READING Buses is shaking up its Green Line services, bringing in new vehicles and changing the route’s name – but the price remains capped at £2 per single journey.
It is making a near £2.5 million investment into new state-of-the-art buses that will run between Reading and London, via towns including Windsor.
And while they will stay green in colour, the name on the side will change to The London Line 702, and Flight Line 703. The distinction is to help people know which bus heads to the capital and which one goes via Heathrow.
The routes will also carry the words Windsor Express to reflect the shared sections of the 702 and 703 routes between Legoland, Windsor and Slough.
The new double decker buses have built in the UK by Alexander Dennis and include seat-back USB and wireless charging points, free WIFI, coffee shop style flooring, high back seats which Reading Buses says is very comfy, and an area with tables on both decks.
They will have a glazed staircase and roof lights to allow more natural light as well as an upstairs ‘air chill’ system to help keep customers cool on warmer days.
There is a fully automated next stop audio/visual announcement system, external destination announcements, and a driver PA system to help with diversions such as the changing of the guard in Windsor.
The Flight Line 703 buses will have an additional luggage rack to ensure customers using these vehicles to get to the airport for holidays and trips can store their belongings.
They have been sourced as part of the timetable enhancements introduced in partnership with Heathrow Airport earlier in the year, with the rest of the fleet to be similarly upgraded later in the year.
Reading Buses say the routes themselves and the timetables will not change and the company will be updating all information over the coming weeks with the new names.
Reading Buses chief executive officer Robert Williams said the company was pleased to receive their first fleet of new buses since the pandemic.
“We are excited to be able to announce this significant investment in our Windsor Express routes to Heathrow and London, and to reflect that with our new branding which closely aligns with the locations we serve.
“We have worked very hard to achieve a really fantastic specification for the vehicles.
“We are conscious that the Green Line name has had a long association with routes in this area so we wanted to make sure that customers were not surprised by the change. We have retained a green colour scheme and ‘line’ naming to make the switchover as seamless as possible in customers’ minds.”
He continued: “While there is no change to the route or timetables, we are hoping that these new buses encourage even more customers onboard. And for the time being all single journeys cost just £2 thanks to the government fare cap – so it is a real bargain.
“The buses are state-of-the art and are extremely luxurious both inside and out. We have even arranged a royal surprise to promote the service and the new buses.”
