PASSENGERS in south Reading are discovering the beauty of gas thanks to a new fleet of buses.
The Buzz 9 route is now served with single-decker buses running on compressed natural gas, thanks to funding provided by Reading Borough Council’s bus service improvement plan.
The fleet produces no particulates, no hydrocarbons, virtually zero carbon and are said to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide put into the air compared to diesel buses.
There are improvements for passengers too: the refurbished interiors have what Reading Buses describe as coffee shop-style flooring, and for power users there are USB charging sockets.
The Buzz 9 runs from the town centre to Green Park Station, via the Royal Berkshire Hospital, the University of Reading, and Whitley Wood.
Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer, said the company was delighted to be launching the new buses, and expand the firm’s low-carbon biomethane fleet by nearly 10% this year.
“Buzz 9 is the first bus route to serve the new Green Park Station and will help connect the station with Green Park itself, Whitley Wood, the University of Reading, the Royal Berkshire Hospital and, of course, Reading town centre. We hope the new branding, buses, route and timetable will encourage more people to use this service,” he said.
The news was also welcomed by Councillor John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport.
“The council worked with Network Rail and Great Western Railway to open the new Green Park Station in May last year, and I am pleased we are now partnering with Reading Buses to offer improved connections to and from the station with this new bus route,” he said.
“The newly branded Buzz 9 service will connect south Reading residents with Green Park Station six days a week.
“This new route is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to offer more convenient and sustainable ways for residents and visitors to travel around Reading.”
