BUSES will continue to run throughout the Christmas holidays, with the exception of the big day itself.
The festive timetable has been announced by Reading Buses and will see a reduced level of service from Christmas Eve all the way through to Tuesday, January 2.
On Sunday, December 24, a Sunday service will run, although there will be an early finish.
Christmas Day will allow bus drivers to take a rest, while those looking to go to the Boxing Day sales will be able to catch a bus thanks to a special timetable which is based on public holiday running times.
The Leopard 3 won’t run on Boxing Day, but the Leopard 3b and 10 will between 9am and 6pm.
A Saturday service runs from Wednesday, December 27 to Saturday, December 30, while on New Year’s Eve, a Sunday service will operate. The Leopard 3 won’t run on New Year’s Eve or Day.
The first buses of 2018, on Monday, January 1, will run to a public holiday timetable and then routes get back to normal as the nation returns to work on Tuesday, January 2.
The X3 bus won’t run between Christmas and New Year’s Day, the Orange 12 won’t run on Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Jake Osman, Marketing and Communications Manager of Reading Buses, said: “It’s always important to get the balance of service right over the Christmas period.
“We see what the usage was like last year as well as taking account of which day of the week Christmas itself falls.
“We appreciate that some people are still working, especially in retail and hospitality, but we are mindful that we need to operate appropriate service levels to ensure we don’t have buses running around empty – and of course it lets more of our wonderful staff have some time off to see their families.
“We also think that the service level this year is more than sufficient for shoppers and revellers alike. Coming to town by bus is an easier and cheaper option than trying to find parking spaces, allowing people to make better use of their time with our free onboard WiFi. And, of course, they can have a drink and we do the driving.”
For more details or to find your festive route, log on to www.reading-buses.co.uk/christmas
