Reading launches lion route buses

Reading Buses has launched eight new buses on its lion 4 and X4 routes.

The new buses feature coffee shop-style flooring and tables, high-back seats, glazed staircases and skylights. 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.

The company launched the buses by parking one of them in the pedestrianised Market Place just outside Wokingham Town Hall.

“This represents the next level of comfort and class for our customers” – Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer

Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer, said: “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.”

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. 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.