A POPULAR bus route linking Bracknell and Reading will be relaunched next week following the withdrawal of First buses from the town.

Service 90, previously run by First, has been renamed as 'The lion 4' by new operators Reading Buses who are also introducing 10 new high-tech vehicles to service passengers between Bracknell, Wokingham and Reading. 

The new vehicles will be decked out with lion branding and come kitted out with superfast wifi and USB charging points for phones and laptops. 

A new timetable will be introduced from Monday (Aug 31) promising twice as many buses on a Sunday and more weekday evening services between Reading and Wokingham. 

Martijn Gilbert, Reading Buses CEO, said: "We are delighted to announce the launch of the lion as it roars around Wokingham, Bracknell and Reading.

“These buses will deliver a massive step change from the previous buses used on this route. They will have all the latest Reading Buses mod-cons including superfast 4G WiFi, USB charging points for phones and laptops, the new Reading Buses seat covering and ‘coffee-shop’ style wood-effect flooring.

“We have also thought about the numbering of the route as feedback from customers and drivers was that having the same number for legs of the route in Bracknell was confusing. Some buses go fast along the main roads and others run through the southern estates."

Faster buses between the main towns will be numbed X4 while the buses which service Bracknell's southern estates will simply be numbered 4. 

Reading Buses say they will be able to improve the service even further if it proves popular with passengers.

Mr Gilbert said: “The better buses and extra journeys represent a considerable investment and our commitment to the important and growing bus service corridor between Bracknell, Wokingham, Winnersh and Reading.

“As a consequence we are hoping that more people will use this service so that we can seriously consider further enhancements in the future, building upon this initial investment in better buses and more journeys.”

Route 90 was taken over by Reading Buses on July 26 from First Berkshire.

Ten buses and 25 drivers will operate the route, 19 of the drivers transferred from First’s Bracknell depot after the takeover.