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Berkshire bus routes 701, 702 and 703

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The London Line 701 and 702
Flightline 703
Reading Buses Flightline 703 branded Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City in Bracknell in February 2024
Overview
OperatorReading Buses (The London Line 701 and 702)
Thames Valley Buses (Flightline 703)
VehicleAlexander Dennis Enviro400 City
Route
StartReading station (701)
Legoland Windsor (702)
Bracknell (703)
ViaWindsor
Slough
Hammersmith (702)
EndLegoland Windsor (701)
Green Line Coach Station (702)
Heathrow Terminal 5 (703)
Service
OperatesMonday – Sunday

Windsor Express (The London Line 701 and 702 & Flightline 703) are bus routes that run between Reading, Windsor, Bracknell and London.[1]

History

[edit]

In 2015, FirstGroup announced plans to withdraw all their services, including route 702, from Bracknell.[2] However, it was subsequently announced that the route would be retained.[3]

In December 2017, Reading Buses took over the 702 route from FirstGroup. For the first day of service on 24 December, passengers could board for free and various heritage vehicles were used on the route.[4][5] First had previously announced it would withdraw the route as it said it had become unsustainable due to increasing costs of operation.[6][7]

On 8 May 2018, route 703 was introduced.[8][9] Buses were branded as the "Royal Express" and painted in a gold and purple livery, coinciding with the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.[10] At the time, the routes were operated using Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMCs.[11]

From 2 November 2020, some early morning and late evening 702 journeys started running via the M4 between Reading and Slough.[12]

In January 2021 route 702 was suspended due to low usage as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown.[13]

On 24 July 2022, route 703 increased its frequency to provide a half-hourly service between Heathrow Airport and Slough, as a result of the airport's partnership. There is also now an improved hourly service between Legoland Windsor and Slough throughout the day.

In February 2023, seven 37.8 ft (11.5 m) 76-seater Alexander Dennis Enviro400 Citys were ordered to upgrade routes 702 and 703.[14] Delivery of these buses in June 2023 coincided with Reading Buses dropping the Green Line brand for both routes, with route 702 becoming The London Line and route 703 becoming the Flightline, both under the new Windsor Express brand. 3 extra vehicles were delivered in February 2024 to complete the Flightline upgrade, coinciding with the Reading Buses' Lion 4/X4 upgrade.[15]

In March 2024, Thames Valley Buses took over the operation of Flightline 703 from Reading Buses.[16]

Current routes

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The London Line route 701

[edit]

Route 701 operates via these primary locations:[17]

Buses on route 701 continue beyond Legoland to and from London Victoria as route 702.

The London Line route 702

[edit]

Route 702 operates via these primary locations:[17]

Limited early morning and late evening buses continue beyond Legoland to and from Reading as route 701.

Flightline route 703

[edit]

Route 703 operates via these primary locations:[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Green Line 702 & 703 - Bus & Coach in Reading, Windsor and Maidenhead". Visit Windsor. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  2. ^ "First Buses to continue 702 service from Bracknell to London". Bracknell News. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  3. ^ Fort, Hugh (18 August 2015). "Under-threat Bracknell bus route to London retained". BerkshireLive. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  4. ^ Dougall, Emily (21 November 2017). "Reading Buses to take over Green Line 702 with special running day". Coach & Bus Week. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Green Line 702 changes hands". Coach & Bus Week. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  6. ^ Lee, David (26 November 2017). "Reading Buses to take over Green Line 702 bus service". Slough & South Bucks Express. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  7. ^ Brunetti, Nic (29 November 2017). "Slough and Windsor bus service facing the axe is saved after rival bus company intervenes". Slough Observer. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  8. ^ Aldridge, James (15 April 2018). "Reading Buses launches route to Heathrow Airport". InYourArea. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  9. ^ "New bus route to be launched connecting Bracknell and Heathrow". Bracknell News. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  10. ^ Taboada, Khadija (7 May 2018). "Spot Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a Reading bus". InYourArea. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  11. ^ Dougall, Emily (13 February 2018). "BCI on Reading's Green Line 702". Coach & Bus Week. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  12. ^ Knight, Alice (19 October 2020). "Here are the changes being made to Reading Buses' timetable". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  13. ^ Drew, Sophie (20 January 2021). "Some bus routes suspended as hardly anyone is using them". BerkshireLive. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Reading Buses orders seven Enviro400s for Green Line". routeone. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Green Line now Flight Line and London Line for Reading". routeone. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Route 703: Bracknell to Heathrow Terminal 5". Thames Valley Buses. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Routes 701/702: Reading and Legoland to London Victoria". Reading Buses. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
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