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Post by route53 on Sept 17, 2023 11:35:28 GMT
Who else uses it for commuting or leisure trips? Visiting a friend in Reading from 2017 to 2019, I’d often use this route as far as Bracknell then change for another bus into Reading, it was always fairly well loaded, and was surprised to use it in the PM peaks once and found it was heavily used right up to Windsor.
I haven’t used it since it was cut back to Windsor, nor have I used the new 703 route either and I used the 702 a fair few times pre Covid so I’m wondering if it’s still as popular and busy?
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Post by wirewiper on Sept 17, 2023 12:50:47 GMT
Who else uses it for commuting or leisure trips? Visiting a friend in Reading from 2017 to 2019, I’d often use this route as far as Bracknell then change for another bus into Reading, it was always fairly well loaded, and was surprised to use it in the PM peaks once and found it was heavily used right up to Windsor. I haven’t used it since it was cut back to Windsor, nor have I used the new 703 route either and I used the 702 a fair few times pre Covid so I’m wondering if it’s still as popular and busy? The 702 must be doing OK if investment in new vehicles is justified. The route was split into the overlapping 702 and 703 in May 2018, after Reading Buses had gained experience of operating the 702 since stepping in after First withdrew in December 2017. The split recognised that there were three distinct traffic flows: commuting from Windsor and Slough (and Bracknell to a small extent) into London; leisure traffic from London to Windsor and Legoland; and local traffic between Bracknell and Windsor. Running the 703 to Terminal 5 also recognised the potential for a direct bus between Bracknell and Heathrow Airport, and also allowed Thames Valley Buses to cut back a route between Slough and Dedworth. The 702 still has early morning journeys that start in Reading and operate via Bracknell, with late evening journeys in the reverse direction, these seem to be purely for operational convenience. The 702 is operated by Reading Buses but the 703 is operated by Thames Valley Buses out of Bracknell. |
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Post by route53 on Sept 17, 2023 22:00:04 GMT
Who else uses it for commuting or leisure trips? Visiting a friend in Reading from 2017 to 2019, I’d often use this route as far as Bracknell then change for another bus into Reading, it was always fairly well loaded, and was surprised to use it in the PM peaks once and found it was heavily used right up to Windsor. I haven’t used it since it was cut back to Windsor, nor have I used the new 703 route either and I used the 702 a fair few times pre Covid so I’m wondering if it’s still as popular and busy? The 702 must be doing OK if investment in new vehicles is justified. The route was split into the overlapping 702 and 703 in May 2018, after Reading Buses had gained experience of operating the 702 since stepping in after First withdrew in December 2017. The split recognised that there were three distinct traffic flows: commuting from Windsor and Slough (and Bracknell to a small extent) into London; leisure traffic from London to Windsor and Legoland; and local traffic between Bracknell and Windsor. Running the 703 to Terminal 5 also recognised the potential for a direct bus between Bracknell and Heathrow Airport, and also allowed Thames Valley Buses to cut back a route between Slough and Dedworth. The 702 still has early morning journeys that start in Reading and operate via Bracknell, with late evening journeys in the reverse direction, these seem to be purely for operational convenience. The 702 is operated by Reading Buses but the 703 is operated by Thames Valley Buses out of Bracknell. This is good to know, I may use it again someday 😁 |
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Post by twobellstogo on Sept 18, 2023 6:48:21 GMT
The 702 must be doing OK if investment in new vehicles is justified. The route was split into the overlapping 702 and 703 in May 2018, after Reading Buses had gained experience of operating the 702 since stepping in after First withdrew in December 2017. The split recognised that there were three distinct traffic flows: commuting from Windsor and Slough (and Bracknell to a small extent) into London; leisure traffic from London to Windsor and Legoland; and local traffic between Bracknell and Windsor. Running the 703 to Terminal 5 also recognised the potential for a direct bus between Bracknell and Heathrow Airport, and also allowed Thames Valley Buses to cut back a route between Slough and Dedworth. The 702 still has early morning journeys that start in Reading and operate via Bracknell, with late evening journeys in the reverse direction, these seem to be purely for operational convenience. The 702 is operated by Reading Buses but the 703 is operated by Thames Valley Buses out of Bracknell. This is good to know, I may use it again someday 😁 The one time I tried it, I found a gap in the schedule where a bus or two had been delayed/cancelled and gave it up as a bad job, which was a shame. Hopefully try again next year. |
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Post by galwhv69 on Sept 18, 2023 7:23:53 GMT
I've used it twice after working on the rail replacement at Windsor not long ago to get back to London, and I feel it has been a good investment, very busy with Legoland traffic (most seats full), and the buses seem to be well specced out. It does seem to be suffering from some reliability issues sometimes, but this is to be expected on such a varied route
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Post by mondraker275 on Sept 18, 2023 9:01:56 GMT
Just a few weeks ago I took 702 end to end from Victoria. Then 703 from Legoland to Bracknell and the 4 to Reading. Both 702/703 were packed from Slough but fueled by Legoland at height of summer. It is quite quick and at £2 was value. I can see why it would be an option from Windsor/Slough to commute especially with nice new buses.
However, got caught out on return as Reading does not accept oyster and had no contactless card so had to pay around £20 to get back to London (zone 5). Makes no sense that all Elizabeth line stations don't accept oyster.
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Post by kmkcheng on Sept 18, 2023 11:15:43 GMT
Just a few weeks ago I took 702 end to end from Victoria. Then 703 from Legoland to Bracknell and the 4 to Reading. Both 702/703 were packed from Slough but fueled by Legoland at height of summer. It is quite quick and at £2 was value. I can see why it would be an option from Windsor/Slough to commute especially with nice new buses. However, got caught out on return as Reading does not accept oyster and had no contactless card so had to pay around £20 to get back to London (zone 5). Makes no sense that all Elizabeth line stations don't accept oyster. Oyster is old technology and I believe it can only handle 16 different fare zones so cannot incorporate all the new extensions to the PAYG network, which unfortunately includes the EL stations west of West Drayton |
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Post by LondonExplorer316 on Sept 18, 2023 18:17:12 GMT
Just a few weeks ago I took 702 end to end from Victoria. Then 703 from Legoland to Bracknell and the 4 to Reading. Both 702/703 were packed from Slough but fueled by Legoland at height of summer. It is quite quick and at £2 was value. I can see why it would be an option from Windsor/Slough to commute especially with nice new buses. However, got caught out on return as Reading does not accept oyster and had no contactless card so had to pay around £20 to get back to London (zone 5). Makes no sense that all Elizabeth line stations don't accept oyster. Oyster is old technology and I believe it can only handle 16 different fare zones so cannot incorporate all the new extensions to the PAYG network, which unfortunately includes the EL stations west of West Drayton As well as Shenfield on the other end of the line |
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Post by twobellstogo on Sept 18, 2023 19:38:05 GMT
Oyster is old technology and I believe it can only handle 16 different fare zones so cannot incorporate all the new extensions to the PAYG network, which unfortunately includes the EL stations west of West Drayton As well as Shenfield on the other end of the line You can use Oyster at Shenfield. |
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