May 2024 Update

[Robert Williams]

Dear all,

 

Here is the latest fleet news from the Reading Buses group of companies.

 

Orders for a record 53 brand new buses are being announced over the weekend with Alexander Dennis for delivery over the next 12 months – diesel by December 2024 and electric by June 2025 covering investment across two financial years, and partly supported by the government ZEBRA2 funding. This will comprise of the following, which won’t necessarily be delivered in sequence:

3x E400 City (742-744) for Thames Valley Buses Flightline 703 (existing order)

2x E400 City (745-746) for Reading Buses London Line 702

3x E400 City (249-251) for Reading Buses Lion 4/X4

7x E400 City (252-258) for Reading Buses Jet Black 1

6x E400 City (259-264) for Reading Buses generic

8x E200MMC 9.7m for Newbury & District

3x E400EV for Reading Buses generic

15x E400EV for Reading Buses purple 17

6x E400EV for Reading Buses claret 21

 

A programme of cascades and disposals will follow thereafter to displace E400 ex-hybrids from sky blue, berry and the new University brand amongst other things.

 

 

Reading Buses

211 returned from repaint into base University off-white livery on 8 May, and 213 on 15 May.

810 was withdrawn on 4 May.

186 was withdrawn on 10 May.

 

382 went into reserve on 14 April, ahead of transfer to Thames Valley Buses for trial operation on routes 234/5/8/9.

Withdrawn 182, 186, 803, 810, are on site pending disposal. 1203, 1205, 1206 have been moved to reserve for repair with 1207.

 

 

Newbury & District

We are taking delivery of four brand new 86-seat seat-belted Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMCs on six months lease pending the delivery of new vehicles to Reading later in the year. They are to become 775-778 registered YX24 PCU/PCV/PCY/PCZ, 775/8 arriving in Reading on 1 June, 776 on 4 June and 777 is imminent. They will operate in white Newbury & District livery, and be allocated solely to school and private hire work for the duration of their stay. The intention is that this will release 1202, 788, 863 & 864 for transfer to Reading when they enter service at the end of next week, and that the current jet black vehicles will cascade to N&D in the autumn.

 

165 gained a new MegaRear for Howdens on 1 June.

 

 

Thames Valley Buses

781 returned to service following retrim on 20 May.

795 went away for repaint into Thames Valley Buses generic livery (ex Flightline 703) and retrim on 20 May.

 

 

Regards,

 

Robert