READING Buses is launching a brand new travel service for getting to and from the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
From Monday, February 20, the company will be offering the Hospital Park and Ride 300.
The service will run directly from Thames Valley Park and Ride to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and then Christchurch Green and Mereoak Park and Ride.
This will connect the hospital with the park and ride locations and the University.
The service replaces the closed-door H3 service for hospital and university staff and students, with a new name to reflect that it is also available to members of the public.
It will run up to every 20 minutes in peak hours, and every 30 minutes during the day, with the first buses of the day timed to arrive at the hospital at 6.45am and leaving at 7.15pm.
Fares on the service will be a part of the simplyReading zone which allows travel on all Reading Buses services.
This means that tickets pricing options like the easysaver10 or daysaver5 tickets, weekly tickets, and subscription tickets will all apply to the service.
Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer Robert Williams said today: “I am very pleased that we have been able to continue developing services in the area to support the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and to help encourage a switch to more sustainable transport options.
“Free travel will continue to be available for Royal Berkshire Hospital and University employees, and now the public can also use the service so that they don’t have to worry about finding a parking space at the hospital.”
Janet Lippett, acting chief executive officer for Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said; “We know the experience patients and visitors have travelling to hospital can make a huge difference to their health and wellbeing.
“We are really excited to be opening this park and ride service to the public – providing them with an easy and sustainable way to get to Royal Berkshire Hospital without having to drive.”
