Service 9 Consultation Response September 2008

***  CONSULTATION EXTENDED ***
Following a large number of customer comments from our July 2008 consultation, the consultation period for Premier Route 9 has now been extended until the end of September 2008. This is to give people more time to consider the proposal in its present form which proposes to split the route in the town centre. We will also consider further alternatives, some of which have already arisen out of the responses received so far.

CHANGES FROM 1st SEPTEMBER

There are also some changes happening from 1st September 2008 and the following is a summary of main responses to our consultation on the Premier Route 9 changes that are to be introduced from that date.

The Problem

There is insufficient capacity during the evening peaks Mondays to Fridays on the southern section of the route between Reading Station and Shinfield Park.

We are also aware that the current hourly Sunday service on the section of route between Central Reading and Shinfield Park is not sufficient.

On Sundays the existing service between Central Reading and Caversham Heights does not carry enough passengers to cover its costs.

Our Proposals

Premier Route 9 will provide an enhanced Sunday frequency between Shinfield Park and Reading Station, running every 30 minutes, providing a combined frequency (with Route 21) between Central Reading and the University of Reading of every 15 minutes.

On Sundays, the first journey from Shinfield Park will be an hour earlier than at present.

We are keen to run an enhanced frequency of every ten minutes during the evening peak on Mondays to Fridays on Premier Route 9 between Central Reading and Shinfield Park. This is currently the subject of discussions with Reading Borough Council and a decision is awaited.

In the evenings buses would run every hour, providing a combined half-hourly frequency with Route 21 of every 30 minutes between Central Reading and the University of Reading.

Reading Borough Council is currently considering whether to provide a subsidy to support the continued operation of Premier Route 9 on Sundays to Caversham Heights.

Comments

There is support for the enhanced Sunday service and for a more frequent weekday service on the southern section.

There was also support for retaining the Sunday service to Caversham Heights. This has been passed to Reading Borough Council for consideration.

CONSULTATION EXTENDED

Note: the original proposal to split Premier Route 9 is now the subject of extended consultation – this period ends on 30th September 2008. A number of alternatives have been suggested during the initial consultation and these will be considered in detail. New proposals will be brought forward in response to this extended consultation.