Transport Service Changes or Disruption
Planned public transport changes, disruption information and contacting operators.
On this page:
- Free Bus Travel for World Car Free Day
- Local Bus changes in September 2024
- West Berkshire Annual Bus Users Survey
- Additional bus services between Newbury and Basingstoke
- New evening bus services in Newbury and Thatcham and Sunday services to Mortimer
- Travel to Harwell and Didcot by bus
- Fare cap for local buses
- Other Public Transport Services
- Travel Guidance and Face Coverings
- Services on Bank Holidays and During Travel Disruption
- Contacting Local Bus and Train Operators
Free Bus Travel for World Car Free Day Sunday 22 September 2024
In addition to the normal Sunday bus services, a special one-off service will also be available on the X34 between Newbury and Didcot.
Why not leave the car at home, and visit friends and family by bus, or go out for the day to Basingstoke, Reading or Didcot.
This initiative has been developed by West Berkshire Council in partnership with Reading Buses, Thames Travel and Stagecoach. Free bus travel will be available all day on eligible services.
As well as free travel for journeys starting in West Berkshire, operators will also allow passengers to return from places further afield free of charge.
Concessionary Bus Passes will still be accepted.
The following services will be operating their usual Sunday timetables and will be taking part:
| Route | Operator | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Jet Black 1 | Reading Buses | Newbury to Reading |
| Lime 2/2a | Reading Buses | Mortimer/Burghfield to Reading |
| Sky Blue 15 | Reading Buses | Calcot to Reading |
| Sky Blue 16 | Reading Buses | Purley on Thames to Reading |
| Yellow 26 | Reading Buses | Calcot to Reading |
| 32 | Stagecoach South | Newbury to Basingstoke |
| Royal Blue 33 | Reading Buses | Turnham's Farm to Reading |
In addition to the usual Sunday timetables, the X34 between Newbury and Didcot will be running a special one-off timetable. Journeys to/from Newbury/West Berkshire and Didcot will be free; if travelling in Oxfordshire, the usual fare will apply.
| Stops | X34 | X34 | X34 | X34 | X34 | X34 | X34 | X34 | X34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Didcot Parkway Station | 0807 | 0907 | 1007 | 1107 | 1207 | 1307 | 1407 | 1507 | 1607 |
| Newbury Vodafone roundabout | 0849 | 0949 | 1049 | 1149 | 1249 | 1349 | 1449 | 1549 | 1649 |
| Newbury, Wharf Bus Station [Arr] | 0857 | 0957 | 1057 | 1157 | 1257 | 1357 | 1457 | 1557 | 1657 |
| Newbury, Wharf Bus Station [Dep] | 0928 | 1028 | 1128 | 1228 | 1328 | 1428 | 1528 | 1628 | 1728 |
| Newbury, Vodafone roundabout | 0938 | 1038 | 1138 | 1238 | 1338 | 1438 | 1538 | 1638 | 1738 |
| Didcot, Haydon Road | 1026 | 1126 | 1226 | 1326 | 1426 | 1526 | 1626 | 1726 | 1826 |
Only the above services will be eligible for free bus travel.
Free Bus Travel will also be offered in the run-up to Christmas on selected Saturdays in November and December, do look out for more details in the autumn.
The free bus travel offer has 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.
Local bus changes in September 2024
From Monday 2 September 2024 the following changes to local bus services came into effect:
- Bus services between Pangbourne/Upper Basildon and Reading are now operated by Reading Buses. The Azure 43 service will operate between Pangbourne/Upper Basildon and Reading, replacing the 143 operated by Thames Travel which has now been withdrawn.
- The 93 will operate on school days from Reading to Langtree School via Pangbourne, Lower Basildon and Goring replacing the BB3 previously operated by Thames Travel which has now been withdrawn.
- The 145 service running between Goring and Reading via Streatley, Lower Basildon, Pangbourne, Whitchurch-On-Thames previously operated by Going Forward Buses will now be operated by Oxfordshire County Council on Tuesdays. The timetable can be found in the latest
District-wide Travel Guide [10MB] . - The Sky Blue 15, Sky Blue 16 and Royal Blue 33 routes operated by Reading Buses have also updated their timetables.
You can find out more in the latest
District-wide Travel Guide [10MB] .
West Berkshire Annual Bus Users Survey
Your views on local buses are important to us and over the last few years we have been working with the local community to gather thoughts and intelligence on local bus services.
This summer we want to gather views on ticketing improvements in the last year, the £2 National Single Fare Cap Scheme, and views on new bus services we are expecting to introduce in the coming months.
Since last year, new bus services have been introduced, including our on-demand bus service West Berkshire Community Connect: On-demand Transport and the CCA, 1e, X34, alongside service enhancements to Lime 2/2a and the renamed 32 (formerly the LINK) and we would like to hear from you about your experiences using these services.
We also want to hear from you about how satisfied you are with local bus services and whether you would like coach services to return to West Berkshire.
To take part, please complete the online survey by midnight on 29 September 2024.
Paper copies of the survey are available. Please ring 01635 519394 or email transport@westberks.gov.uk to request a copy.
Additional bus services between Newbury and Basingstoke
From 5 May 2024, Stagecoach will be introducing additional services to their long-standing service between Newbury and Basingstoke.
Service 32 formerly known as The LINK will:
- operate on Sundays/public holidays for the very first time
- provide later evening services between Newbury and Basingstoke Monday to Saturday
- additional peak-time evening services on Monday to Friday
With these significant enhancements, why not use the service to go to Basingstoke, catch the latest film, visit friends and family and access job opportunities.
Further information can be found on Stagecoach and West Berkshire Council's websites.
These service enhancements build on a long-held ambition of West Berkshire Council to enhance late evening and Sunday bus services across the district and follow the recent introduction of the:
- 1e late evening service on Fridays and Saturdays between Newbury and Thatcham
- Lime 2a extension to Mortimer every 2 hours on Sundays
- X34 between Newbury and Harwell Campus/Didcot
With the introduction of on-demand bus services West Berkshire Community Connect and Wiltshire Connect, these changes ensure that local bus services continue to evolve.
Your concessionary fares bus pass will be accepted on these services between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday and all day on Saturdays and Sundays/public holidays.
This service extension has 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 and the Council has partnered with Stagecoach and Hampshire County Council to make these services a reality.
There will be further announcements about your local bus services in the coming months so please do look out for them.
New evening bus services in Newbury and Thatcham and Sunday services to Mortimer
From September 2023, Newbury & District have introduced a late evening service between Newbury and Thatcham on Friday and Saturday evenings and Lime 2a operated by Reading Buses now extends to Mortimer every 2 hours on Sundays.
The Friday and Saturday 1e late evening service runs between Newbury Wharf and Thatcham Broadway, extending to Falmouth Way. The service also passes through the Turnpike Estate. Why not use the bus to go to the cinema, the Corn Exchange, go out for a bite to eat or meet friends and family in local bars and eateries.
The Lime 2a has been extended to serve Mortimer every 2 hours on Sundays, providing a bus link to Burghfield and Reading which has not been available for some years. You could use the service to go shopping in Reading, catch the latest film, visit friends/or family, or access job opportunities.
Further information can be found on Reading Buses and Newbury & District's websites and in our
Travel Guide [10MB] .
These service enhancements build on a long-held ambition of West Berkshire Council to enhance late evening and Sunday bus services across the district and with the recent introduction of the X34 between Newbury and Harwell Campus/Didcot ensure that local bus services continue to evolve.
Your concessionary fares bus pass will be accepted on these services between 9.30am and 11pm on Fridays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
These service extensions 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 and the council has partnered with Reading Buses and Newbury & District to make these services a reality.
There will be further announcements about your local bus services in the coming months so please do look out for them.
Travel to Harwell and Didcot by bus
The service is called X34 and runs hourly between Newbury and Harwell Campus Monday to Saturday and is operated by Thames Travel who are part of Oxford Bus Company.
It provides a vital link between Newbury and a very prestigious local science and innovation campus as well as providing a link to Didcot where there is onward bus travel to Abingdon, Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Wallingford and Wantage.
Why not use the bus to go to work at the Harwell Campus, to go on a day trip with family and friends or take advantage of shopping opportunities in Didcot or Oxford.
You can find the timetable for the service here.
The service between Newbury and the Harwell Campus (bus services already existed between Didcot and Harwell) has been made possible by funding from HM Government, given to West Berkshire Council and Oxfordshire County Council after submission of a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October 2021.
Fare cap for bus journeys
You may have heard the Government's announcement about a fare cap, introduced across most bus services in England in late 2022. This offer has now been extended to 31 December 2024.
The council is pleased to announce that bus journeys across West Berkshire will capped at £2 for a single journey and £4 for a return journey.
Its intention is to provide affordable bus travel for millions across England and you can travel any time of day. The scheme forms part of the Government's Help for Households campaign, as the new cap can deliver real savings for those most affected by the rising cost of living.
So why not use the bus to get to work, go shopping, attend an appointment, go for a bite to eat in the local eateries, take in some of the outstanding scenery, or meet friends and family.
This fare cap builds on the allocation of more than £2 billion to support bus services in England through the pandemic and a commitment to fund improved services, new bus priority measures and new electric or hydrogen buses as part of the ambitious National Bus Strategy, published in 2021.
The fare cap will be applied on the following routes across the district:
| Route | Operator | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Jet Black 1 | Reading Buses | Newbury to Reading Town Centre |
| 1a, 1c, 1d | Newbury & District | Newbury to Thatcham |
| 1e | Newbury & District | Newbury to Thatcham |
| 2, 2a, 2c | Newbury & District | Newbury to Wash Common/Pigeons Farm |
| 2 (Stagecoach) | Stagecoach South | Basingstoke to Tadley/Baughurst |
| Lime 2 and 2a | Reading Buses | Mortimer to Reading Town Centre |
| 3/3a/3c/3x | Newbury & District | Newbury to Hungerford |
| 4/4a/4b/4c | Newbury & District | Newbury to Lambourn |
| 6 & 6a | Newbury & District | Newbury to The Ilsleys |
| 7 | Stagecoach South | Newbury to Andover |
| 7a | Stagecoach South | Newbury to Burghclere via Penwood, Woolton Hill & Ball Hill |
| 8 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Greenham/Tesco |
| 9 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Racecourse Development |
| 15 | Reading Buses | Reading Town Centre to IKEA |
| 16 | Reading Buses | Reading Town Centre to Purley On Thames |
| 26 | Reading Buses | Reading Town Centre to Calcot |
| 32 (formerly The LINK) | Stagecoach South | Newbury to Basingstoke |
| 33 | Reading Buses | Reading Town Centre to Turnham's Farm |
| X34 | Thames Travel | Newbury - Harwell Campus - Didcot |
| 41 | West Berkshire Council | Thatcham to Theale |
| 44 | West Berkshire Council | Thatcham to Beenham/Calcot via Tadley |
| 46, 46a, 48 | Stagecoach West | Hungerford to Swindon |
| 47 | West Berkshire Council | Lambourn to Swindon |
| 103/103a/103b | Newbury & District | Newbury to Greenham Business Park |
| Wiltshire Connect 110 | Salisbury Reds | Marlborough to Hungerford |
| 143 | Thames Travel | Reading Town Centre to Pangbourne, Upper Basildon and Goring |
| Community Connect A | West Berkshire Council | Brightwalton to Newbury |
| West Berkshire Community Connect | West Berkshire Council | On demand bus service connecting Northwest Downlands with Newbury. |
Other services may be taking part.
You can find the full list of operators taking part across England 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.
We also post available updates on the Connect West Berkshire Twitter feed.
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.
Contacting Local Bus and Train Operators
You can find details of the major bus and train operators in West Berkshire, and links to their website and contact details, below:
- Connect - services 41, 44, 47, CCA and West Berkshire Community Connect; follow Connect on X
- Going Forward Buses - find their contact details on the Going Forward Buses website - you can also find Going Forward Buses on Facebook
- Great Western Railway (GWR) - find their contact details on the GWR website - you can also follow Great Western Railway on X
- Newbury and District - find their contact details on the Newbury and District website - you can also find Newbury and District on Facebook and follow Newbury and District on X
- Reading Buses - find their contact details on the Reading Buses website - you can also find Reading Buses on Facebook and follow Reading Buses on X
- Salisbury Reds - find their contact details on the Salisbury Reds website
- Stagecoach - find their contact details on the Stagecoach website - you can also follow Stagecoach South on X
- Swindon's Bus Company - find their contact details on the Swindon Bus Company website
- Thames Travel - find their contact details on the Thames Travel website - you can also find Thames Travel on Facebook
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