January 2026 Update
Robert Williams
Dear all,
Here is the latest fleet news from Reading Buses.
Reading Buses
Delivery of the route branded AD Enviro400EV’s commenced on 23 January with 4/6/7/9, followed by 5/8/19/20 on 24 January, 14/15 on 28 January, 10/11/12 on 29 January, 13/16/18 on 30 January, and 22/23/24 on 31 January. This leaves 17 and 21 outstanding. All were delivered to Reading, and several have been to Newbury or Greenham for initial inspections and storage.
4-18 carry branding for purple 17 and 19-24 for claret 21 as expected. They don’t have advert frames, each having individual adverts on the sides and rears extolling the virtues of the buses, and an individual mural photo on the stairwell. In addition, 4 is being given an all-over wrap prior to entering service as the start of celebrating the company’s 125th anniversary this year, and it will operate as a generic.
The EV fleet is expected to enter service en-masse with an overnight conversion from 4am on Friday 6 February on purple 17 and claret 21. The generic EVs may also appear on yellow 26, and occasionally other urban routes subject to availability.
444 entered service on 19 January in red Winnersh Triangle park&ride livery.
649 transferred to Thames Valley Buses on 11 January.
1201 has been sold to Chartwell Bus and Coach, being withdrawn on 28 January and departing on 29th.
410 has lost ruby10 branding, and is being used to cover accident damaged 445 on Winnersh Triangle park&ride pending repaint.
710 returned from centre door removal and repaint into an updated version of the berry livery (ex purple 17) on 13 January, but will go away again for retrim before it returns to service.
700 went away to Bus & Coach World, Blackburn for repaint and interior refurbishment on 3 January.
416 went away to Bus & Coach World, Blackburn for interior refurbishment on 16 January.
211, 212, 213, 806 remain on site for sale. 447 and 451 remain on site being prepared for service.
Newbury & District
No news this month.
Thames Valley Buses
649 entered service on 12 January in plain white with no logos.
131 was sold for scrap on 20 January (to Paynes, Iver).
661 was returned to Dawson Rentals on 26 January.
126, 129, 130 remain on site for sale, and 191 stored for Dawson Rentals.
689 is still pending entry into service, so 1009 continues in short term use.
Regards,
Robert