Transport Service Changes or Disruption
Planned public transport changes, disruption information and contacting operators.
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Free festive bus travel in West Berkshire!
- 6 December 2025
- 13 December 2025
- 20 December 2025
This initiative has been developed in partnership with other local bus operators. It aims to encourage the community to get out and about over the festive season without the need for a car. You could look at the Christmas lights across the district, travel to local shops and town centres, find gifts, or visit family/friends over the festive season.
Simply board the bus within West Berkshire and travel for free all day. The offer applies to journeys beginning and ending in West Berkshire - to make use of the free travel offer remember to ask the driver for a return ticket when you board. Concessionary Bus Passes will still be accepted as normal.
Reading Buses, Newbury & District, Thames Travel, Stagecoach, and the council's Connect buses are all on board for this festive initiative. Together, we're helping make the season joyful and sustainable for everyone in West Berkshire.
See the full list of of public bus routes that will offer free travel below.
Public bus services that operate entirely within West Berkshire:
| Route Number | Operator | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| 1a | Newbury & District | Newbury to Thatcham |
| 1c | Newbury & District | Newbury to Thatcham |
| 2 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Wash Common/Tesco/Pigeons Farm |
| 3 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Hungerford |
| 4 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Lambourn |
| 6/6a | Newbury & District | Newbury to East/West Ilsley |
| 8 | Newbury & District | Newbury to Greenham/Tesco/Pigeons Farm |
| 9 | Newbury & District | Newbury Town Centre to Newbury Racecourse |
The following routes will offer free bus travel in West Berkshire, whatever the destination. Should you travel beyond the West Berkshire boundary, the return journey back to West Berkshire will be free. Just ask for a return ticket when boarding the bus.
| Route | Operator | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Jet Black 1 | Reading Buses | Newbury to Reading |
| Lime 2/2a | Reading Buses | Mortimer/Burghfield to Reading |
| Sky Blue 15 | Reading Buses | Theale/Calcot to Reading |
| Sky Blue 16 | Reading Buses | Purley on Thames to Reading |
| Yellow 26 | Reading Buses | Calcot to Reading |
| Royal Blue 33 | Reading Buses | Turnham's Farm to Reading |
| 32 | Stagecoach South | *Newbury to Basingstoke - free bus travel will available on the entire route between Newbury and Basingstoke |
| X34 | Thames Travel | Newbury to Didcot via Harwell |
| 47 | WBC Connect | Lambourn to Swindon |
*For route 32: the council is funding free travel for journeys starting within West Berkshire. To ensure everyone can take advantage, Stagecoach will match this offer at its own cost on the 32 service, making travel on the entire route, covering all journeys between Newbury, Thatcham, Kingsclere and Basingstoke, free on all three dates.
For route 47 free bus travel is only available if you board in Lambourn or Upper Lambourn.
This free bus travel offer has been made possible by funding from HM Government, given to West Berkshire Council to support bus service improvements through our Enhanced Partnership with local bus operators.
Free Christmas travel timetabled service for Community Connect
The service will operate on the following Saturdays in December:
- 6 December 2025
- 13 December 2025
- 20 December 2025
You do not need to book to use the service, you can just turn up at the stop and board the bus.
Northwest Downlands service
The following timetable will operate:
| Stop | AM Journey | PM Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Newbury, The Wharf [bay C] | 10.00 | 13.30 |
| Newbury, Park Way | 10.01 | 13.31 |
| Donnington Square | 10.03 | 13.33 |
| Donnington, The Castle Inn | 10.04 | 13.34 |
| Snelsmore, Snelsmore Common | 10.07 | 13.37 |
| Winterbourne Turn | 10.10 | 13.40 |
| Hillgreen Lane Crossroads | 10.13 | 13.43 |
| Peasemore, The Pond | 10.17 | 13.47 |
| Brightwalton, Village Hall | 10.25 | 13.55 |
| Chaddleworth, St Andrew's School | 10.32 | 14.02 |
| Leckhampstead, Village Hall | 10.38 | 14.08 |
| Hillgreen Lane Crossroads | 10.41 | 14.11 |
| Winterbourne Turn | 10.45 | 14.15 |
| Snelsmore Common | 10.48 | 14.18 |
| Donnington, The Castle Inn | 10.52 | 14.22 |
| Donnington Square | 10.53 | 14.23 |
| Newbury, Park Way | 10.55 | 14.25 |
| Newbury, The Wharf | 10.56 | 14.26 |
Thatcham Connect
The following timetable will operate and will extend to serve to Park Way and The Wharf in Newbury. After Thatcham Broadway it will only serve Park Way and Newbury Wharf.
| Stop/Area | Inbound journey |
|---|---|
| Cold Ash, Post Office | 11.30 |
| Upper Bucklebury, Peach's Stores | 11.38 |
| Chapel Row, The Blade Bone PH | 11.42 |
| Bradfield, Queen's Head PH | 11.47 |
| Beenham, Stoneyfield | 11.55 |
| Aldermaston, The Wharf | 12.02 |
| Aldermaston Village | 12.05 |
| Tadley, Franklin Avenue | 12.13 |
| Baughurst, Heath End Road | 12.17 |
| Brimpton, War Memorial | 12.24 |
| Crookham Park | 12.27 |
| Thatcham Station | 12.33 |
| Thatcham Broadway | 12.37 |
| Newbury, Park Way | 12.59 |
| Newbury, The Wharf | 13.00 |
| Outbound journey | |
|---|---|
| Newbury, The Wharf [bay C] | 15.00 |
| Newbury, Park Way | 15.01 |
| Thatcham, The Broadway | 15.25 |
| Thatcham Station | 15.31 |
| Crookham Park | 15.34 |
| Brimpton, War Memorial | 15.37 |
| Baughurst, Heath End Road | 15.45 |
| Tadley, Franklin Avenue | 15.49 |
| Aldermaston Village | 15.57 |
| Aldermaston, The Wharf | 16.00 |
| Beenham, Stoneyfield | 16.07 |
| Bradfield, Queen's Head PH | 16.14 |
| Chapel Row, The Blade Bone PH | 16.19 |
| Upper Bucklebury, Peach's Stores | 16.23 |
| Cold Ash, Post Office | 16.30 |
This free bus travel offer has been made possible by funding from HM Government, given to West Berkshire Council to support bus service improvements through our Enhanced Partnership with local bus operators.
Christmas and New Year buses
During the Christmas and New Year period there may be changes to how bus services will be operating. The following table outlines the major changes.
| Date | Buses in West Berkshire |
|---|---|
| 22 December 2025 | Normal service on all routes except: 32 operating Saturday timetable. |
| 23 December 2025 | Normal service on all routes except: 32 operating Saturday timetable. |
| 24 December 2025 (Christmas Eve) | Normal service except: last journey on 47 will be the 16:20 from Swindon; majority of Reading Buses routes finish at 8pm; 32 & x34 operating Saturday timetable with early finish. Wiltshire Connect finishes at 8pm. Community Connect ends 5.30pm. |
| 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day) | No service. |
| 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day) | No services except: Jet Black service between 9am and 6pm, other Reading based services run a Sunday timetable between 9am and 6pm. |
| 27 December 2025 | Normal service on all routes except: last journey on 47 will be the 16:20 from Swindon. |
| 28 December 2025 | Normal Sunday service on all routes. |
| 29 December 2025 | Normal service on all routes except: N&D, Reading Buses, Stagecoach will operate Saturday timetables. Wiltshire Connect operating Saturday service between 8am and 7.30pm, 110 and 120 won't operate. |
| 30 December 2025 | Normal service on all routes except: N&D, Reading Buses, Stagecoach will operate Saturday timetables. Wiltshire Connect operating Saturday service between 8am and 7.30pm, 110 and 120 won't operate. |
| 31 December 2025 (New Year's Eve) | Last journey on 47 will be the 16:20 from Swindon; N&D, Reading Buses and Thames Travel will operate Saturday timetables, 32 service will operate Saturday service with early finish. Wiltshire Connect operating Saturday service between 8am and 7.30pm, 110 and 120 won't operate. Community Connect ends 5.30pm. |
1 January 2026 (New Year's Day) | No services except: Sunday service on Reading Buses routes. |
| 2 January 2026 | Normal services on all routes except: Saturday service on Reading Buses, Thames Travel and Stagecoach routes. |
| 3 January 2026 | Normal services on all routes. |
Individual bus operators also provide further details on their websites about bus services over the festive period.
- West Berkshire Community Connect: On-demand Transport
- Newbury & District
- Oxford Bus Company
- Reading Buses
- Stagecoach South
- Swindon Bus Company
- Wiltshire Connect
Monks Lane, Newbury closure January to May 2026
Monks Lane in Newbury will be closed from the 12 January to 22 May 2026. The road will be closed between the junction with A343 Andover Road/Essex Street and Newbury Rugby Club.
The following school bus services will be given access into the closure area to drop off and collect students attending Park House School and Newbury College. The arrival times listed below are the approximate times the bus will be in the closure area.
- CCA: morning arrival 8.17am and afternoon arrival 15.14pm
- 2A: afternoon arrival 15.40pm
- 2C: morning arrival 8.31am
- 3: morning arrival 8.17am and afternoon arrival 15.42pm
- 4C: morning arrival 8.09am
- 6: morning arrival 8.20am
- 8: morning arrival 7.50am
All other bus services (2, 103 and Community Connect on-demand transport) will not be allowed through the closure.
Operators are currently planning service provision during this time. Once available, details will be posted on Newbury & District and West Berkshire Community Connect: On-demand Transport webpages.
You can find further information about the closure here.
Tap on tap off on local bus services
Tap on tap off services operated by West Berkshire Council have been made possible by funding from HM Government, given to West Berkshire Council after submission of a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October 2021.
Singles bus fares in 2025
You may have heard the Government's announcement about a £3 single fare cap on bus journeys being introduced on many bus services in England from 1 January 2025. It will be in place until 31 December 2025.
This will be applied on bus services that operate in West Berkshire. Please check with the individual bus operators listed below for the latest information on the capping of single fares across the district.
- Newbury & District
- Reading Buses
- Stagecoach
- Swindon Bus Company
- Thames Travel/Oxford Bus Company
- West Berkshire Council Transport Services
You can find a list of operators taking part on the Government's website.
Other public transport services
Trains services that operate in West Berkshire maybe subject to change, often at short notice, updated information can be found on the Great Western Railway (GWR) website.
National Express is not currently operating in West Berkshire.
Travel guidance and face coverings
The government has removed all domestic legal restrictions relating to COVID-19.
There is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering, but the government suggests that people consider wearing one when COVID-19 rates are high and you will be in close contact with others such as in crowded and enclosed spaces, when you come into close contact with someone in a high risk category and when there are a lot of respiratory viruses circulating.
You can find more detailed information about coronavirus guidance on the GOV.UK website.
Services on bank holidays and during travel disruption
If you are planning to travel by public transport on bank holidays, during bad weather or during other periods of disruption, please use the Traveline journey planner which has regularly updated information.
You can also check with the bus or train company you will be using to make sure they are running. Please see the contact details listed below.
Road closures and bus stop suspensions
At times essential utility work and highway improvement works can cause disruptions to bus services. This can include bus stop suspensions and services having to divert from scheduled routes.
Details of any works which could have a major impact on West Berkshire Council contracted services will be posted on this page.
Contacting local bus and train operators
You can find details of the major bus and train operators in West Berkshire, and links to their website and contact details, below:
- Connect - services 47, CCA, CCB, CCC and West Berkshire Community Connect
- Going Forward Buses - find their contact details on the Going Forward Buses website - you can also find Going Forward Buses on Facebook
- Great Western Railway (GWR) - find their contact details on the GWR website - you can also follow Great Western Railway on X
- Newbury and District - find their contact details on the Newbury and District website - you can also find Newbury and District on Facebook and follow Newbury and District on X
- Reading Buses - find their contact details on the Reading Buses website - you can also find Reading Buses on Facebook and follow Reading Buses on X
- Salisbury Reds - find their contact details on the Salisbury Reds website
- Stagecoach - find their contact details on the Stagecoach website - you can also follow Stagecoach South on X
- Swindon's Bus Company - find their contact details on the Swindon Bus Company website
- Thames Travel - find their contact details on the Thames Travel website - you can also find Thames Travel on Facebook
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