Five years ago, Reading Transport and Reading Borough Council together started a massive investment in upgrading the quality of Reading's main bus routes. These have become our network of Premier Routes. The first route, introduced in the autumn of 2004 was the 17, between Wokingham Road and Tilehurst via the town centre and Oxford Road.

The end of February 2008 saw the completion of the conversion of all the main bus routes in Reading to Premier Quality.

Elements of the Premier Route network. 

• A faster, higher capacity, reliable bus service.
• Better facilities and comfort
• Better provision for people with reduced mobility
• Improve safety
• Environmental benefits
• Direct high frequency bus services
• New modern buses
• Real time information
• More high quality shelters
• Bus priority measures
• Improved lane markings
• More bus only lanes

The Premier Route Corridors

• Woodley
• Lower Earley
• Tilehurst - Wokingham Road
• Caversham - Coley Park
• Southcote
• Shinfield Road
• Northumberland Avenue and Basingstoke Road
• Kentwood, Tilehurst Road

The Programme

The first Quality Bus Corridor launched was Premier Route 17, which started running its upgraded service in October 2004. This was followed by Services 4/5/6 in March 2005, Service 9 in July 2005 and Services 23/24, 25/26 and 37 in Spring 2006. A part of the further development of the Premier Route network, Service 37 was replaced by Premier Services 15 and 16 in February 2007. Brand new buses are dedicated to these improved services. February 2008, saw the upgrading of the other routes 20/21, 31/33/35 and 63/64. The programme has been extended to change Premier Route 17 to run all day and all night, 24 hours a day 7 days a week from May 2008 as well as running on environmentally friendly bio-ethanol. Service 35 was withdrawn in September 2008 in favour of Sunday buses on routes 15 and 33.

Our Premier Route network

View our Premier Route network by clicking here.