Borough's bus service on the right Wokingham route!
The wheels on the Wokingham borough’s buses will be taking the service to extra stops from June 2 when a host of improvements start.
Wokingham Borough Council teamed up with Thames Travel in January to provide an enhanced bus service for residents and commuters and over the past six months it has proved so popular that the service is now being enhanced to provide an even better service.
Demand for the new bus service has meant that the 144 route which currently runs every 30 minutes from Reading to Arborfield Garrison and hourly on to Finchampstead and Wokingham from Monday to Saturday will be adding an hourly Sunday service between Reading and Finchampstead.
The 144 service will also be extended to run to Finchampstead in the early morning and early evening from Monday to Saturday to provide an extra commuter link from the south of the borough into Arborfield and Reading.
A late night bus on the 144 route will also run from Reading to Arborfield Garrison at weekends at 2.35am so late night revellers can get home.
The 122 service is also changing with an additional bus being put on at 6.39am from California Crossroads in Finchampstead to Wokingham train station. Commuters wanting to get to California Crossroads in the evening will also be able to take advantage of a bus leaving Wokingham train station at 6.42pm.
All the changes to the routes will start on Monday June 2 to provide an even better service for bus users – to meet more of their demands and needs.
The Wokingham council and Thames Travel have already received positive feedback from bus users since the new network was launched in January. It was launched to provide a more modern and comprehensive service, in line with the public’s need.
Roland Clausen-Thue, Wokingham Borough Council’s senior planner for public transport, said: “We wanted to provide an up-to-date service that reflected the majority of the community’s need, and in partnership with Thames Travel, the feedback we have been receiving suggests we managed to achieve that.
“However, we recognised that after the first few months of the service running there needed to be more buses going to Finchampstead and Wokingham town centre for commuters in the morning and evening, as well as a Sunday service for those wanting to get about at the weekend.
“The additional services on the 144 will also help people in the south of the borough move about much more easily.”
Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham transport and highways, said: “Improved public transport networks are a key element in our quest to reduce congestion on the roads, therefore we are always looking at ways to improve our public transport network. Not only are we improving the service but also it is happening less six months after we originally upgraded it to a new and modern bus service.
“It is a tribute to the closer working relationship between Wokingham Borough Council and Reading Buses. Together we will continue to work together to provide the best possible service to meet the public’s greatest need.”
John Wright, managing director of Thames Travel, added: “The close co-operation between ourselves and Wokingham Borough Council has created a solid base, upon which local bus services within the borough can be progressively built upon to meet the needs and aspirations of local residents. We look forward to creating an expanding network of services over the coming years.”
Residents and those visiting the Wokingham borough can pick up a new timetable for the 144 service from Wokingham Borough Council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/transport-roads-waste or from the information centre at Wokingham Town Hall in Market Place. Copies can also be ordered from the council’s transport planning department on (0118) 974 6472.
Wokingham Borough Council teamed up with Thames Travel in January to provide an enhanced bus service for residents and commuters and over the past six months it has proved so popular that the service is now being enhanced to provide an even better service.
Demand for the new bus service has meant that the 144 route which currently runs every 30 minutes from Reading to Arborfield Garrison and hourly on to Finchampstead and Wokingham from Monday to Saturday will be adding an hourly Sunday service between Reading and Finchampstead.
The 144 service will also be extended to run to Finchampstead in the early morning and early evening from Monday to Saturday to provide an extra commuter link from the south of the borough into Arborfield and Reading.
A late night bus on the 144 route will also run from Reading to Arborfield Garrison at weekends at 2.35am so late night revellers can get home.
The 122 service is also changing with an additional bus being put on at 6.39am from California Crossroads in Finchampstead to Wokingham train station. Commuters wanting to get to California Crossroads in the evening will also be able to take advantage of a bus leaving Wokingham train station at 6.42pm.
All the changes to the routes will start on Monday June 2 to provide an even better service for bus users – to meet more of their demands and needs.
The Wokingham council and Thames Travel have already received positive feedback from bus users since the new network was launched in January. It was launched to provide a more modern and comprehensive service, in line with the public’s need.
Roland Clausen-Thue, Wokingham Borough Council’s senior planner for public transport, said: “We wanted to provide an up-to-date service that reflected the majority of the community’s need, and in partnership with Thames Travel, the feedback we have been receiving suggests we managed to achieve that.
“However, we recognised that after the first few months of the service running there needed to be more buses going to Finchampstead and Wokingham town centre for commuters in the morning and evening, as well as a Sunday service for those wanting to get about at the weekend.
“The additional services on the 144 will also help people in the south of the borough move about much more easily.”
Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham transport and highways, said: “Improved public transport networks are a key element in our quest to reduce congestion on the roads, therefore we are always looking at ways to improve our public transport network. Not only are we improving the service but also it is happening less six months after we originally upgraded it to a new and modern bus service.
“It is a tribute to the closer working relationship between Wokingham Borough Council and Reading Buses. Together we will continue to work together to provide the best possible service to meet the public’s greatest need.”
John Wright, managing director of Thames Travel, added: “The close co-operation between ourselves and Wokingham Borough Council has created a solid base, upon which local bus services within the borough can be progressively built upon to meet the needs and aspirations of local residents. We look forward to creating an expanding network of services over the coming years.”
Residents and those visiting the Wokingham borough can pick up a new timetable for the 144 service from Wokingham Borough Council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/transport-roads-waste or from the information centre at Wokingham Town Hall in Market Place. Copies can also be ordered from the council’s transport planning department on (0118) 974 6472.
Wokingham Borough Council
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