Reading Buses to operate some local buses in Slough

[overthewater]

An interesting point made in the timetable for that new 702/703

route 10 is run by Courtney Buses - Green Line tickets are accepted on these journeys. Courtney tickets are only valid on Green Line 703 between Bracknell and Heathrow

 

[alex397]

Looks like First are trying to combat the new 703, as they are starting a 'fast' service between Windsor, Slough and T5 :

First Berkshire is in final stages of introducing a fast bus link connecting Windsor, Slough and Heathrow Terminal 5, the company announced. Airport workers in particular, as well as people needing to catch an early flight, will benefit from the service which starts just after 4am. The new service 9 starts on 2 June and will run 7 days a week, every 30 minutes Mondays to Saturdays and hourly on Sundays. The Service 9 will also link with Service 8 to form a circular service, calling at Slough, Terminal 5, Staines, Egham, Windsor, Slough.
​

https://www.firstgroup.com/berkshir...ws/coming-soon-fast-frequent-bus-link-between

This latest decision from First reminds me of a toddler who gets bored of their toy, but as soon as another child comes along to play with that toy, the toddler suddenly really wants to play with that toy again. Absolutely ridiculous.
In the bus industry of 2018, I really don't think there is room for competition. Either Reading or First will eventually deregister their Heathrow route (as has been seen with Courtney vs Reading on the 2 route). Lets hope Reading really succeed with the 703, as they are clearly the better operator. As we have seen with the Thames Valley and Greenline operations, they are an operator who put a huge amount of effort into trying to make a route successful.

 

[Volvodart]

From https://twitter.com/GreenLine702

@johnbickerton and I visited the @Optaregroup factory in Leeds last week. What a change in two years! A really busy factory and an upbeat and can do attitude all round. Today we’re delighted to announce that we’ve placed the inaugural order for 5x Metrodecker’s for @GreenLine702

 

[83G/84D]

Slightly off topic but I was chatting to a Reading buses driver at lunchtime whilst they were on a break. They said that the company were supplying drivers for rail replacement services in Devon for this week. Seems a strange arrangement if it is true.

 

[Hophead]

Slightly off topic but I was chatting to a Reading buses driver at lunchtime whilst they were on a break. They said that the company were supplying drivers for rail replacement services in Devon for this week. Seems a strange arrangement if it is true.

They've been spotted at Three Bridges (running down to Brighton) this year as well

 

[Wirewiper]

Slightly off topic but I was chatting to a Reading buses driver at lunchtime whilst they were on a break. They said that the company were supplying drivers for rail replacement services in Devon for this week. Seems a strange arrangement if it is true.

There was engineering work at Cowley Bridge Junction on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday last week - the long-delayed flood resilience work has finally gone ahead. This meant rail replacement buses between Taunton/Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St Davids; also Exeter St David's and Barnstaple.

Given this was a midweek job during school term time, I imagine it would have been quite difficult to source all the vehicles and drivers required locally.

 

[Bungle965]

From https://twitter.com/GreenLine702

When I was in London on Friday I saw one of the new Metrodecker's in service unless I am missing something that seems to have gone unnoticed.
Sam

 

[class387]

When I was in London on Friday I saw one of the new Metrodecker's in service unless I am missing something that seems to have gone unnoticed.
Sam

Metrodecker demonstrator YJ16DFG (899) is on long term loan to Reading Buses and has been repainted into Greenline livery, so that would have been what you saw.

 

[Bungle965]

Metrodecker demonstrator YJ16DFG (899) is on long term loan to Reading Buses and has been repainted into Greenline livery, so that would have been what you saw.

Oops apologies that would have been what I saw then!
Sam

 

[Wirewiper]

Reading Transport Ltd. are now taking on the contract for National Express route 925, the Woking Station - Heathrow Airport service (this was until recently numbered 701 but was changed to "Woking 925").

The new contract commences on Monday 17th September and will be part of the Thames Valley Buses operation based at Slough.

 

[Surreyman]

Reading Transport Ltd. are now taking on the contract for National Express route 925, the Woking Station - Heathrow Airport service (this was until recently numbered 701 but was changed to "Woking 925").

The new contract commences on Monday 17th September and will be part of the Thames Valley Buses operation based at Slough.

OLD News!!

 

[Wirewiper]

OLD News!!

Not in this thread it isn't. I don't see it mentioned in any of the other posts in this thread.

 

[goldisgood]

I'm not completely sure how true is this, but apparantly RB have bought Newbury and District's bus services effective today. Anyone know anything more? There is no mention of this on the RB or N&D websites.

 

[jammy36]

I'm not completely sure how true is this, but apparantly RB have bought Newbury and District's bus services effective today. Anyone know anything more? There is no mention of this on the RB or N&D websites.

I'm not sure if it's connected, but RB's Head of Engineering has posted a "teaser shot" on Twitter of a Reading vehicle parked in ?N&D's compound.

I guess it's the usual case of wait and see.

 

[goldisgood]

I'm not sure if it's connected, but RB's Head of Engineering has posted a "teaser shot" on Twitter of a Reading vehicle parked in ?N&D's compound.

I guess it's the usual case of wait and see.

I saw that too. I think that the 1 is contracted to N&D anyway though? But seems peculiar to post that at this moment...

 

[jammy36]

I saw that too. I think that the 1 is contracted to N&D anyway though? But seems peculiar to post that at this moment...

It used to be, but that hasn't been the case for some time now.

 

[silverfoxcc]

Reading Transport Ltd. are now taking on the contract for National Express route 925, the Woking Station - Heathrow Airport service (this was until recently numbered 701 but was changed to "Woking 925").

The new contract commences on Monday 17th September and will be part of the Thames Valley Buses operation based at Slough.

Ahh the Dolly Parton tour bus

 

[Volvodart]

BUS services in Newbury have been taken over by Reading Buses

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/...-by-reading-buses-as-part-of-expansion-plans/

Newbury bus services taken over by Reading Buses as part of expansion plans
By Luke Adams
Reporter

The Newbury & District operation in the Newbury and Thatcham area employs more than 600 staff.

Reading Buses' interim head Tony Pettitt said the acquisition fitted well with the company's current expansion and would help strengthen services in West Berkshire.

The interim chief executive officer said: "We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Newbury & District's operation in the Newbury and Thatcham area.

"We have been looking at ways of strengthening and expanding our network and after the recent success with our Green Line and Thames Valley services to the east of Reading we realised we had a great opportunity on our own doorstep.

"We will be sorting out all the details and ensuring there is a smooth transition so that customers will see no disruption to their services.

"Initially, Newbury & District will be running all of their services exactly as at present whilst further into the future we may look at merging some routes and harmonising branding."

 

[Deerfold]

BUS services in Newbury have been taken over by Reading Buses

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/...-by-reading-buses-as-part-of-expansion-plans/

600 staff? Isn't their PVR under 10? With no evening or Sunday services.

 

[Robertj21a]

BUS services in Newbury have been taken over by Reading Buses

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/...-by-reading-buses-as-part-of-expansion-plans/

There's something wrong with that article. Quite apart from them not having anything like 600 staff, I thought this news about Reading taking over the Newbury work was announced a while back.

 

[Surreyman]

There's something wrong with that article. Quite apart from them not having anything like 600 staff, I thought this news about Reading taking over the Newbury work was announced a while back.

I think they mean 600 staff for the whole combined operation, i.e most of them are employed by Reading Transport.

 

[goldisgood]

A fairly large section of route 5 in Slough will now be ran commercially. https://www.reading-buses.co.uk/timetable-and-fares-change-monday-29-october

We have been in talks with Slough Borough Council and are now happy to confirm that we have taken over the running of route 5 in Slough commercially!

We will be running the section between Slough Bus Station and Moor Furlong with Slough Council providing funding for the Cippenham section past this point.

It's been a fairly big success by the look of things, with (I think) 2 Solos, an Enviro 200 MMC and a Streetlite now operating the service, the Streetlite to deal with the Solos being unable to cope!