Reading Re Reading's Rethhink - 4

 And So To The Rethink!

Matt is cincerned ...

... but there is absolutely nothing he can do about it! The withdrawal of Reading's PINK route 22 is a commercial decision by an independent business which happens to be owned by Reading Council. So, as owners, you would assume that the council agreed with the Company management decision.

But this man is more hopeful ...

... as the key Councillor for public transport.

Well, John, you have given up as it is your company that is withdrawing it!

Other ideas are discussed ...

... most of which are impractical. Reducing frequency will lose even more passengers; fiddling with the X40 would need the cooperation of Thames Travel, and smaller buses cost the same to run as the current vehicles, less a dribble of fuel.

One suggestion, of running left hand drive buses on the wrong side of the road and moving all the shelters ...

... seems unlikely to help!

But the Council comes up with three stunning ideas. 

Stunning Idea 1

Run less buses at peak time when most customers might be persuaded to travel AND run every 50 minutes during the main part of the day so people can never remember the timetable!

Stunning Idea 2

The Council will give its own company an electric bus which will be kinder to the environment, will be more expensive than the existing bus ...

... and need expensive charging facilities. This will save loadsa money as electricity is cheaper than gas and, as if waving a magic wand ...

... make route 22 profitable again.

As a reality check, it is worth remembering that the biggest cost if running a bus is the driver's wage. It matters not if he is driving a small bus, an electric bus, a diesel bus or a steam bus ...

... the wage bill will be much the same.

Stunning Idea 3

Tell the people of Caversham Heights to use the buses more often. No 3 idea is so brilliant in concept and so certain of success that you wonder why no one has thought of it before.

Despite some unusual financial calculations and unlikely savings, the Council's munificence has enabled the company it owns to proudly announce the salvation if the 22.

On 15th July, just days before the axe was due to fall, the 22 was saved and there was dancing in the leafy lanes of Caversham Heights until the early hours!

So the Council's bus company duly reported the Council's noble rethink and unexpected generosity!

Sorry, Council and bus company, fbb smells one of these ...

... and an almighty stitch-up.

But we should read what the company reports about the salvation of the 22.

Great news for Caversham Heights residents and customers of pink 22 as the service will no longer be cancelled thanks to an agreement with Reading Borough Council. 

That is an agreement between us and us! 

Reading Borough Council will provide us with a one-off capital grant to allow us to buy a new electric bus which, alongside existing Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding grant from Government, will allow the valuable service between Caversham Heights and Reading Town Centre to continue to operate.

Valuable, or profitable?

Whilst we await the new, electric, bus, the service will continue to be run on sustainably sourced, bio methane gas.  

The service has been saved from the planned withdrawal and will run along the same route, but from Monday 20 July, there will be a new timetable. 

With less buses, a timetable cut

It is important to emphasise though, that residents still need to make good use of the service for it to be able to continue to run in the future. 

As explained previously, pink 22 has been run at a significant loss since the pandemic, followed by the closure of Kidmore Road by Thames Water which had an additional impact on customer numbers. We urge those who have been vocal about retaining the service now use it and encourage others to do the same. 

Use it (whether you need it or not) or ...

... farewell 22 for ever!

We have been working with Reading Borough Council since we let them know of our intention to withdraw the service to see if there were any funding streams that could help us to continue to run it. 

A fall in the price of purchasing electric buses means funding already secured by the Council through a successful ZEBRA bid to Government can be stretched further to enable the purchase of an additional vehicle. The use of an electric bus will also benefit air quality along the route and provide a quieter journey for passengers. 

Anyway, the Government is paying, so that's all right. Right?

With the new electric bus not available until spring 2027, the Council has reached agreement with us to operate an interim service from Monday 20 July to ensure continuation of service for passengers. 

The provision of a new electric bus on the pink 22 to Caversham Heights, combined with timetable changes, will reduce our operating costs and help to continue to afford to run the service.

Hmmm?

As part of tomorrow's delayed blog, we will take a ride on a route 22 and readers may liKe to assess the chances of the service ever being profitable.

  Next NOT Weekend Variety blog : Mon 3rd Aug