A new service that will connect Basingstoke and Camberley to Heathrow Airport has been launched – with introductory fares just £1 each way.
It will be a new limited stop coach named Flightline 730/731 introduced by local firm Newbury & District. Services will begin August 21.
The new coach will start from Basingstoke station and will stop at Old Basing, Frimley, Camberley, Bagshot and Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, offering local connections as well as journeys to the airport.
Newbury & District say the new service has been developed in partnership with Heathrow Airport to help both holidaymakers, business travellers and their staff travel to the airport more sustainably.
At the same time, the operator said it will be a more cost-effective way of travelling to Heathrow, with the extended ULEZ zone in London starting from August 29.
Robert Williams, chief executive officer of Newbury & District, said: “Our aim is to fill several gaps that we have identified in the current bus and train network along the M3/A30 corridor. These are relatively easy to do by car, but difficult by bus or train until now.
“The service is not just for links to the airport, but all the connections in between, such as Basingstoke to Camberley.
“Newbury & District see this as a hybrid of a bus, coach and train service and a very high profile and exciting project for our company as well as the local area.
“We have four brand new coaches on order which will enter service in October and in the meantime we will be using modern double deck buses with high back seats, USB charging and free WiFi.”
He added: “For the first two weeks of the service Flightline 730/731 will have an offer of just £1 for any single journey regardless of distance.
“Flightline 730 and 731 will run up to every hour throughout the day from early to late making it the perfect option for travelling to Heathrow for flights or for workers at the airport.”
Matthew Wooll, route development lead for surface access strategy at Heathrow said: “This new Flightline service is a fantastic addition to Heathrow’s public transport network.
“We want all of Heathrow’s passengers and colleagues to have access to good public transport at the times they need it. Travelling more sustainably will help reduce congestion and emissions, and Flightline 730/731 will also help keep the cost of travelling down, through some great-value tickets including discounts if you work at the airport.”
The coach service will have turn-up-and-go ticketing, so there is no need to pre-book. Tickets will be available onboard from the driver as well as through the Newbury & District app.
Return fares will be valid for one month from purchase and discounted young persons, group and longer-term tickets will also be available.
Those interested can find all the details of the new service at flightlinebus.co.uk.
