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An artist’s impression of the new gas buses coming to Reading
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Gas-powered buses heading for Reading

November 14, 2012

This is how the new gas buses will look when they take to the town’s roads next year.

Reading Transport has ordered 20 of the environmentally-friendly vehicles, which will run on the Madejski Park and Ride and commercial routes.

The new chassis and gas tanks were revealed at the Euro Bus Expo 2012 at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre.

Reading Transport chief executive James Freeman said: “We think these will look very striking, and nobody will be in any doubt that they are looking at an ultra-clean, gas-powered bus.

“They will have bodies which will have a lot in common with the ADL hybrid buses that have been such a success in Reading since their introduction a couple of years ago. And the gas body has been designed to be really elegant.”

The low-emission buses are due to be on the road in early May next year, and will operate on the Reading Borough Council contract service in South Reading, which Reading Buses took over last week.

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This is getting daft. These buses to go into service in 2013? The last lot are still shiny. What fantasy world does James Freeman and co live on? No doubt these ones have free hairdryers or iPads or something. Certainly not environmentally friendly that way Reading Buses churn through them.

Last time I got on a bus was when they wanted more than £1 to get from Cemetery Jn to the Town Centre. I started walking because a frankly they should be paying me to visit.

Perhaps Reading Buses should be saving on techno-w**k buses and instead pay some of their profits into a slush fund with an aim to fighting South Oxon Council over the 3rd bridge and thus making Reading a better place for everyone to live in. But no, of course, success that way would reduce congestion and therefore bus punters and profits. Catch 22 and all that.

Randall Slick, East Reading
17/11/2012 at 00:59

again a waste of tax payers money the madeski rum is hardly used the buses are always empty most of the time ,the buses have differculty in getting around the narrow streets,ust the existing rail track and have new loally station ,a bit like underground tube,but above ?

dickemery, caversham
16/11/2012 at 16:14

Nobody will be in any doubt that they are looking at an ultra clean gas powered bus.

They will also be in no doubt that it is a park and ride bus because it will be empty.

parlovero, reading
15/11/2012 at 17:18

Phart and ride

It wont let me spell it with an f

reynard, calcot
14/11/2012 at 22:16

Hi Hornbeam...long time no see.

C8H10N4O2
14/11/2012 at 21:46

Tinks

The contract for the park and ride group of services ment new buses had to be used so in fact any private company would have done sloths same, as I'm sure the like of first did when they also bid to run it.

As for Devons bus service, first Devon and Cornwall have been in trouble for buses not running owing to breakdowns. I imagine reading buses base the business case on the fact they sell buses on before they start costing a lot to maintain.

I don't think any council money is being used to buy them and indeed the batch of hybrids were borght with a loan underwritten by the council not a hand out.

hornbeam, reading
14/11/2012 at 21:41

Requiring yet another loan from RBC to a company whose posted annual profits couldn't buy half of one bus.

C8H10N4O2
14/11/2012 at 21:35

Great reporting. According to Scania, the order is for 19 buses, not 20 and this is at a cost of £3.5 million. This equates to over £184,000 each. Any normal private company would have to have these buses working around the clock to make them pay, not used for park & ride with a few punters. As for the gas systems, they will probably be running on Biogas and i beleive the council have an agreement for every kilogram of gas used, a further kilogram will be pumped in to the grid to make the service "carbon neutral". The roof is higher because that is where the high pressure (3000 psi) tanks are stored.

Tinks, telford
14/11/2012 at 20:52

How about using them on a 'proper route' instead of the posse . 'Park and Ride' which is used by a minority?

expost, Reading
14/11/2012 at 18:54

Gas powered buses new technology? I remember them being used during WW2. Have they solved the smell problem?

PoneRana, Wokingham
14/11/2012 at 13:44

Passengers must insert bottom into hole in seat, consume all of the baked beans in the bowl and pass gas till the red light shows to get a 10% travel discount

M Jay
14/11/2012 at 12:47

Does Reading really need to have the newest fleet of buses in England or something?

I went to Cornwall last summer and found they're still using the line and age of buses we had that used to be in the old cream and red livery. For the journey's down that way they must have averaged 40mph and were fine and I probably did a journey that was the distance of Woodley to Calcot and back again atleast! All for less then the standard rate we get charged here!

Just think what all this needless expense could be used for?

Hopeful Hoops, Reading
14/11/2012 at 11:54

Is this proven technology? It was only unveiled this year, does RBC know if they will work or will they cause headaches like the suger-powered ones a few years ago which were then withdrawn?

Looks like our illustrious councillors are simply looking to futher their own green creds here by jumping on the latest enviro-wagon.

Common Cents, Reading
14/11/2012 at 11:53

Well. I'll will still be walking as I cant afford to use the buses.

Fred West
14/11/2012 at 11:15

Wow, have we even finished paying for the last lot of "green" busses yet, or will this mean yet another price hike?

If anyone knows James Freemans's number, Ive got a handful of magic beans he might be interested in buying off me for a few million. I might even have some marmite powered busses somewhere round the back.