Changes to bus timetables will see more late night services
MORE late night buses are on the cards from Monday as Reading Buses announces changes to services across the borough.
Some of the changes are being introduced as a result of The Lexicon shopping centre opening in Bracknell next week.
The Leopard – service number 3 – is changing its route, adding in Bracknell’s bus station.
This is a direct service from Wokingham’s Broad Street. The rest of the route, which runs from Reading’s town centre to Wokingham via Shinfield, Arborfield and Barkham, will be unchanged.
The last bus of the day from Wokingham town centre leaves Wokingham at 7.48pm, while the last bus leaves Bracknell at 11.09pm, and stops at TRL North Gates and Arborfield Garrison.
The last bus to leave Reading town centre to arrive in Wokingham’s Broad Street will be at 7.15pm; later buses will run to Arborfield Garrison but not stop until TRL North Gate. The last bus to stop at Arborfield Garrison will leave Reading at 11.10pm.
A similar pattern is adopted by the Lion 4 or X4 buses, which serve Earley and Winnersh on their way to Wokingham before heading to Bracknell.
Monday to Saturday, the last bus leaves Bracknell at 11.50pm, arriving at Wokingham’s Broad Street at 12.06am and Reading town centre by 12.33am.
The last bus to leave Reading towards Bracknell will depart at 11pm, arriving in Wokingham for 11.27pm.
The biggest change to routes will be to the 19a and 19c services, which link Woodley and Lower Earley to Reading town centre and, from Monday, become the Orange 12 routes and operate from Monday to Saturday.
It is not the former Orange 12 route that Reading Buses used to operate.
The 19b will become the 19 service and again should not be confused with the 19a and 19c buses.
The service operates on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council to get passengers from Silverdale Road to the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The contract is up for renewal and a tendering process is underway, but the service has been funded by the council for another year.
However, there will be changes to the routes, no longer being circular. Church Road will no longer be served and the service terminates at Culver Lane.
Buses will leave Culver Lane between 9.25am and 3.15pm Monday to Fridays, and 8.20am and 4.20pm on Saturdays.
And they will depart from Reading Station from 8.35am and 3.15pm weekdays; additional buses run until 7.35pm, stopping at either Woodley Piazza or Mill Lane. The last Saturday bus leaves Reading at 6.30pm, arriving at Woodley Piazza at 7.11pm.
For more details, or to download timetables, visit www.reading-buses.co.uk