The New Routemaster will run on Reading Buses’ purple 17 route running from Tilehurst to Earley in August, Get Reading has reported.
The Reading Buses summer bus trial is designed to look at new and different types of buses which will shape the company’s future vehicle purchasing as well as deciding on interior gadgets and decor. The operator will be looking to its customers and staff to help format its future thinking on which buses are best.
Mercedes-Benz will first bring two different lengths of its Citaro bus running on the Loddon Bridge Park & Ride route. This will be followed by the Optare Metrocity, which will split its time between the Park & Ride and the company’s Newbury depot.
Then comes the New Routemaster, which Martijn Gilbert, Reading Buses’ CEO, described as ‘arguably the most exciting’ of the trial buses.
“It is with special thanks to Transport for London and the manufacturer Wrightbus that we will see this vehicle running around Reading on our purple 17 route in August,” said Martijn.
“After proving to be a massive draw at our recent Open Day, the stylish New Routemaster, with its three doors for speed of entry and exit, will now operate as a special ‘extra’ bus to supplement the daytime service on purple route 17.”
A Wrightbus Streetdeck will also be trialled.
Mr Gilbert said: “We will also be trialling an innovative new hybrid-electric re-powering system from a company called Vantage, which offers up to 4km of running in silent zero emissions mode.
“Our customers deserve – and of course demand – more. Over recent years we have seen numerous customer innovations onboard public transport and vehicle technologies have also continued to improve.
“It is important that in Reading and surrounding area we continue to meet the growing customer, economic and environmental needs of the community.
“This exciting summer of bus trials will allow us to choose the very best customer features, combined with optimal vehicle performance to continue to offer our customers and stakeholders a class leading public transport system.”
