Reading Transport Ltd
1124785
226081995
2008-07-16T19:17:23Z
Arriva436
2363746
/* Gallery */ + image - [[:commons:Image:Scania OmniCity ethanol demonstrator.JPG]]
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name =
| logo = ReadingTransport.gif
| logo_size = 164px
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| company_slogan = "Quality travel for Reading"
| parent = [[Reading Borough Council]] <br> Operator a [[Municipal bus companies|municipal]]
| founded = 1901
| headquarters = [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]
| service_area = [[Berkshire]]
| service_type = Urban and rural services
| routes = 92
| destinations = [[Reading]], [[Newbury]]
| stops =
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet = 230 in total <br> [[Optare Excel]] <br> [[Optare Solo]] <br> [[Optare Spectra]] <br> [[Scania L94]]/[[Wright Solar]] <br> [[Scania N-series|Scania N230UD]]/[[East Lancs Olympus|EL' Olympus]] <br> [[Scania OmniCity]] <br> [[Scania OmniDekka]]
| ridership =
| fuel_type = [[Diesel]] and [[Ethanol fuel|ethanol]]
| operator =
| ceo = James Freeman
| leader_type =
| leader =
| website = [http://www.reading-buses.co.uk reading-buses.co.uk]
}}
'''Reading Transport Ltd''' is a [[bus]] operator serving the towns of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]] and the surrounding area in the [[England|English]] county of [[Berkshire]]. The company is wholly owned by [[Reading Borough Council]] and operates under the brands '''Reading Buses''', '''Newbury Buses''' and '''Goldline Travel'''. As such, it is one of the few remaining [[municipal bus companies]] in the [[United Kingdom|UK]].
The history of the company and its predecessors dates back to 1878. Previous incarnations have been variously known as the '''Reading Tramways Company''' and '''Reading Corporation Tramways''', and have been legally constituted both as companies and as departments of Reading Borough Council and its predecessor.
== Current operations ==
=== Reading Buses ===
[[Image:ReadingBuses.gif|thumb|right|164px|Reading Buses logo]]
[[Image:Reading Buses Number 17.jpg|thumb|right|164px|A bus on route 17, demonstrating its distinctive purple colour scheme.]]
Reading Transport operates public service buses under the Reading Buses brand throughout the town of Reading, and to a lesser extent in the rural area around Reading.
Since 2004, Reading Transport and Reading Borough Council have made a significant investment in upgrading the quality of Reading's main urban bus routes. These routes have been branded as ''Premier Routes'', with each route or group of routes allocated a distinctive colour. These colours are used on the buses used on that route, and also on maps and other publicity. Premier routes provide a weekday daytime frequency of between 3 and 8 buses per hour, depending on the route.<ref name=rbpr>{{cite web | title = Reading Buses - Premier routes | url = http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/quality-routes/ | publisher = Reading Transport Ltd | accessdate = 2008-02-09}}</ref>
Other routes, including rural routes and non-premier urban routes, operate at lower frequency, varying from several buses a day to two buses an hour. They are allocated a grey colour in maps and publicity, and are currently operated by a mixture of vehicles in a new silver and charcoal gray based fleet colour scheme similar to that used on the premier routes, together with vehicles in various previous colour schemes.
The first premier route introduced was the purple branded route 17, running between the Three Tuns on Wokingham Road and the Bear Inn at Tilehurst via the town centre and Oxford Road. Since then the concept has been rolled out on routes 4/5/6 (dark green), 9 (light green), 15/16 (light blue), 20/21 (maroon), 23/24 (dark pink), 25/26 (light pink), 31/33/35 (dark blue), and 63/64 (orange). Generic buses are silver and charcoal gray, having previously been beige and brown.<ref name=rbpr>{{cite web | title = Reading Buses - Premier routes | url = http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/quality-routes/ | publisher = Reading Transport Ltd | accessdate = 2008-02-09}}</ref>
Besides the premier and other urban routes, rural services operate to [[Burghfield]], [[Mortimer Common]], [[Rotherfield Peppard|Peppard]], [[Riseley, Berkshire|Riseley]], [[Sonning Common]], [[Spencers Wood]], [[Tadley]], [[Twyford, Berkshire|Twyford]] and [[Wokingham]].
====Route details====
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Number
!Route
!Notes
!Image
|-
! style="background:#465945"|
!|4
|[[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] - Basingstoke Road - Reading International Business Park
|A premier route <br> Mon-Fri only
|rowspan="3"|[[Image:Reading Transport 1006.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#465945"|
!|5
|Reading - [[Whitley, Berkshire|Whitley]] - Northumberland Avenue
|A premier route
|-
! style="background:#465945"|
!|6
|Reading - Baskingstoke Road - [[Whitley, Berkshire|Whitley Wood]]
|A premier route
|-
! style="background:#ADFF2F"|
!|9
|[[Caversham Heights]] - Reading - [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]] - [[Shinfield]]
|A premier route
|[[Image:Reading Transport 1015.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#0090FF"|
!|15
|Reading - Dee Park - [[Tilehurst]] - Westwood Glen
|A premier route
|rowspan="2"|[[Image:Reading Transport 845.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#0090FF"|
!|16
|Reading - Kentwood - Overdown Road - [[Purley-on-Thames|Purley]]
|A premier route
|-
! style="background:#8A2BE2"|
!|17
|[[Tilehurst]] - Reading - Wokingham Road, Three Tuns
|Premier route (first created)<br> [[Ethanol fuel|ethanol-fulled]] buses run on this route
|[[Image:Reading Transport 1103.JPG|75px]]
|-
|
!|18
|[[Calcot]] - Kentwood - Oxford Road - Reading - [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]] - [[Earley|Lower Earley]]
|
|
|-
|
!|19
|Kingswood Park [[Tesco]] - Reading - Erleigh Road - [[Earley|Lower Earley]]
|
|
|-
! style="background:#801818"|
!|20
|Reading - [[Reading University|University]] - Beech Lane - [[Earley|Lower Earley]]
|A premier route
|rowspan="2"|[[Image:Reading Transport 815.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#801818"|
!|21
|Reading - [[Reading University|University]] - Elm Lane - [[Earley|Lower Earley]]
|A premier route
|-
! style="background:#DA3287"|
!|23
|Reading - Henley Road - [[Caversham Park]] - [[Emmer Green]]
|A premier route <br> Continues as a 24
|rowspan="2"|[[Image:Reading Transport 827.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#DA3287"|
!|24
|[[Coley Park]] - Reading - Henley Road - [[Caversham]] - [[Emmer Green]]
|A premier route <br> Continues as a 23
|-
! style="background:#FFA6C9"|
!|25
|Reading - [[Southcote, Berkshire|Southcote]] - [[Fords Farm]] - Calcot Estate - [[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]]
|A premier route
|rowspan="2"|[[Image:Reading Transport 821.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#FFA6C9"|
!|26
|Reading - [[Southcote, Berkshire|Southcote]] - [[Fords Farm]] - Beansheaf - [[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]]
|A premier route
|-
|
!|27
|Reading - [[Caversham, Berkshire|Caversham]] - [[Caversham, Berkshire|Lower Caversham]], Amersham Road
|
|
|-
|
!|28
|[[Purley]] - [[Tilehurst]] - New Lane Hill - Dee Park - Reading - [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]]
|
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|31
|Reading - Dee Park - [[Tilehurst]]
|A premier route <br> Evenings only
|rowspan="3"|[[Image:Reading Transport 859.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|33
|Reading - Meadway - [[Tilehurst]] - Turnhams Farm
|A premier route
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|35
|Reading - Dee Park - [[Tilehurst]] - Turnhams Farm
|A premier route <br> Sundays only
|-
|
!|40
|Reading - St Mary's Butts - Kennet Island
|
|[[Image:Reading Transport 107.JPG|75px]]
|-
|
!|62
|Reading - [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]] - Bulmershe - [[Woodley]]
|
|
|-
! style="background:#ED9121"|
!|63
|Reading - Bulmershe - [[Woodley]] Aerodrome - Reading
|A premier route
|rowspan="2"|[[Image:Reading Transport 854.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#ED9121"|
!|64
|Reading - [[Woodley]] Aerodrome - Bulmershe - Reading
|A premier route
|-
|
!|111
|Reading - [[Spencers Wood]] - [[Riseley, Berkshire|Riseley]]
|
|
|-
|
!|112
|Reading - Blandford Road - [[Shinfield]] - [[Spencers Wood]]
|
|
|-
|
!|126-129
|Reading - [[Sonning]] - [[Twyford]], 128 & 129 - [[Wokingham]] - [[Maidenhead]]
|
|
|-
|
!|137/8
|Reading - [[Emmer Green]] - [[Sonning Common]]
|
|
|-
|
!|143/8
|Reading - [[Burghfield]] - [[Mortimer]], Monday to Friday daytime - [[Tadley]]
|
|
|-
|
!|149
|Reading - [[Burghfield]]
|
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|N5
|Reading - [[Whitley, Berkshire|Whitley]] - Northumberland Avenue
|A Nighttrack route <br> Continues as an N6
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|N6
|[[Whitley, Berkshire|Whitley Wood]] - Baskingstoke Road - Reading
|A Nighttrack route <br> Starts as an N5
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|N9
|Reading - [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]] - [[Shinfield]]
|A Nighttrack route
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|N23
|Reading - Henley Road - [[Emmer Green]] - [[Caversham Park]]
|A Nighttrack route <br> Continues as an N24
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|N24
|[[Caversham, Berkshire|Caversham]] - Henley Road - Reading
|A Nighttrack route <br> Starts as an N23
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|N21
|Reading - [[Reading University|University]] - Elm Lane - [[Earley|Lower Earley]]
|A Nighttrack route <br> Continues as an N64
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|N26
|Reading - [[Southcote, Berkshire|Southcote]] - [[Fords Farm]] - [[Calcot, Berkshire|Southcote]] - [[Theale, Berkshire|Theale]]
|A Nighttrack route
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|N31
|Reading - Dee Park
|A Nighttrack route
|
|-
! style="background:#00008B"|
!|N64
|[[Woodley]] - Bulmershe - Reading
|A Nighttrack route <br> Starts as an N12
|
|}
=== Newbury Buses ===
[[Image:NewburyBuses.gif|thumb|right|164px|Newbury Buses logo]]
[[Image:Reading Transport 608.JPG|thumb|right|164px|A Newbury Buses [[Dennis Dart]]/[[Plaxton Pointer]]]]
Reading Transport operates public service buses in the town of Newbury and the surrounding rural area under the Newbury Buses brand. Bus routes in and around Newbury are generally fairly low frequency, varying from several buses a day to two buses an hour. Apart from route 102 to Reading, no service is provided on Sundays.
The rural services include services to [[East Ilsley]], [[Hungerford]], [[Kintbury]], [[Lambourn]] and [[Tadley]]. The [[A4 road|A4]] corridor from Newbury to Reading via the smaller towns of [[Theale, Berkshire|Theale]] and [[Thatcham]] is served by a number of routes operated jointly by Newbury Buses and Reading Buses. Newbury Buses also operate from Newbury to [[Basingstoke]] via [[Kingsclere]], running alongside [[Stagecoach in Hampshire]].
Newbury are also responsible for the contracted services for the [[Vodafone]] headquarters, operating a number of red-liveried [[Scania OmniCity]]s around the area.
Buses are currently operated in a mixture of a new green and silver fleet colour scheme, and the older cream and brown livery.
====Route details====
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Number
!Route
!Notes
|-
|
!|3
|Arnhem Road - [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]] - Valley Road - New Greenham Park
|
|-
|
!|4
|Newbury - [[Stockcross]] - [[Boxford, Berkshire|Boxford]] - [[Eastbury, Berkshire|Eastbury]] - [[Lambourn]]
|
|-
|
!|6
|Newbury - [[Chieveley]] - [[Hermitage, Berkshire|Hermitage]] - [[East Ilsley]]
|Circular route with 9
|-
|
!|9
|Newbury - [[Hermitage, Berkshire|Hermitage]] - [[Chieveley]] - [[East Ilsley]]
|Circular route with 6
|-
|
!|11
|[[Greenham]] - Newbury - Turnpike - [[Thatcham]]
|Run with 11A and 12
|-
|
!|11A
|[[Greenham]] - Newbury - Turnpike - [[Thatcham]]
|Run with 11 and 12
|-
|
!|12
|Glendale Avenue - Newbury - Turnpike - [[Thatcham]]
|Run with 11 and 11A
|-
|
!|13
|Newbury - [[Kintbury]] - [[Inkpen]] - [[Totterdown]] - [[Hungerford]]
|
|-
|
!|14
|Newbury - [[Greenham]] - Parkhouse School
|
|-
|
!|15
|Newbury - Almond Avenue - Love Lane - Walton Way - Newbury
|Circular route
|-
|
!|32/32A
|Newbury - Wendan Road (32) - Bishops Green (32) - [[Kingsclere]] - North Hants Hospital - [[Basingstoke]]
|Run with [[Stagecoach in Hampshire|Stagecoach]]
|-
|
!|101
|Newbury - [[Thatcham]] - [[Cold Ash, Berkshire|Cold Ash]] - [[Bucklebury]] - [[Theale, Berkshire|Theale]] - [[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]] - [[Reading]]
|
|-
|
!|102
|Newbury - [[Thatcham]] - [[Woolhampton]] - [[Theale, Berkshire|Theale]] - [[Reading]]
|
|-
|
!|104
|Newbury - [[Thatcham]] - [[Brimpton]] - [[Tadley]] - [[Aldermaston]] - [[Beenham]] - [[Theale, Berkshire|Theale]] - [[Reading]]
|
|-
|
!|105
|Newbury - [[Thatcham]] - [[Brimpton]] - [[Tadley]] - [[Aldermaston]] - Bucklebury Common - [[Bradfield, Berkshire|Bradfield]] - [[Theale, Berkshire|Theale]] [[Calcot, Berkshire|Calcot]] - [[Reading]]
|
|-
|
!|118
|Newbury - [[Curridge]] - [[Hermitage, Berkshire|Hermitage]] - [[Hampstead Norreys]] - [[Yattendon]] - [[Stanford Dingley]] - [[Beenham]]
|Tuesdays and Thursdays only
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V1
|''Express Rail Link:'' HQ - Newbury town centre - [[Newbury railway station|rail station]]
|A [[Vodafone]] route <br> [[Optare Solo]] run
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V2
|''Business Flyer:'' HQ - Newbury business park - Horizon West
|A [[Vodafone]] route
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V3
|''Lunchtime Shuttle:'' HQ - Town centre
|A [[Vodafone]] route
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V4
|''Lunchtime Shuttle:'' Business park - Horizon West - Town centre
|A [[Vodafone]] route
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V5
|''Rail Link:'' Business park - Horizon West - Town centre - Rail station - Business park - Horizon West
|A [[Vodafone]] route
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V6
|''Rail Link:'' HQ - Rail station
|A [[Vodafone]] route
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V7
|''North Newbury Commuter Service:'' [[Speen, Berkshire|Speen]] - [[Shaw, Berkshire|Speen]] - Business park
|A [[Vodafone]] route
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V8
|''South Newbury Commuter Service:'' Penwood - Woolton - [[Wash Common]] - HQ - Business park <br> - Horizon West
|A [[Vodafone]] route
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V9
|''Greenham Commuter Service:'' [[Greenham]] - Horizon West - Business park - HQ
|A [[Vodafone]] route
|-
! style="background:#FF0000"|
!|V10
|''Thatcham Commuter Service:'' Thatcham - Business park - HQ
|A [[Vodafone]] route
|}
=== Goldline Travel ===
[[Image:Goldline.gif|thumb|right|164px|Goldline logo]]
[[Image:Reading Transport 212.JPG|thumb|right|164px|A Goldline [[Scania K114]] coach]]
Reading Transport uses the Goldline Travel brand for its non-public service bus operations, including bus hire and services operated under contract for various local employers. Goldline Travel is also responsible for the operation of ''Fastrack'' and ''Daytrack'' [[park and ride]] services and ''Nighttrack'' [[night bus]] services, all of which are operated under contract to [[Reading Borough Council]].
Goldline Travel has a two-tone green colour scheme. However many Goldline Travel services are operated by vehicles in colour schemes specified by the contracting organisation, and are therefore not easily identified as such. These include Fastrack [[park and ride]] services, and services operated on behalf of [[Thames Valley Park]] in Reading.
Unlike bus services run by Reading Buses, Goldine give change on their routes. This is mainly for the benift of visitors who are more likely to use routes such as [[park and ride]] than city routes.
In May 2008, Goldline won the contract to operate route 142 from Checkendon, Woodcote and Purley to Reading, the route was previously operated by [[Thames Travel]]. An [[Optare Solo]] is being repainted in a special livery for the route.
It has been decided that by February 2009, private hire services run by Goldline will cease, and the coaches sold.<ref>[http://www.buszone.co.uk/Up0508.html Bus Zone - Updates May 2008] Accessed 29 May 2008</ref>
====Route details====
{| class="wikitable"
!
!Number
!Route
!Notes
!Image
|-
! style="background:#00A693"|
!|51/52/53
|[[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] - [[GreenPark Business Park]]
|GreenPark fasttrack
|[[Image:Reading Transport 1036.JPG|75px]]
|-
|
!|70
|''[[Reading F.C.]]:'' [[Sonning Common]] - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|71
|''Reading F.C.:'' [[Emmer Green]] - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|72
|''Reading F.C.:'' [[Woodley]] - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|73
|''Reading F.C.:'' [[Earley|Lower Earley]] - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|74
|''Reading F.C.:'' [[Caversham Park]] - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|75
|''Reading F.C.:'' [[Purley-on-Thames|Purley]] - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|76
|''Reading F.C.:'' [[Tilehurst]] - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|77
|''Reading F.C.:'' [[Shinfield]] and [[Park and ride]] shuttle - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|78
|''Reading F.C.:'' [[Newbury]] - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|79
|''Reading F.C.:'' [[Reading railway station]] - [[Madejski Stadium]]
|Runs match days only
|
|-
|
!|142
|[[Checkendon]] - [[Woodcote]] - [[Pangbourne]] - Reading
|For [[Oxfordshire|Oxfordshire County Council]]
|[[Image:Reading Transport 122.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#FFE000"|
!|500
|Loddon Bridge [[Park and ride|park and ride]] site - Reading
|Fasttrack [[park and ride]] service
|[[Image:Reading Transport 837.JPG|75px]]
|-
! style="background:#1A2421"|
!|TVP
|''[[Thames Valley Park]]:'' [[Reading]] - [[Thames Valley Park]]
|Contract service
|[[Image:Reading Transport 4.JPG|75px]]
|-
|
!|TW
|''[[Thames Water]]:'' [[Reading]] - Rose Kiln Court or Gainsborough House
|Contract service
|
|-
|
!|HP
|''[[Hewlett-Packard]]:'' [[Bracknell railway station]] - HP Cain Road
|Contract service
|
|}
== History ==
=== Horse tram era ===
The origins of Reading Transport can be traced back to 1878, when the privately owned Reading Tramways Company (part of the [[Imperial Tramways Company]]) was formed. They were initially authorised to construct and operate a [[horsecar|horse tram]] route on an east-west alignment from Oxford Road through the town centre to [[Cemetery Junction, Reading|Cemetery Junction]]. Significantly, this route formed the core of what became known as the ''main line'' of the tram and trolleybus network.<ref name=bzrht>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RTLhorse.html | title = Reading Horse Tramways | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-02-27}}</ref>
Construction started in January of 1879, with the entire line being open by May. A fleet of six single decked cars were initially used, with 31 horses, providing a 20-minute frequency. The cars operated from a depot on the south side of the Oxford Road, immediately to the east of [[Reading West railway station]]. By the 1890s the whole fleet had been replaced by double decked cars operating at a 10 minute frequency. The company made several proposals to extend the system, add routes and electrify the system. But none of these came to anything, and in 1899 the borough corporation decided to purchase the system.<ref name=bzrht>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RTLhorse.html | title = Reading Horse Tramways | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-02-27}}</ref>
The purchase deal was completed on 31st October 1901, and the Reading Corporation Tramways came into being. The corporation set out about first extending, and then electrifying the system. The extensions were completed by December of 1902, and the last horse cars ran in July of the following year.<ref name=bzrht>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RTLhorse.html | title = Reading Horse Tramways | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-02-27}}</ref>
=== Electric tram era ===
The new [[electric tram]]s started operating in July 1903. Extensions were constructed to the Wokingham Road and London Road (both from Cemetery Junction), and new routes added to [[Whitley, Berkshire|Whitley]], Caversham Road, Erleigh Road and Bath Road. The trams operated from a new depot in Mill Lane, a site that was to remain Reading Transport's main depot until it was demolished to make way for the [[The Oracle, Reading|Oracle shopping centre]] in 1998.<ref name=bzret>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RTLtram.html | title = Reading Corporation Tramways / Transport | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-02-27}}</ref>
The electric tram services were originally operated by 30 four-wheeled double decked cars supplied by [[Dick, Kerr & Co.|Dick, Kerr & Co]]. In 1904, six [[bogie]] cars and a water car (used for keeping down the dust on the streets) were added to the fleet, also from Dick, Kerr & Co. No further trams were acquired, and a planned extension from the Caversham Road terminus across [[Caversham Bridge]] to [[Caversham]] itself was abandoned because of the outbreak of [[World War I]]. The war also led to a significant maintenance backlog.<ref name=bzret>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RTLtram.html | title = Reading Corporation Tramways / Transport | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-02-27}}</ref>
In 1919, Reading Corporation started operating its first [[motor bus]]es. These ran from [[Caversham Heights]] to [[Tilehurst]], running over the tram lines and beyond the tram termini. Because of the state of the track, the Bath Road tram route was abandoned in 1930, followed by the Erleigh Road route in 1932. Eventually it was decided that the tramways should be abandoned and replaced by [[trolleybus]]es, operating over extended routes. The last tram ran on the Caversham Road to Whitley route in July 1936, and last car on the ''main line'' ran in May 1939.<ref name=bzret>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RTLtram.html | title = Reading Corporation Tramways / Transport | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-02-27}}</ref>
=== Trolleybus era ===
[[Image:Reading Trolleybus at Three Tuns.jpg|thumb|right|164px|A Reading Trolleybus at the Three Tuns terminus in 1966. It is making the same turn as the modern number 17 bus depicted above]]
[[Image:Reading Trolleybus in Tilehurst.jpg|thumb|right|164px|A Reading Trolleybus in Tilehurst in 1966]]
The first trolleybus wiring erected was a training loop on Erleigh Road, which opened in early 1936. This loop was never used in public service, and was subsequently dismantled. Public service commenced in July of that year, on a route replacing the tram route from Caversham Road to Whitley. In May 1939, the remaining tram routes from Oxford Road to Wokingham Road and London Road were converted to trolleybus operation, with a short extension from Wokingham Road to the Three Tuns, and a much longer extension from the Oxford Road through the centre of [[Tilehurst]] to the Bear Inn. The extended ''main line'' from the Three Tuns to the Bear, still exists today as bus route 17, the town's busiest and most frequent route, and the first to be designated a premier route.<ref name=bzrtb>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RTLtrolley.html | title = Reading Corporation Transport - Trolleybuses | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-02-28}}</ref>
During [[World War II]] a trolleybus branch was constructed from the Oxford Road to Kentwood Hill, enabling trolleybuses to replace motor buses with a consequential saving in precious oil based fuel. In 1949 the Whitley line was extended to [[Whitley Wood]], along Northumberland Avenue. Subsequent short extensions took the system to its full extentent, with the Kentwood Hill route running to Armour Hill and the Whitley Wood line running further down Northumberland Avenue.<ref name=bzrtb>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RTLtrolley.html | title = Reading Corporation Transport - Trolleybuses | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-02-28}}</ref>
By 1965 most [[United Kingdom|UK]] trolleybus systems had closed, and the manufacturers of the overhead equipment gave notice that they would cease production. At the same time the trolleybuses came in for some bad publicity in the local press because they cost more to operate compared to motor buses and they were inflexible, even though the trolleybuses were profitable (Reading's motor buses made a loss), faster and less polluting. Reading Corporation decided to abandon the trolleybus system, and the routes were phased out between December 1967 and November 1968.<ref name=bzrtb>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RTLtrolley.html | title = Reading Corporation Transport - Trolleybuses | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-02-28}}</ref>
=== Expansion ===
[[Image:Reading Mainline 15 and 17.JPG|thumb|right|164px|Two preserved Reading Mainline Routemasters.]]
The Transport Act 1980 deregulated long distance bus services. Reading Transport took advantage of this new freedom to start a service from Reading through London to [[Southend]]. The service was [[Green Line routes X1 and X10#History|numbered X1]] and was run jointly with [[Arriva Southend|Southend Transport]].<ref name=sctx1>{{cite web | url = http://www.sct61.org.uk/stxone.htm | title = The X1 Story | publisher = SCT61 and Richard Delahoy | date = 2003-4 | accessdate = 2008-03-14}}</ref> In 1982 the X1 was shortened to run from Reading to [[Aldgate]] in East London, under the '''Gold Line''' brand, and joint operation ceased.
As a result of the legislation that accompanied the [[Bus deregulation|deregulation of local bus services]] in 1986, the operations of Reading Transport were transferred to Reading Transport Ltd, an "arms length" company whose shares were held by Reading Borough Council. Bus deregulation also meant that the local authority no longer had any power to regulate the routes and fares of Reading Transport, nor could they prevent other operators from starting competitive services within the borough.
In 1992 Reading Transport acquired the Reading and [[Newbury]] operations of BeeLine, one of the privatised successors to the state-owned [[Alder Valley]]. These acquisitions led to Reading Transport operating buses in Newbury, and in the rural areas around Reading and Newbury, for the first time. Additionally, BeeLine had operated a Reading to London service under the LondonLink name, and that was merged into the Gold Line service and the resulting service renamed London Line. The Gold Line name was retained for use by Reading Transport's non-scheduled service business. The London Line service ceased in 2000.
Reading Transport faced competition on Reading urban routes from 1994, when [[Reading Mainline]], an independent company, started operations with [[Routemaster]] buses acquired from London. But labour shortages created problems for the competitor, and Reading Transport acquired Reading Mainline in 1998. Reading Transport continued to operate the Routemasters under the Reading Mainline brand until they were finally withdrawn in July 2000.<ref name=bzrml>{{cite web | url = http://www.buszone.co.uk/RMainline.html | title = Reading Mainline | publisher = Bus Zone | accessdate = 2008-05-20}}</ref>
=== Biofuel usage ===
[[Image:Reading Transport 1103.JPG|thumb|right|164px|One of the [[ethanol fuel|ethanol-fulled]] [[Scania OmniCity]]s.]]
Reading Transport has a history of experimenting with [[biofuel]]s, including [[biodiesel]] and [[alcohol fuel]]. By 2008, all but one of Reading's bus fleet was fuelled by a mix of 5% biodiesel and 95% conventional diesel.<ref name=grbio>{{cite web | title = All aboard the bio-diesel buses | publisher = [[Reading Evening Post]] | url = http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/2008/2008369/all_aboard_the_biodiesel_buses | date = 2007-03-08 | accessdate = 2007-11-26}}</ref><ref name=chronbio>{{cite web | title = Bus fare hike looms as fuel prices rocket | publisher = [[Reading Chronicle]] | first = Lucy | last = Thorne | url = http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/articles/1/1351 | date = 2008-05-01 | accessdate = 2008-05-20}}</ref><ref name=foecc>{{cite web | title = Public Meeting on Climate Change | url = http://www.readingfoe.org.uk/Campaigns/PublicMeeting/index.html | publisher = [[Friends of the Earth]] | date = 2007-10-23 | accessdate = 2008-05-28}}</ref>
In late 2007, Reading Buses placed an order with [[Scania AB|Scania]] for 14 new [[ethanol]] fuelled double decker buses. These are scheduled to be delivered in March 2008, and they will replace the existing fleet of biodiesel powered vehicles operating premier route 17. At the time the order was placed, this was the largest order for ethanol fuelled buses in the UK. These buses are now due to start work on 26 May 2008.<ref name=scaneth>{{cite web | title = Reading Transport places UK's largest ever order for ethanol-powered buses | publisher = Scania | url = http://www.scania.co.uk/about_scania/pressreleases/reading_transport_places_uks_largest_ever_order_for_ethanol_powered_buses.asp | accessdate = 2008-02-11}}</ref><ref name=gr17>{{cite web | title = New 24-hour green bus service on road | url = http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2028691_new_24hour_green_bus_service_on_road | publisher = [[Reading Evening Post]] | first = Chine | last = Mbubaegbu | date = 2008-05-22 | accessdate = 2008-05-28}} </ref>
==Gallery==
Images of buses in coloured liveries for the premier routes can be seen in the table above.
<gallery>
Image:Reading Transport 930.JPG|A Reading Buses [[Optare Excel]] in an old livery. This was used before the premier routes scheme. Newbury Buses had green in place of blue.
Image:Reading Transport 1027.JPG|A Reading Buses [[Scania L94]]/[[Wright Solar]] in the old generic livery, introduced with the premier routes. It has been replaced by silver.
Image:Reading Transport 475.JPG|A Reading Buses [[Dennis Trident 2|Dennis Trident]]/[[Plaxton President]] in the new silver generic livery for buses not in coloured branding.
Image:Reading Transport 11.JPG|A Newbury Buses [[Scania OmniCity]] that is used on the Vodafone services there.
Image:Reading Transport depot sign.JPG|The welcome sign outside Reading Transport's depot. The various company names can be seen under the main Reading Transport logo.
Image:Scania OmniCity ethanol demonstrator.JPG|The ethanol-powered [[Scania OmniCity]] which has been in use in Reading as part of trials for the new bio-ethanol route 17 vehicles.
</gallery>
== See also ==
*[[List of bus companies in the United Kingdom]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commons|Reading Transport Ltd}}
*[http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/ Reading Buses web site]
*[http://www.gogoldline.co.uk/ Goldline web site]
*[http://www.reading-buses.co.uk/resources/documents/sep07.pdf Reading Transport fleet list]
{{Bus companies in South East England}}
[[Category:Bus operators in England]]
[[Category:Transport in Berkshire]]