On Tuesday, May 28, six of Reading Buses’ new gas buses took over on the Red 9 route, covering Shinfield, Royal Berkshire Hospital and Reading Station.
Reading Buses said a major cut in emissions on this corridor is a good thing, improving the air quality around the hospital.
The new buses also bring WiFi to the Scarlet 9 along with audio next stop announcements and destination repeaters. When the doors open the destination will be announced to waiting passengers.
Internally, the new gas buses have ‘coffee shop floors’ and a new arrangement at the front which gives more space for buggies without conflict with wheelchair users.
The gas buses have replaced six red Scania single deck buses, which are being withdrawn from the fleet and sold for use elsewhere.
Existing cheap fares on the route, including the £1.20 single price between the station and the hospital, are retained. The £2.20 return price on the route has been extended and is now available to and from every stop on the Scarlet 9.
This week Reading Buses is also making a few minor changes to fares across the whole of its network. The Solo day ticket – for people under 19 – goes up by 10p to £2.30, while the Solo seven day ticket stays at £11. Customers who buy simply Reading seven day tickets will now need to buy them on-line, in the Broad Street Mall or at PayPoint outlets to get the existing price of £14, with on the bus prices rising to £15. All other main fares are unchanged.
