A bus service connecting Winnersh and Reading is returning next week after three years of no full-time operation.

The service will run from Winnersh Triangle, where commuters can park their car for the day, before getting a bus to central reading, from Monday, August 19.

The Winnersh Triangle Park and ride 500 bus service was suspended in November 2021. The service stopped so construction work could take place to expand the car park at Winnersh Triangle.

When the work was completed, Reading Buses said that passenger numbers would be too low to be worth restarting the service. At the time, Wokingham Borough Council said that it could not afford to subsidise the scheme.

The service was then temporarily reinstated in October 2023, when the council used part of a government grant it received to reinstate the service to Saturdays only.

Reading Buses has now confirmed that following the success of the Saturday-only trial, the service will run up to every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday.

The journey takes around 12-15 minutes from Winnersh Triangle to Reading Town Centre.

Reading buses said it would ‘take advantage’ of the new London Road bus lane.

Along with the new services, there will be ‘full refreshed gas-powered buses’ with comfortable seating, USB charging and free Wi-Fi.

News of the service was announced at the recent full meeting of Wokingham Borough Council by the executive member for active travel, transport and highways, Councillor Paul Fishwick. He said that the enhancement was funded through the Bus Services Improvement Plan grant from the government.