Reading Buses and Thames Valley

[Jimini]

With the recent high temperatures, has anybody had the chance to experience the air-conditioning on the new EV buses? They supposedly have heat pumps although I'm still a little bit sceptical as to how effective/reliable these will be in practice. I hope somebody on here can prove me wrong!

I can confirm it was doing the square root of f all on the 17 I caught yesterday. Friend of mine who was a couple of buses behind me said the same.

 

[nctd2306]

I can confirm it was doing the square root of f all on the 17 I caught yesterday. Friend of mine who was a couple of buses behind me said the same.

I thought this would be the case to be honest, I think we still have a long way to go to get decent and effective AC on British buses!

I'm glad I didn't go out of my way to try it myself now, so thank you all for the reports

 

[Dwarfer1979]

I think it's more than the old London bus air "cooling" system, but not full aircon. As far as I'm aware the only buses with full aircon in the UK are BYD (and possibly Yutong?).

Yutong certainly fit aircon as standard on their single-deckers, it is more energy efficient for vehicle heating in winter as well as cooling in summer which I have seen stated as to why Yutong fit it as standard, not sure what happens with double-deckers. Historically there have been questions about the effectiveness of aircon on local buses that stop regularly in typical UK temperatures but with more very hot days I think that calculation changes as there is a point where airflow alone simply struggles to have any effect (& China having areas with much higher average temperatures than Northern Europe the fitment of aircon is much more standard in their home markets).

There has also been a question about weight on double-deckers (Hong Kong is 3-axle even at lengths which are 2-axle in the UK possibly for this reason but different countries have different weight rules), even on diesels it was difficult to fit aircon on a full capacity decker (I think London United did have full Aircon on the Airbus Alexander Royales but they were downseated due to the airport express nature of the route) and stay within axle limits. Electric buses do have a higher axle limit than diesels but I would expect all/most of that being needed for the batteries so I assume the same issue still exists but possibly someone has worked out how to make a lighter and more practical aircon system that can be used in double-deckers but even if someone has there may be proprietal aspects that mean only certain manufacturers can offer it if the two chinese suppliers have managed to do so for their deckers (I've not managed to ride either model yet as there are none local to me yet).

Cab aircon was pretty common, in London at least, for many years as it only needs a smaller and lighter unit so there were less issues around weight & costs and with drivers being in the cab for several hours (& in London fairly sealed cabs) the benefits were more widely felt for longer periods of the year.

 

[Thames99]

Do you mean route 26 electrics?

Yes, sorry 26. The information comes from this Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/RTECmembers/?locale=en_GB

Robert Williams​

All-star contributor
· otSopnsredata1u a 202g m8a13t:mi4821a2i826u4lm6a1ytl6f4ahMum ·
We are anticipating that 714-722 will re-enter service on Wed 27th with their new sky blue identities, and new electrics 25-32 on Monday 1st (subject to change). The updated berries will be later, not sure yet if we'll keep the old three running until then or manage without, so catch your classic E400s while you can!

 

[hornbeam]

Wokingham Council has posted some very vague proposals that are to be put to tender for new services. Doesn’t seem very ambitious to me. The consultation feedback seems to suggest current services are well used, but outside of routes 3/4 in Wokingham Town that never looks to be the case.

They are proposing some kind of express service from Coppid Beech Park and Ride to Twyford Station. I can’t see many people driving to the P&R (in the wrong direction for a lot of people) and then waiting for an infrequent bus to then get a train. There is a definite demand for connections to Twyford station but I’d have preferred to see a service taking in more of Wokingham so people can catch a bus near home and travel direct to the station.


Procurement Proposal
Local Bus Service Improvement

Wokingham Council has posted some very vague proposals that are to be put to tender for new services. Doesn’t seem very ambitious to me. The consultation feedback seems to suggest current services are well used, but outside of routes 3/4 in Wokingham Town that never looks to be the case.

They are proposing some kind of express service from Coppid Beech Park and Ride to Twyford Station. I can’t see many people driving to the P&R (in the wrong direction for a lot of people) and then waiting for an infrequent bus to then get a train. There is a definite demand for connections to Twyford station but I’d have preferred to see a service taking in more of Wokingham so people can catch a bus near home and travel direct to the station.


Procurement Proposal
Local Bus Service Improvement

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 May 2026 ==

With Go-ahead becoming more aggressive I wonder if they will put a bid in for the Wokingham tender.

 

[Mollman]

Yes, sorry 26. The information comes from this Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/RTECmembers/?locale=en_GB

Robert Williams​

All-star contributor
· otSopnsredata1u a 202g m8a13t:mi4821a2i826u4lm6a1ytl6f4ahMum ·
We are anticipating that 714-722 will re-enter service on Wed 27th with their new sky blue identities, and new electrics 25-32 on Monday 1st (subject to change). The updated berries will be later, not sure yet if we'll keep the old three running until then or manage without, so catch your classic E400s while you can!

Thanks, they have now put a news story on their website about the Sky Blue buses
https://www.reading-buses.co.uk/blue-skies-ahead-sky-blue-routes

Blue skies ahead for sky blue routes
2 days ago Wed 27th May 2026

We’re excited to announce that we’ve introduced newer, low-emission gas buses onto both sky blue 15 and sky blue 16 this May.

You may be familiar with these gas buses as they were previously our low emission, purple 17 buses; however, they have now been fully refurbished and given a striking new sky blue livery.

Offering free wifi onboard and USB charging at every seat, the buses also feature a glazed staircase and a sunroof to allow extra light in as well as a table seat and reupholstered seating too.

The buses also offer a quieter, more comfortable ride as well as front and rear doors to help speed up boarding.

a greener sky blue

Replacing our previous diesel-powered sky blue buses, these refurbished buses are part of our compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet and produce up to 84% less CO2 emissions compared to the previous diesel buses. You can find out more about our CNG buses here.

With the introduction of these buses to on our sky blue routes, all of our bus routes along the busy Oxford Road corridor will now be ultra-low or zero emission, helping improve the local air quality.

We hope you enjoy the upgraded buses on sky blue 15 and 16.

 

[Flange Squeal]

A network review will see some changes to a number of routes from 21 June, primarily in the Maidenhead and Slough areas. It would appear to see some softening of the competition between Thames Valley and Carousel, with Thames Valley withdrawing their 20 Maidenhead to High Wycombe, and Carousel withdrawing their 7A Maidenhead to Cox Green. There will also be mutual ticket acceptance over common sections of some routes.

Network Review in Maidenhead, Slough & Windsor​

2 days ago Mon 1st Jun 2026

We have recently been in negotiations with Windsor & Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire and Slough Councils regarding the routes we operate in their area as part of a network review and from Sunday 21st June we are making some changes to our services.

Service 2 Wexham Park Hospital - Farnham Road – Slough – Dedworth - Windsor
Some changes to the timetable to improve reliability, with some journeys running up to 20 minutes earlier.
Between Farnham Road and Slough we will operate via Stoke Poges Lane and Wellington Street, using the bus stop at Stop W, instead of Elliman Avenue and Stoke Road. Buses towards Wexham Park will remain unchanged.
To improve the service to customers, we will accept Carousel Buses’ Service 37 return tickets between Windsor & Dedworth in a reciprocal arrangement (also applies to Service 1/1A).

Service 5 Cippenham – Slough – Datchet – Heathrow Airport T5
Minor changes to the timetable at peak times to improve reliability, with some journeys running up to 10 minutes earlier.

Service 7 Maidenhead – Woodlands Park
As part of the network review with RBWM Council, to provide a more consistent service on the Woodlands Park corridor we will be increasing the frequency on this route to run every 20 minutes for most of the day, and half-hourly on Sundays. To maintain the connection with Windsor without a change of bus, one of the three buses per hour will still come from Service 16. In a similar way, one bus per hour will work with Service 704 to allow a connection without change of bus to/from Slough and Heathrow.

Service 16 Maidenhead – Dedworth - Windsor
There will be a change to the timetable with most buses running a few minutes earlier to better coordinate with Carousel Buses service 37. The Sunday service is being withdrawn, as alternative options available for most users using the Carousel service.
There will be a change to the route in Dedworth, where buses will stay on the A308 Maidenhead Road until Ruddlesway roundabout, then operate via Ruddlesway to rejoin the route at Dedworth Road (in both directions).
In Maidenhead, most buses will continue to Woodlands Park as service 7 to provide connections without changing buses.
To improve the service to customers, we will accept Carousel Buses’ Service 37 return tickets along the whole route in a reciprocal arrangement.

Service 20 Maidenhead – Cookham – Bourne End – Flackwell Heath – High Wycombe
This route will be withdrawn due to unviable passenger numbers.
Service 37 operated by Carousel Buses will increase to a half-hourly frequency between Maidenhead and High Wycombe for much of the day, Monday to Saturday, improving links for customers in the Bourne End and Cookham areas. Please see the Carousel Buses website for more details.
Customers with period tickets for this route should contact our customer services team for further information.

Service 227/227A Maidenhead – Knowl Hill – Waltham St Lawrence – Twyford
Service 228 Maidenhead – BCA College – Hurley – Henley-on-Thames
There will be minor timetable changes on both these services to improve reliability, though currently both services are being affected by long term roadworks at Knowl Hill.

Service 704 Maidenhead – Taplow – Cippenham – Slough – Langley – Heathrow Airport T5
The service will operate hourly, with revised times to improve reliability. Some journeys will run up to 15 minutes earlier, and buses will run later into the evening.
Last buses will be 21:40 from Heathrow and 22:30 from Maidenhead to Slough.
There will be a new Sunday service operating hourly from around 08:00 to 20:00.
On Mondays to Saturdays between Slough and Cippenham, buses will serve Slough Trading Estate via Farnham Road, Buckingham Avenue and Dover Road.
In Maidenhead, most services will continue to Woodlands Park as Service 7, so customers can stay on the same bus.

To improve the service for customers, Carousel Service 15 return tickets will be accepted between Slough and Maidenhead, with the same reciprocal arrangement. Their tickets will also be accepted on our Route 53 between Taplow and Maidenhead.

The enhancements to services are financially supported by contributions from RBWM, Slough and Buckinghamshire Councils through Bus Service Improvement Fund grants.

Source: https://www.thamesvalleybuses.com/network-review-maidenhead-slough-windsor

 

[cactustwirly]

Reading buses are cancelling the 12 and the 22

Today Fri 5th Jun 2026

From Monday 20 July, we will be making two permanent service cancellations, whilst also making improvements to other routes.

service cancellations​

Pink 22 from Reading to Caversham Heights will no longer run following successive falls in customer numbers. Berry 23/24, pink 25/25a and aqua 28/28a will all continue to provide frequent services from Reading to Caversham centre and school route 81 will also continue to run to Caversham Heights during term time. Some areas of Caversham Heights will also continue to be served by Thames Travel X40.
Customers who have bought a season ticket to use on pink 22 that expires after 20 July can contact our customer services team for a refund on the remaining part of their ticket on a pro-rata basis.
Route 12 from Reading to Twyford will also no longer run as customer numbers haven't met expectations since the service was introduced in November. However, Thames Valley Buses routes 127/128/129 will continue to serve this area, along with Carousel Buses routes 127/850 as was the case prior to November.

service revisions from Mon 20 July

There's changes to some routes including the withdrawal of route 12 as well as some improvements to other routes.

www.reading-buses.co.uk

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Reading buses are cancelling the 12 and the 22

service revisions from Mon 20 July

There's changes to some routes including the withdrawal of route 12 as well as some improvements to other routes.

www.reading-buses.co.uk

Sanity appears to have prevailed between Reading Buses/Thames Valley and Carousel, at least. With the raft of changes apparently instigated by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead that has resulted in co-ordinated services and ticketing as well, it appears that wasteful competition in the area is pretty much eliminated entirely.

 

[CharredCobalt]

The withdrawal of the 12 was not much of a shocker.

In both cases, there are some improvements such as the 7 in Maidenhead and the 29 in Reading.

 

[buslad1988]

Reading buses are cancelling the 12 and the 22

service revisions from Mon 20 July

There's changes to some routes including the withdrawal of route 12 as well as some improvements to other routes.

www.reading-buses.co.uk

I’m quite shocked at the withdrawal of the 22 - hasn’t this service been going for decades?

 

[JonathanH]

I’m quite shocked at the withdrawal of the 22 - hasn’t this service been going for decades?

At one time, there were five buses an hour across the 20 to Woodcote Way, and the 29 to Morecambe Avenue. Caversham Heights seems to have gradually become somewhere buses aren't used, although the X40 will continue to provide a service.

The current 22 only runs hourly off-peak, with an extra vehicle in the peak hours, all interworked with the Sonning Common route.

 

[Fletcj10]

I’m quite shocked at the withdrawal of the 22 - hasn’t this service been going for decades?

The rough Caversham Heights route history to my knowledge is....

1975 - Route 29 - to Erleigh Road via RBH

1992 - Route 61/62 both going to Woodley via UOR

1998 - Route 12 & 41 - Route 12 was to Shepard's Lane & Route 41 was to Kidmore Lane both then went via town to Lower Early with the 12 going via the current 21 (ish) & the 41 going via RBH

2006 - Route 9 - which went to Whitley Wood/Shinfield Park via RBH (using Scania Solar's and the MAN Kinetec https://www.flickr.com/photos/49817530@N00/104871451/ & https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsf323alistair/6226626404/)

2009 - Route 22 - to Lower Early via RBH (using Scania Solar's - https://www.flickr.com/photos/21611...7kd-boph4r-6vjN4L-7FiyKq-GDTBWs-6vfA56-dTKVZq)

2014 - It was relaunched into the form we know today as a town to Caversham Heights (using Scania Enviro 300 that we have today)

2018 - It was again relaunched to the same as 2009 to Lower Early via RBH however this lasted a matter of months then reverted back to the route we have today (during the extension of the route it used used Wright Streetlite 167 -

Wright Streetlite (SN14 FGP)

Operator: Reading Buses Make/Model: Wright Streetlite - (DF) - (B34F) Registration Number: SN14 FGP Fleet Number: 167

www.flickr.com

 

[JonathanH]

The rough Caversham Heights route history to my knowledge is....

1975 - Route 29 - to Erleigh Road via RBH

1992 - Route 61/62 both going to Woodley via UOR

Yes, but don't forget the 20 to the other side of Caversham Heights (Woodcote Way) at the same time, that went through to Beech Lane in Lower Earley.

Also Chiltern Queens operating to Woodcote and beyond.

My 1982 timetable shows the 20 running every 30 minutes and the 29 running every 20 minutes, going up to every 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon peak.

 

[Jimini]

The school specials to St. Joseph's won't be needed for too much longer...

 

[Fletcj10]

Yes, but don't forget the 20 to the other side of Caversham Heights (Woodcote Way) at the same time, that went through to Beech Lane in Lower Earley.

Also Chiltern Queens operating to Woodcote and beyond.

My 1982 timetable shows the 20 running every 30 minutes and the 29 running every 20 minutes, going up to every 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon peak.

Ah i haden't seen these! Remember Chiltern Queens but wasn't sure what they did, my results was from my number of timetables took me half hour to sort them into a set

 

[AlastairFraser]

I’m quite shocked at the withdrawal of the 22 - hasn’t this service been going for decades?

It has, but I suspect the lack of through services to the other side of Reading (with enough passengers to help justify keeping the whole route) has finished this one off.

Perhaps you could link it to the Coley Park 11 or the 9 as a trial to keep it going, but I think Caversham Heights being an affluent area with high car ownership in general has condemned it. It also doesn't help that the only school in the Heights is on the X40 route.

 

[JonathanH]

It has, but I suspect the lack of through services to the other side of Reading (with enough passengers to help justify keeping the whole route) has finished this one off.

Perhaps you could link it to the Coley Park 11 or the 9 as a trial to keep it going, but I think Caversham Heights being an affluent area with high car ownership in general has condemned it. It also doesn't help that the only school in the Heights is on the X40 route.

I note that through running from Caversham Heights to the hospital was a useful feature of the 29, and later the 61, in my childhood use of the routes, but does through running make a difference to overall use of the route?

It was interworked with the Sonning Common route for the last few years, which itself seems to remain viable, but even that approach to maximising the use of the vehicles doesn't appear to have saved it.

To be fair, the X40 runs every 20 minutes, which is quite frankly amazing on a route that didn't used to exist, and the X40 serves the erstwhile route of Reading Transport's 20 route within Caversham Heights. The only real loss if for people in the north east corner of Caversham Heights (top end of Kidmore Road) who have to walk through to the Woodcote Road for a bus.

The houses in the Hemdean Bottom developments are now a long way away from a bus stop and 45 years of buses on Woodcote Way has come to an end after the protests that accompanied the initial operation when the 20 was switched from its St Peter's Avenue terminus.

 

[AlastairFraser]

I note that through running from Caversham Heights to the hospital was a useful feature of the 29, and later the 61, in my childhood use of the routes, but does through running make a difference to overall use of the route?

It was interworked with the Sonning Common route for the last few years, which itself seems to remain viable, but even that approach to maximising the use of the vehicles doesn't appear to have saved it.

To be fair, the X40 runs every 20 minutes, which is quite frankly amazing on a route that didn't used to exist, and the X40 serves the erstwhile route of Reading Transport's 20 route within Caversham Heights. The only real loss if for people in the north east corner of Caversham Heights (top end of Kidmore Road) who have to walk through to the Woodcote Road for a bus.

The houses in the Hemdean Bottom developments are now a long way away from a bus stop and 45 years of buses on Woodcote Way has come to an end after the protests that accompanied the initial operation when the 20 was switched from its St Peter's Avenue terminus.

Through running to somewhere like the hospital would make sense for a place like Caversham Heights where a significant proportion of the population will be elderly and might need transport to RBH.
I'm not quite sure about the history of the route that far back - I'm from another part of Caversham originally.
It is quite a walk from the Oakley Road end of Caversham to the A4074 based routes, and the steep hill down into Hemdean Valley makes it difficult to reach the 23/24

 

[Forty29]

Remember the Chiltern Queen's red buses, the Reading stop was right outside the station. There is at least once vehicle preserved at the Oxford bus museum.

 

[Jimini]

The school specials to St. Joseph's won't be needed for too much longer...

Parents have reacted with sadness as a private school in Reading has closed down for good. St Joseph's College in Upper Redlands Road, East Reading, taught children aged three to 18 and was attended by 565 pupils.

It closed down after a ceremony for school pupils took place, giving them the opportunity to say goodbye to their teachers before the gates shut at around 3.30pm on Thursday, July 9.

Ravjant Nijjhar, whose daughter Anya, aged 7, was in Year 2, said: “It was in a great location. The teachers and the ethos and that whole kind of lovely community is never going to be the same.”

Some pupils will go to the other private schools in the area, whereas others will enter the state education system.

Mrs Nijjhar is sending Anya to Reddam House, a co-educational private school at Bearwood House near Winnersh.
She said: “She's sort of randomly burst into tears, now and over the last few weeks because, you know, two of her best friends are going to Abbey School, whereas I've chosen Reddam for a much broader, you know, holistic approach, but they couldn't distance-wise, so she's feeling upset that her two friends are going to a different school.

“The uncertainty has affected me.

“For me personally, I'm hoping that it will come back as a school, and I hope that Reading Borough Council get involved to make sure that it isn't a large developer that comes along and builds a block of flats, but it will come back as a school.”

Some pupils who were seen outside the school will be going to The Oratory independent Catholic co-educational school in Woodcote and Bradfield College.

Valance Choi, 17, who will be going to The Oratory, said: “I've been here for four years. It's very poignant. It's very sad, but also, you know, grateful that we're here for, you know, these few years and have been making great memories.”
A boy aged 15 who is going to Bradfield said: “I've been here since I was three years old, so I've had the whole St Joseph's College experience.”

He also said the move means that he has to switch exam boards midway through GCSE studies.

The school was Catholic, being founded for girls by the Sisters of St Marie Madeleine Postel, becoming coeducational in 2010.

Mr Choi said: “As a Catholic myself, I think Catholic ethos is something I value and also is something my family values. So it's quite a shame that this is kind of the end of independent Catholic education in Reading.”

Mrs Nijjhar said: “Even though we're Sikh, Sikhs follow a very similar ethos to Catholic education.

“I liked the emphasis on spirituality in the school, the prayers that they've been taught at night. I learned them from my daughter. She says, 'Oh my God, we come to say thank you for your love today. Thank you for all my friends and family and all the things you've brought to me. Guard me in the dark of night and in the morning send your light.'

“So, they've been taught some beautiful prayers.”

Oliver De Maringey will send his sons, one who is in reception and the other who is in Year 5, to state schools.

He said: “It's tough. I've got two kids who are happy, sort of being pulled out.

“I'll arrange some little extracurricular activities outside just to plug the gap.”
Mr De Marigny implied the school began to struggle financially, which led the governors to decide to close it, with parents being made aware of the situation this May.

He said: “I'm literally ****** off with a headteacher for that. I think fundamentally, if you look on gov.uk, we're not struggling for numbers.

“What we were not good at was the analogy 'champagne lifestyle, lemonade budget'.

“So we were splashing out new laptops, lots of new staff, when actually we should have probably been cutting or amalgamating certain classes which were low on numbers, just being a bit smarter strategically.”

Overall, Mr De Marigny expressed sadness at the loss of the school which had fees that were accessible to aspirational parents.

He said: “People had to scrimp and save and run 20-year-old cars to pay for this education, but it wasn't out of reach.

“It was an affordable, diverse school which catered for all in society.”

So no more school specials over there.


(My bold in the article quote -- he didn't hold back when interviewed )

 

[Thames99]

I think the issue with cross-town running was trying to keep buses to their timetable. When 22s ran through there were sometimes delays and cancellations of half the route. At other times there were long waits in Friar Street before carrying on as padding at off peak times wasn't needed.

Route 17 of course crosses the town, but with a service with buses every few minutes it doesn't matter if a bus is running way behind it's schedule as long as they are still reasonably spaced. Nobody getting a no 17 looks up times on a timetable, but it is quite different with an infrequent service.

 

[fgwrich]

I think the issue with cross-town running was trying to keep buses to their timetable. When 22s ran through there were sometimes delays and cancellations of half the route. At other times there were long waits in Friar Street before carrying on as padding at off peak times wasn't needed.

Route 17 of course crosses the town, but with a service with buses every few minutes it doesn't matter if a bus is running way behind it's schedule as long as they are still reasonably spaced. Nobody getting a no 17 looks up times on a timetable, but it is quite different with an infrequent service.

Perhaps Reading town centre needs another re-design to make Blagrave Street and Friar Street bus only? At least when routes ran outside the station that from memory was bus and Taxi only.

 

[cactustwirly]

Perhaps Reading town centre needs another re-design to make Blagrave Street and Friar Street bus only? At least when routes ran outside the station that from memory was bus and Taxi only.

It is for the most part

 

[crablab]

It takes a very long time to go from (eg.) Caversham Heights to Lower Earley. The lack of through connections or joins between the quadrants means that even for relatively short journeys you're going into the middle of Reading, waiting and then going back out again on another route.
1h+ vs 20 minutes driving.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

It takes a very long time to go from (eg.) Caversham Heights to Lower Earley. The lack of through connections or joins between the quadrants means that even for relatively short journeys you're going into the middle of Reading, waiting and then going back out again on another route.
1h+ vs 20 minutes driving.

Has any bus (or public transport) system anywhere cracked the problem of good journey times for trips where there's limited demand?

 

[Fletcj10]

I was thinkin the other day, i do wonder if they converted the 22 to a minibus route i.e use a sprinter or the like as that would be cheaper to run?

 

[AlastairFraser]

I was thinkin the other day, i do wonder if they converted the 22 to a minibus route i.e use a sprinter or the like as that would be cheaper to run?

Problem is that driver costs would remain the same. Fuel costs are dwarfed by the hourly rate you have to pay to employ a bus driver in Reading.
Maybe some sort of DRT would be better off the 23/24/25/29/X40 routes in Caversham/EG/the surrounding countryside in South Oxon. Could be a joint Reading Borough Council/South Oxon District Council project.

 

[Goldfish62]

Problem is that driver costs would remain the same. Fuel costs are dwarfed by the hourly rate you have to pay to employ a bus driver in Reading.
Maybe some sort of DRT would be better off the 23/24/25/29/X40 routes in Caversham/EG/the surrounding countryside in South Oxon. Could be a joint Reading Borough Council/South Oxon District Council project.

DRT has been proven up and down the country to be pouring money down the drain and thankfully further introduction of such schemes seems to have ground to a halt as this realisation has dawned on local politicians. Better to subsidise a limited scheduled service.

 

[AlastairFraser]

DRT has been proven up and down the country to be pouring money down the drain and thankfully further introduction of such schemes seems to have ground to a halt as this realisation has dawned on local politicians. Better to subsidise a limited scheduled service.

I think it's not ideal, but it's probably the only way to get people from the less densely populated parts of northern Reading/rural South Oxon onto public transport.
No chance that the council will subsidise the 22 - it doesn't serve any wards that vote for the current administration, and there isn't any major development likely to take place on the route that will provide Section 106/Community Infrastructure Levy funds to support the service.