THE SHOWBUS HOME COUNTIES BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Reading Buses | Non standard liveries
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 Solo 107 (S107LBL) is seen in July 2008 in a special white livery for the Kennet Island Shuttle Bus. |
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 In a surprisingly similar colour scheme when on trial with Reading in August 2015 was Mercedes' short Citaro O530K demonstrator, BV14TZY, which had gained fleet number 102 during its stay.
Picture ref B771 |
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 The short Citaro was parked at the Great Knolly Street depot alongside a former Stagecoach London Alexander bodied Volvo Olympian, once VA138. The bus is in the pseudo NBC livery of Noah Vale a division of Weavaway with registration C13TCL denoting the Tappins operation, which has become part of Weavaway.
Picture ref B770 |
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 Promoting Launchpad, Reading's homeless support charity, Scania CN230UD 1114 (YN08MMU) is seen at Great Knolly Street in June 2014. Picture ref A3255 |
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 So many universities have their own bus services for students these days, often open to members of the public, the practice is now spreading to institutions focussed on 16-19 education, like Reading College. Scania CN270UD, 1107 (YN08MKZ), has retained some purple from its route 17 days in this livery for the college seen from the top deck of a Bracknell bound Courtney Travel doubledecker in May 2015.
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 Another special livery on East Lancs Olympus bodied Scania N230UD 861 (YN08HYY) for Berkshire Rugby. It is seen alongside gas powered ADL Enviro300 bodied Scania K270UB 409 (YR13PNN) branded for the first gas bus route - greenwave.
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 On Reading Stations forecourt during the Blockade of December 2010 is Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB 1006 (YN05GXF). Having worn green route branding for routes 4, 5 & 6, the bus is in the Vitalty branding used for rural routes around Reading. It was later painted for the new bronze branding for route 11. Its colour was to change again when 1006 was acquired by First Devon & Cornwall where it was initially painted blue for the Truro Park & Ride and later in the standard First lilac based livery branded First Kernow. |
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 On the same day Vitality Scania L94UB 1007 (YN05GXG) is seen passing through St Mary's Butts bound for Peppard Common. |
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 In June the following year 1007 is seen again heading out to Peppard Common. The bus was snapped up by AOT Coaches and used on their £1 service from Hucknall to Nottingham. |
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 Back to late December 2010 and Vitality branded 1008 (YN05GXH) is in the town centre and heading to Mortimer on route 2. The bus passed to Midland Classic. |
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 This Alexander Dennis Enviro400H SmartPack (Hybrid) has an interesting history being built in 2013 and used by Alexander Dennis as a development vehicle to test the hybrid set up. It is seen shortly after arriving in Reading in August 2016 as 232 (SN16OGD). It stayed until 2019 and visited numerous operators, getting painted in Arriva livery for a spell with Arriva Merseyside as their 7936. It has since been registered W100ACL and reliveried for Aintree Coachlines.
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 Transdev in the north launched the Vamooz concept where potential customers organised thier own excursions. If enough passengers booked the excursion went ahead. In 2017 two Transdev Vamooz buses attended SHOWBUS at Donnington Park. Reading joined in Vamooz with a few other operators painting Enviro400 1212 (DU61FVY) in the magenta livery. It is seen in Slough in May 2018 on the Greenline 702 London service. Vamooz services were not a huge success and 1212 soon found itself repainted in Greenline livery.
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 New in 2013 there is no obvious reason why Enviro200 131 (YX63LGU) was seen in plain white in June 2018. It later transfered to the associated Thames Valley in an orange livery.
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 At the June 2019 Reading Buses Open Day the company's ex Lothian Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident, 520 (V524ESC). It was 524 in Edinburgh and deroofed there and used for the "Majestic Tour". Pulling out of the depot alongside is Enviro400MMC 757 (YX64VRT), an appropriate registration for a former Bristol VRT operator! It has since been given the cherished mark RG57BUS.
Picture ref C4352 |
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 On display at the 2019 Open Day was this pair of Mercedes minibuses. Nearer the camera is Sprinter 315CDI 357 (OV59MJZ) which had been acquired from Heathrow Based OFJ Connections. It may have been used in passenger service but has left the fleet along with any other Mercedes by 2026.
Picture ref C4353 |
 Also on display was Scania CN270UD 1114 previously seen promoting Launchpad, but here warpped for Cancer Research UK, Reading Buses charity for 2019.
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 Seen at Reading Station wrapped for Radio Heart in May 2022 was CNG powered Scania 706 (YP67XCA) with Enviro400CBG CITY-style bodywork from Alexander Dennis.
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 Former Jetblack Enviro400 1204 (SN11BWD) was given this modified black livery to promote the Company's travel app. On Greenline duties in May 2022 Heathrow bound it was turning on to Slough's Wellington Street.
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 .The bus was seen later headed for Bracknell leaving Heathrow's Terminal 5 still on the 703. It has since been sold to Sargeants of Hereford.
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 In a special place at the June 2022 Reading Buses Open Day was Enviro400MMC 758 (YX64VRU) whose livery had been adapted to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
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 Sprinter 357 was seen again at the 2022 Open Day alongside a Ford service van, RE60ZVL.
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 Several of Reading Buses new fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV electric doubledeckers were on display at the June 2026 Open Day. Quite a few sported special liveries. Here is 3 (RG03ZEB) in a stripey livery echoing that on Enviro300CBG bodied Scania 431 (YN14MYA), both drawing attention to the changing climate. The stripes along the bus reflect the timeline of increasing average temperatures in Berkshire since 1863. Whilst 3 was not actually in display, just in the bus yard, the brand new integral Flightline Irizar for the Basingstoke - Heathrow service can be seen at the back of the yard prior to taking its position in the display
Picture ref E256 |
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 New Enviro400EV 4 (RG04ZEB) received a two tone gold livery to celebrate the company's 125th anniversary.
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 Because zebras and "zero emission" both begin "ZE" the zebra has been adopted in many situations as a symbol of zero emissions, ignoring the green house gas emissions of farting zebras!. This has resulted in Enviro400EV 2 (RG02ZEB) gaining a zebra inspired livery.
Picture ref E263 |
 The opentop President was outside the depot on tour duties for the 2026 Open Day.
Picture ref E271 |
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 Two months later a 125th anniversary Running Day celebration was staged in conjunction with the Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust. The event was centred on St Mary's Butts. The opentopper was again in evidence, but just visible behind in the pedestrianised Broad Street are AEC Regent 46 (RD2127) and Sunbeam F4 trolleybus 193 (VRD193).
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 Enviro400MMC 758, the Platinum Jubilee bus, was given the royal treatment again to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. It is seen here from the top deck of a passing Wycombe bound Carousel 850 outside Reading Station in June 2026.
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 One of seven Enviro400MMC buses "White Knight" branded for the University service is Enviro400MMC 793 (SN16OHL) seen in October 2026.
Picture ref E730 |
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