READING Buses is marking 20 years since the introduction of their colourful route branding this week.
The company began using the system for its routes on October 25, 2004, with the aim of simplifying the navigation of Reading’s public transport.
It began with the company’s flagship route 17, which became Purple 17, before expanding the system to more routes.
This included the Claret 21, Orange 13/14, Yellow 26, Greenwave 50, Royal Blue 33, and Emerald 5/6.
The route colours were traditionally displayed on a beige background, but were replaced by full colour branding beginning in 2011.
Reading Buses is set to mark the occasion with a celebration on Saturday, October 26, when it will run special buses throughout the day.
Former fleet vehicles from the mid-2000s will return to run extra journeys on routes 17, 5/6, and Berry 23/24.
The first two buses to carry the purple livery are still in the fleet after the Covid pandemic delaying replacement vehicles, though they are now silver and are predominantly used for school bus journeys.
These buses will be returned to normal service for their final days as part of the fleet, ahead of planned replacements in the coming weeks.
They will bear the livery of their current owners, Stephensons of Essex, Bluestar and Salisbury Reds, who bought them from Reading Buses when ethanol, diesel-electric hybrid and bio methane fuelled vehicles began joining the fleet.
The guest buses will be offering free trips on top of the usual services while stopping at their usual designated stops.
Robert Williams, Chief Executive of Reading buses says “Our unique identity for each route helps make them easier for customers to remember and our buses easier to recognise, helping to improve the customer experience when travelling with us.
“Our individual route branding requires more detailed planning up front, however, it benefits all our customers from regular commuters to first-time customers, and brightens up the town.
“It’s also of benefit to visually impaired people and visitors to the route who can be sure that seeing a striking colour from a distance is their bus.”
Reading Buses celebrates the 20th anniversary with the extra buses on routes across town on Saturday, October 26.
