The decade 2010-19 was a period of change and colour in Reading's bus
services. Many routes and liveries changed, not just for Reading Buses
but also the other operators that ran longer-distance services into the
town. It was a period of expansion as Reading Buses took on the services
of other operators in the middle of the decade and new operators
appeared in the town - some more enduring than others. In this book
author and photographer Julian Walker traces the development of the bus
network in Reading, the vehicles being introduced and the changes to the
liveries as the decade progressed. Starting with an introduction to the
history of Reading Buses prior to 2010, the important 'Premier Routes'
concept is also covered. This had been conceived and rolled out during
the previous decade to give each main core route its own identity and
colour, albeit to a corporate template. It was this that set the scene
for the 'change and colour' of the 2010s, as routes changed - or were
acquired from other operators - and the style of the branding evolved,
with new names, colours and styles being introduced. Each year of the
decade is covered separately to give a brief account of how it reflects
the changes that were going on at the time. A postscript chapter gives a
brief outline of events post-2019, and the future for Reading's buses is
considered. This photographic survey of the bus scene in Reading in the
decade 2010-2019 will appeal to all those with an interest in the
history of road transport in this area.
