Free bus travel offer for Easter
Council initiative to attract more people to West Berkshire over holiday
BETWEEN tomorrow (Good Friday) and Monday, most bus travel journeys in West Berkshire will be completely free of charge.
This initiative has been developed by West Berkshire Council in partnership with Reading Buses and Thames Travel and will be valid on any Reading Buses, Newbury & District and Thames Travel services within West Berkshire.
Reading Buses and Newbury & District chief executive Robert Williams said: “We are delighted to be working with West Berkshire on this proactive scheme to encourage more people to visit the area in an easy and environmentally friendly way.”
Services in the Newbury and Thatcham area will also operate on both Good Friday and Easter Monday, as well as Easter Saturday.
These additional services will be provided on routes 1a,
1c, 2, 8 and 9 with a Saturday timetable.
Sunday services will operate on routes Jet Black 1, Lime 2/a, 15, 16, 26 and 33 on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
The 143 service by Thames Travel will be operating on Easter Saturday.
The council’s executive member for planning, transport
and countryside Richard Somner (Con, Tilehurst South and Holybrook) said: “We are really happy to announce this fantastic partnership with the bus companies in the local area to offer free transport to residents in West Berkshire.
“The feedback from the initiative over Christmas was very well received with residents and businesses as it demonstrated an increase in passengers using the bus and an increase in footfall to the towns and businesses.”
He added: “We hope residents take advantage of this free service again over the Easter weekend as it will help reduce their own carbon footprint with less cars on the road and ensure the future use of bus services in the area.”