Routes 18 and 19 - Proposed changes from September 2008

The Problem

These are long and complicated routes and there is confusion between the two different routes to Lower Earley provided by Routes 18 and 19. As a result, levels of patronage are unsustainably low and we need to attract more riders.

In addition, the section of Route 19 to Napier Road Tesco store cannot be justified by the level of demand. It would be discontinued as a commercial operation now that a similar store is available on the Oxford Road, which is served by many services.

Reading Borough Council, in its role as transport authority for the town, will need to consider what should be done in the light of this commercial withdrawal. It has the powers to provide alternative provision of service under the Transport Act 1985.

Our Proposals

A single route would be created, Route 38, to replace current Routes 18 and 19. The level of service would be broadly as now, but to the east of Reading town centre (past Royal Berks Hospital to Lower Earley), buses would all follow a common route as Service 38 via the Royal Berkshire Hospital area, Erleigh Road, Addington Road and Alexandra Road to Upper Redlands Road on journeys towards Lower Earley and Alexandra Road, Addington Road, Erleigh Road, Alexandra Road, Addington Road and Craven Road on journeys towards Central Reading, providing a 30 minute frequency over this section between Central Reading and Lower Earley.

All journeys would go via Silverdale Road and Toseland Way and would terminate at ASDA, including those that at present only go as far as Toseland Way.

Route 19 would be discontinued and the section between Central Reading and Napier Road, Tesco Store, would no longer be served.

Between Central Reading and Kentwood, Route 38 would operate via Castle Street, Castle Hill (inward via Russell Street and Oxford Road) Tilehurst Road, Water Road, Grovelands Road to Oxford Road, thus restoring a regular hourly service to Water Road.

The present Sunday service on Route 18 would be withdrawn. The only sections left uncovered on a Sunday would be Kentwood Hill (which had no such service until 25/2/08) and Tilehurst to Calcot which is very under-used.

At the western end of Route 38 to Tilehurst and Calcot where the existing hourly frequency would be maintained on Monday to Saturday, the route would be amended in Calcot to serve Royal Avenue and Garston Crescent in Calcot Estate instead of Charrington Road, Beansheaf. Over this section of Calcot Estate Route 38 would replace Premier Route 25, which would be withdrawn over this section. Please click here for the proposed timetable.

Return to the main consultation page for details of where to send your proposal comments.