Published: Monday, 20th April, 2009 12:00am

All change on the buses from today

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A HUGE range of changes to bus routes, times and fares come in from today.

There are new services between Reading and Newbury, from Peppard Common and Sonning Common through Reading to Burghfield, Burghfield Common and Mortimer, and a new number 3 service from Reading to AWE and Tadley.

A new route 22 will run link Caversham, central Reading, the Royal Berkshire Hospital and Lower Earley.

There are three new school routes - the 922 from Caversham to Reading School, Kendrick, Abbey School and St Joseph's Convent, the 991 from Coley Park to Prospect College and Denefield School, and the 995 from Whitley to Prospect College and Denefield School.

There is a new cross-town route, the 28, linking Purley, Tilehurst, central Reading and Caversham.

Reading Buses spokeswoman Nikki Ball said: "The changes are considerable, but we are confident that once people get used to them they will find them a big improvement both in terms of frequencies, buses in the evening and new routes.

"People are also advised to look out for stop changes at Reading Station."

Fares are being cut on buses rebranded Vitality, serving the villages south and south-west of Reading and also Sonning Common and Peppard.

The price of a return between the town centre and Burghfield Common is going from £5 to £4.20, while a single drops from £2.90 to £2.50.

Reading to Mortimer return fares are also dropping 80p, from £5.80 to £5, and singles by 40p to £3.

On other routes, returns from Reading to Sonning Common and Peppard are falling from £4.60 to £4.20 and singles from £2.70 to £2.50.

Services between Reading and AWE and Tadley will cost £5.80 down from £6.40 for a return, and £3.60 down from £3.80 for a single.

Reading Buses chief executive James Freeman said: "These substantial reductions - in a difficult economic climate - are part of an introduction to the Vitality brand.

"We hope the better value will help to stimulate growth in these out-of-town services which will also provide extra journeys, more regularity, greater frequencies and enhanced reliability during the day, in the evenings and on Sundays.

"We have seen our Premier Route network colour branding work successfully within Reading and we are now expanding this exciting and imaginative concept to these out-of-town bus services.

"Reading Buses is committed to attracting new customers to these bus services and encouraging more people to use public transport rather than the car for as many local journeys as possible."

The old routes 137 and 138 are becoming Vitality 2, and the 143, 148 and 149 will be Vitality 2 and 3.

There are no changes to routes 4,6,17, 142 or to school services, except the 91,95, 99 and 84. Also unchanged are the football, Thames Valley Park and GreenPark services, and the Loddon Bridge park and ride.

The new timetables are available on buses, at the Broad Street Mall travel centre, or at: www.reading-buses.co.uk