Transport Service Changes or Disruption

Planned public transport changes, disruption information and contacting operators.

Christmas and New Year buses

During the Christmas and New Year period there may be changes to how bus services will be operating. The following table outlines the major changes.

Date	Buses in West Berkshire
22 December 2025	Normal service on all routes except: 32 operating Saturday timetable.
23 December 2025	Normal service on all routes except: 32 operating Saturday timetable.
24 December 2025 (Christmas Eve)	Normal service except: last journey on 47 will be the 16:20 from Swindon; majority of Reading Buses routes finish at 8pm; 32 & x34 operating Saturday timetable with early finish. Wiltshire Connect finishes at 8pm. Community Connect ends 5.30pm.
25 December 2025 (Christmas Day)	No service.
26 December 2025 (Boxing Day)	No services except: Jet Black service between 9am and 6pm, other Reading based services run a Sunday timetable between 9am and 6pm.
27 December 2025	Normal service on all routes except: last journey on 47 will be the 16:20 from Swindon.
28 December 2025	Normal Sunday service on all routes.
29 December 2025	Normal service on all routes except: N&D, Reading Buses, Stagecoach will operate Saturday timetables. Wiltshire Connect operating Saturday service between 8am and 7.30pm, 110 and 120 won't operate.
30 December 2025	Normal service on all routes except: N&D, Reading Buses, Stagecoach will operate Saturday timetables. Wiltshire Connect operating Saturday service between 8am and 7.30pm, 110 and 120 won't operate.
31 December 2025 (New Year's Eve)	Last journey on 47 will be the 16:20 from Swindon; N&D, Reading Buses and Thames Travel will operate Saturday timetables, 32 service will operate Saturday service with early finish. Wiltshire Connect operating Saturday service between 8am and 7.30pm, 110 and 120 won't operate. Community Connect ends 5.30pm.
1 January 2026 (New Year's Day)	No services except: Sunday service on Reading Buses routes.
2 January 2026	Normal services on all routes except: Saturday service on Reading Buses, Thames Travel and Stagecoach routes.
3 January 2026	Normal services on all routes.

Individual bus operators also provide further details on their websites about bus services over the festive period.

Monks Lane, Newbury closure January to May 2026

Monks Lane in Newbury will be closed from the 12 January to 22 May 2026. The road will be closed between the junction with A343 Andover Road/Essex Street and Newbury Rugby Club.

The following school bus services will be given access into the closure area to drop off and collect students attending Park House School and Newbury College. The arrival times listed below are the approximate times the bus will be in the closure area.

CCA: morning arrival 8.17am and afternoon arrival 15.14pm
2A: afternoon arrival 15.40pm
2C: morning arrival 8.31am
3: morning arrival 8.17am and afternoon arrival 15.42pm
4C: morning arrival 8.09am
6: morning arrival 8.20am
8: morning arrival 7.50am

No other bus services will be allowed through the closure.

Operators are currently planning service provision during this time. Once available, details will be posted on Newbury & District and West Berkshire Community Connect: On-demand Transport webpages.

You can find further information about the closure here.

Tap on tap off on local bus services

You can now pay by tapping on and tapping off on public bus services operated by the council. Further information can be found on our Tap On Tap Off on Local Bus services page.

Tap on tap off services operated by West Berkshire Council have been made possible by funding from HM Government, given to West Berkshire Council after submission of a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October 2021.

Singles bus fares in 2025

You may have heard the Government's announcement about a £3 single fare cap on bus journeys being introduced on many bus services in England from 1 January 2025. It will be in place until 31 December 2025.

This will be applied on bus services that operate in West Berkshire. Please check with the individual bus operators listed below for the latest information on the capping of single fares across the district.

You can find a list of operators taking part on the Government's website.

Other public transport services

Trains services that operate in West Berkshire maybe subject to change, often at short notice, updated information can be found on the Great Western Railway (GWR) website.

National Express is not currently operating in West Berkshire.

Travel guidance and face coverings

The government has removed all domestic legal restrictions relating to COVID-19.

There is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering, but the government suggests that people consider wearing one when COVID-19 rates are high and you will be in close contact with others such as in crowded and enclosed spaces, when you come into close contact with someone in a high risk category and when there are a lot of respiratory viruses circulating.

You can find more detailed information about coronavirus guidance on the GOV.UK website.

Services on bank holidays and during travel disruption

If you are planning to travel by public transport on bank holidays, during bad weather or during other periods of disruption, please use the Traveline journey planner which has regularly updated information.

You can also check with the bus or train company you will be using to make sure they are running. Please see the contact details listed below.

Road closures and bus stop suspensions

At times essential utility work and highway improvement works can cause disruptions to bus services. This can include bus stop suspensions and services having to divert from scheduled routes.

Details of any works which could have a major impact on West Berkshire Council contracted services will be posted on this page.