Reading Buses on Monday unveiled to the public some of its nine new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City double-deckers, which the operator says offer the “next level” of comfort.
The buses, which feature coffee-shop style flooring and tables, glazed staircases, skylights, USB and wireless charging, seatback phone holders, tables for working, tinted windows, and an air-chill system upstairs, will be used mainly on its Lion 4 and X4 routes.
Eight of the nine are in Lion-branding, while the other has been painted Reading Buses’ generic silver colours for use on any route.
After displaying the vehicles in the pedestrianised Market Place in Wokingham, the operator says it received feedback that the features would make customers more likely to travel. The launch location is midway on the approximately one-hour-long Reading-Bracknell routes for the Lion 4 and X4.
Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer, says: “We are thrilled to introduce these new buses to the Lion routes – the first major investment in the lion since we started running it in 2015.
“This represents the next level of comfort and class for our customers and repeats the specification we have successfully used on our prestigious London Line 702 and Flightline 703 buses.”
The seven new Enviro400 City for London Line and Flightline were delivered last year.
Mr Williams adds: “These eight new Lion buses, plus one painted in our silver generic colours for use on any route when needed, will encourage even more people to get on the bus and take advantage of the government £2 single fare cap that is set to continue until 2025.”
The launch follows the unveiling last month of four new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single-deckers for the 171 and 172 routes in south Bracknell.
