Published on
5 November 2024
Free bus travel returns
Free bus travel on the six Saturdays leading up to Christmas.
Wokingham Borough Council will offer free bus travel on the six Saturdays leading up to Christmas and for two festive events, with costs to be covered using funding from the Department for Transport.
This means that all those boarding local bus services from bus stops in the borough on the six Saturdays leading up to Christmas, as well as for Wokingham Winter Carnival and Woodley Christmas Extravaganza, will travel for free.
Big increase in bus usage
The council offered a similar scheme in the lead up to Christmas 2023 during which Thames Valley Buses saw an increase in use of almost 40 per cent on some Saturday services.
This year Carousel will also participate in the offer, giving residents in Wargrave, Twyford and Charvil an opportunity to use the 850 service for free on a Saturday. Since September the 850 has been operating every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays.
See what you’ve been missing
Cllr Stephen Conway, leader of the council, said: “Offering free bus travel on Saturdays in November and December and for the Sunday Wokingham Winter Carnival and Woodley Christmas Extravaganza will be a great help to a lot of our residents.
“We know that it was a popular scheme last year and we hope to encourage more residents to give the bus a go and remind occasional users that the bus is a great way to get around.
“The free bus travel will help people who don’t drive, prefer not to drive or are struggling to afford to run their car at the moment, whether visiting friends and family, stocking up on festive gifts and treats or getting to and from work. If it has been a while since you have taken the bus, why not take advantage of a free trip to see what you’ve been missing.
“And don’t forget, there is currently a £1 park and ride offer giving you more options when travelling further afield.”
Travel free by bus
The council will use funding from a grant which was awarded by the Department for Transport (DfT) for bus improvements to fund the free travel meaning there is no cost to the council.
When you board a bus within Wokingham borough on any Saturday between 16 November and 21 December, you won’t need to pay.
Additionally, the Lion 4/X4 will be free on 24 November for the Wokingham Winter Carnival and the Orange 13/14 and 850 on 1 December for the Woodley Christmas Extravaganza.
If you’re travelling outside the borough, you will need to pay for your return journey, unless a similar scheme is in place in the area where you board.
This will only be on local buses, operated by Reading Buses, Thames Valley Buses and Carousel Buses and won’t be provided on services such as park and rides or football specials.
Routes included in proposals
Reading Buses on Saturdays 16 November to 21 December:
- Leopard 3
- Lion 4 and 4X
- Buzz 9
- Orange 13 and 14
- Little Oranges 19a-c
- Claret 21
- Route 600
Carousel Buses on Saturdays 16 November to 21 December:
- 850
Thames Valley Buses on Saturdays 16 November to 21 December:
- Route 121
- Route 122
- Route 125
- Route 127, 128 and 151A
Sunday 24 November:
- Reading Buses Lion 4 and 4X
Sunday 1 December:
- Reading Buses Orange 13 and 14
- Carousel Buses 850
