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Post by wirewiper on May 15, 2021 9:26:51 GMT
On a visit to Reading town centre this week, there seemed to be a lot (by Reading standards) of 'odd workings', including two or three Vodafone (plain red) buses on Reading urban routes, including a d/d on the 17. The Vodafone buses have been at Reading for some time, partly to provide additional school workings (mostly 'school pupils only' routes) for some time, and the single deckers did have a brief spell on the 500 (Winnersh Triangle park and ride) between lockdowns. From its latest reinstatement, the 500 has been former Greenwave single deckers repainted for the route, the previous route 500 buses have been repainted orange for the 19 Earley / Woodley services, cascading the former 'little orange' midis to Thames Valley. I have not seen any 'Royal Blue 33' buses on the road in my last few visits to Reading - I think they may still be de-licensed. 701-705 are still SORN - I don;t know why this particular batch was chosen. These are the royal blue 33 CNG-powered Scania/ADL E400 MMCs which at the time of entering service were the first gas-powered double-deckers in the world.
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Post by Catford94 on May 21, 2021 22:31:03 GMT
Reading Buses' open top bus will (weather permitting) be running a half hourly town tour on Saturdays 29 May and 5 June - free service but donations invited towards the company's current adopted charity (since this year's open day is off) www.reading-buses.co.uk/charity-open-top-bus-tours
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Post by wirewiper on Jun 18, 2021 16:59:16 GMT
Thames Valley Buses is running "extras" between Windsor and Legoland, as route 700. The extras commenced on 29th May and operate on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays for now, ramping up to a daily service from 24th July until 31st August. A group day ticket (up to four people, any age) is £10 and can also be used on the 702 and 703. www.thamesvalleybuses.com/legoland2021
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Post by wirewiper on Jul 5, 2021 17:54:41 GMT
Open-top President-bodied Trident 520 is on loan to Cardiff Bus where it is operating a summer service around Cardiff Bay. 520 was originally with Lothan Buses and was latterly used as a sightseeing bus. It is unofficially named "Fernanda" after a local newspaper misreported a Reading Buses tweet and ascribed the driver's name to the vehicle!
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Post by wirewiper on Jul 11, 2021 10:39:58 GMT
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Post by MoEnviro on Jul 11, 2021 11:09:58 GMT
Its LF69UXJ the BYD/ADL E400 demo
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Post by wirewiper on Jul 11, 2021 11:20:36 GMT
Its LF69UXJ the BYD/ADL E400 demo Thanks!
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Post by bus12451 on Jul 11, 2021 13:12:43 GMT
Its LF69UXJ the BYD/ADL E400 demo That's interesting because this now means that the 17 has seen three variants of the Enviro400 with City bodywork: Enviro400CBG City (the current fleet in Purple 17 livery) Enviro400H City (ex demo SN65OHP) Enviro400EV City (LF69UXJ)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2021 22:08:11 GMT
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Post by wirewiper on Jul 14, 2021 17:26:54 GMT
Reading Buses is making changes to some of its timetables from Monday 26th July. Some of these are temporary for the school Summer Holiday period and reflect the lower numbers travelling and traffic conditions. Emerald 5/6 - minor changes to times for the Summer period Orange 13/14 - revised Monday-Friday timetable with slight reduction in morning peak frequency. The Friday/Saturday 00.30, 01.30 and 02.30 late-night route 13 departures from Central Reading are reinstated from 30th July. Sky blue 15 - new timetable. Monday-Saturday daytime frequency will be every 20 minutes between Central Reading and Tilehurst, with one journey an hour to/from Calcot IKEA. Purple 17 - minor changes to times for the Summer period. A 30-minute frequency will be restored between 23.30 and 03.00 on Friday and Saturday nights from 30th July. Yellow 26 - new timetable with slightly reduced morning peak frequency. Green Line 702 - minor changes to timetable for the Summer period, plus extra journeys between London Victoria and Legoland operating as route 701 (not serving Slough) - this change takes effect from Saturday 24th July. No changes to 703. www.reading-buses.co.uk/summer-timetable-change
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Post by LondonNorthern on Jul 14, 2021 20:04:45 GMT
Open-top President-bodied Trident 520 is on loan to Cardiff Bus where it is operating a summer service around Cardiff Bay. 520 was originally with Lothan Buses and was latterly used as a sightseeing bus. It is unofficially named "Fernanda" after a local newspaper misreported a Reading Buses tweet and ascribed the driver's name to the vehicle! Given how many open toppers are on the market (The Ayats Bravos, DAF DB250s, Volvo B9TL) it's interesting that they are hiring a bus from Reading Buses.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2021 20:11:25 GMT
Open-top President-bodied Trident 520 is on loan to Cardiff Bus where it is operating a summer service around Cardiff Bay. 520 was originally with Lothan Buses and was latterly used as a sightseeing bus. It is unofficially named "Fernanda" after a local newspaper misreported a Reading Buses tweet and ascribed the driver's name to the vehicle! Given how many open toppers are on the market (The Ayats Bravos, DAF DB250s, Volvo B9TL) it's interesting that they are hiring a bus from Reading Buses. Could it be that they are just wanting to trial it this year and see how it performs, before committing to purchasing anything? And it doubles up as some regular income to Reading Buses for its use, rather than just occasional trips out in service on sunny days and maybe the odd private hire?
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Post by LondonNorthern on Jul 14, 2021 20:45:25 GMT
Given how many open toppers are on the market (The Ayats Bravos, DAF DB250s, Volvo B9TL) it's interesting that they are hiring a bus from Reading Buses. Could it be that they are just wanting to trial it this year and see how it performs, before committing to purchasing anything? And it doubles up as some regular income to Reading Buses for its use, rather than just occasional trips out in service on sunny days and maybe the odd private hire? That is definitely likely and obviously it's a low cost experiment. But I am confused as particularly the DB250s seem to be perfect for testing out ventures, low cost most likely due to them being
~20 years old and could even have a customisable livery?
Not trying to slag off Cardiff Bus because they are a great operator and they are doing what's good for them so not trying to downgrade them.
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Post by wirewiper on Jul 15, 2021 7:18:17 GMT
Reading Buses is reintroducing its F-prefix football specials in a limited way, with the Reading v West Ham friendly on Wednesday 21st July.
Route F1 will operate from Reading Station (Station Hill, stop WS) to Madejski Stadium at frequent intervals from 17.00 to 18.45, and will return at frequent intervals after final whistle with last departure expected to be around 21.40.
Route F2 will operate Between Shinfield Park Park & Ride site and Madejski Stadium.
Route F3 is a new service and will operate between Mereoak Park & Ride and Madejski Stadium. It replaces the 60f following the restructuring of the Greenwave routes last year.
The other F-prefix services will not operate for this fixture although passengers can travel into Central Reading by normal services to connect up with the F1.
The return fares are:
F1 - adult £3; under 19s £2.50. F2 and F3 - adult £5; under 19s £2.20; group £6 (these fares include parking) Concessionary passes are not valid for free travel but there is a special fare of £1.50 for pass holders.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2021 9:49:57 GMT
On the topic of F services, registrations for new routes F51 and F52 to Basingstoke and Farnborough are effective 7th August under the Newbury & District licence, according to latest West of England Traffic Commissioner Notices & Proceedings publication. These replace cancelled equivalent Stagecoach-operated 951/952, who have also cancelled their 953/954 Wokingham/Bracknell services.
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