Home / Business and Economy / Reading's Pink 22 Bus Saved from Closure
Reading's Pink 22 Bus Saved from Closure
15 Jul
Summary
- Council grant secures electric bus for route.
- Community demonstration protested route's closure.
- Revised timetable until electric bus arrives.
The community bus route, Pink 22, which serves Caversham Heights and Reading town centre, has been granted a reprieve from closure. Reading Borough Council announced it will provide a one-off grant to Reading Buses for an electric bus. This new bus is expected to operate on the route starting in spring 2027, ensuring its future.
Residents and local councillors organized a demonstration on Sunday, July 12, 2026, to protest the proposed closure of the route, which was scheduled to make its final journey on July 20, 2026. The bus company cited significant financial losses and a halving of passenger numbers since the pandemic as reasons for its unviability.
A revised timetable will be implemented until the electric bus arrives. Peak services will run every 50 minutes, and off-peak services every 45 minutes, a change from the previous half-hourly peak and hourly off-peak schedules. Council officials emphasized that resident usage is crucial for the route's long-term survival.
Reading Buses expressed pleasure in finding a solution despite the route's declining patronage. The company hopes the new electric bus will encourage more residents to use the service, stressing that its justification depends on increased community utilization beyond those with no alternative transport options.
