In a bid to encourage more people onto the bus, Reading Buses has proudly launched new vehicles in what is seen to be the resumption of major investment in their fleet.
The new buses, which have numerous special features from coffee shop style flooring and tables, to glazed staircases and skylights for more natural light, will be running on the Reading Buses lion 4 and X4 routes.
The company launched the buses by parking one of them in the pedestrianised Market Place just outside Wokingham Town Hall – much to the delight of many passers-by who were interested in the new features that also include comfortable high-back seats.
And following yesterday’s launch the new buses have already wowed the public with customers telling the company that many of the features will make them more desirable to use.
All the vehicles have USB, USB-C and wireless charging facilities, seatback phone holders, tables for working, tinted windows, and an air chill system upstairs to help cool down customers on warm days.
Said Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer: “We are thrilled to introduce these new buses to the lion routes – the first major investment in the lion since we started running it in 2015.
“This represents the next level of comfort and class for our customers and repeats the specification we have successfully used on our prestigious London Line 702 and Flightline 703 buses.
“These eight new lion buses, plus one painted in our silver generic colours for use on any route when needed, will encourage even more people to get on the bus and take advantage of the government £2 single fare cap that is set to continue until 2025.”
Reading Buses gave away some branded pens and shopping bags as well as many timetables with information on the route.
To help promote the service which runs up to every 20 minutes along the key A329 corridor, guests from the local authorities the route connects were invited to officially launch the buses on Monday.
The congregation included the Mayor of Reading Councillor Tony Page, Wokingham’s Deputy Mayor Councillor Robert Comber, Wokingham Borough Councillors Prue Bray and Paul Fishwick, Wokingham Town Council’s Marianna Pentek and Morag Malvern, Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer, and other officials from the councils and bus company.
Robert added: “In addition to the £2 single fare customers can also take advantage of our tap on, tap off system to be sure of never having to pay more than a day ticket when they travel. This also takes away all the worry of getting the best value ticket on the day, as it’s done automatically.”
Further promotional activity takes place in Bracknell on Wednesday as they promote the new buses on Thames Valley Buses 171/172 routes which, alongside Thames Valley’s route 194, run together with the lion between Great Hollands and Bracknell town centre.