutive year that these fares have not increased.

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The SmartZone bus companies, comprising of Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach and Thames Travel, have confirmed only fares for the four, 13 and 52-week tickets will see inflationary increases from January 27.

There will be a £2 increase for the adult four-week passes and a £5 increase for adult 13-week passes. In a joint statement, Oxford SmartZone operators, said: “We’re delighted to announce we’re freezing the majority of our fares for a third consecutive year.