New bus routes to serve West Berkshire villages from Monday ... and fares are going up

Bus services in West Berkshire will face a shake-up next week, with new routes introduced, and changes to fares. From Monday, September 2, passengers can travel on new services including the Azure 43 bus route, which will run every day but Sunday from central Reading to Purley, Pangbourne and Upper Basildon. There will be five journeys a day for this service.

A school run, route 93, will link Goring to Langtree School. Reading Buses said these new routes replace the Thames Travel buses 143 and BB3, and will give Upper Basildon residents a slightly improved timetable. Anyone who has a season ticket for Thames Travel is advised to contact the company for a refund, while Langtree School users will need to purchase a ticket from Reading Buses’ website, www.



reading-buses.co.uk/tickets Passengers that travel from the Sainsbury’s at Calcot into Reading town centre will see the Sky Blue 15 route’s frequency increased to every 20 minutes.

The route will be changed to it goes along Langley Hill and the A4 Bath Road, but will not visit Mayfair, Garston Crescent, Royal Avenue, IKEA or Theale. Reading Buses said on its website: “This is due to low usage to these areas, alternative routes and stops being nearby, and the opportunity to provide this better overall service for everyone.” For school journeys, one 15a journey will be retained for Denefield School and the journeys for Theale Green School are renumbered 88.

On fares, while the Government’s Help for Household scheme continues, capping single journeys at £2, all-day ticket prices are changing. The all-day fare will change from £4.30 to £5, regardless of whether bought on the bus or from the Newbury & District buses mobile phone app.

A seven-day ticket, only available on the app, will be £17.50, while a 30-day ticket will be £62. Fares for under 18s, known as a Boost ticket, will be £3.

50 for all day, or £13.50 for the week, and £50 for 30 days. Reading Buses, which operates the simplyNewbury and Thatcham bus services, says the changes are due to increased costs, and will allow the firm to continue to invest in its services.

Concessionary bus pass holders can continue to use services for free after 9.30am on weekdays and all day at weekends and public holidays..