Various eras of a famous bus route that goes back to the 1930s will be re-created when a free vintage nostalgic bus service runs on Christmas Eve December 24.
Volunteer crews, many of whom will be driving their own lovingly restored Green Line buses and coaches dating back to the 1950s, will provide the service on the 702 route between Bracknell, Windsor, Slough and London.
Buses will operate every hour from London Victoria between 9.00am and 3.00pm and from Windsor between 9.30am and 3.30pm.
A separate shuttle service will run between Bracknell and Windsor, connecting into the London 702 service at Windsor, with buses from Bracknell approximately hourly between 8.30 am and 4.15 pm and returning from Windsor between 10.00 am and 5.30 pm.
A feeder journey will also operate from outside Reading Railway Station at 8.30 am and returning for 6.15 pm.
Commenting on the special initiative, Martijn Gilbert, Chief Executive Officer of Reading Buses who take over the operation of the Green Line 702 route from December 27, said all the journeys would operate free of charge, but that the event was being run on a charitable basis in aid of Reading Buses Charity of the Year the Red Balloon Learner Centre.
“Drivers and conductors will gladly take charitable donations, in lieu of fares, for this important charitable cause,” said Martijn.
“Event programmes with details and pictures of all the buses will also be sold in support of the charity.
“Reading Buses is really looking forward to taking on the long-standing Green Line 702 from December 27 and maintaining the important links that it provides.
“As the current operator First Berkshire finish their operations on December 23, we came up with this creative way of ensuring a service could still be provided to the travelling public on Christmas Eve and also allow the history of the route to be celebrated as well as marking the change of operator.
“I am very grateful to the many vehicle owners and crews who have pledged their support for the charity event on a voluntary basis and I would encourage everyone to come along and experience a one off very special nostalgic bus ride.”
He added that full timetables for the special services could be found on the Reading Buses website at www.reading-buses.co.uk and following the link on the front page to ‘The new Green Line 702.’
When the new Reading Buses operated Green Line 702 service commences from December 27, existing tickets will remain valid and fares will be broadly unchanged. However, there will be a new timetable.
This is available on a new dedicated website at www.greenline702.co.uk or on the brand new Green Line 702 smartphone app which also provides mobile ticketing and full tracking of all buses on a live moving map.