THE SHOWBUS HOME COUNTIES BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Reading Buses cream liveried doubledeckers
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Justly proud of the first Optare Spectra new generation doubledecker on DAF DB250 chassis, Reading's 701 (MRD1) still sports the special 'Spectra' lettering on the rear from its initial role as a demonstrator. One of Wycombe Bus' Lynxes can be seen on the joint 328/329 services linking the two towns of Wycombe and Reading and reflects the fact that Thames Valley, later Bee Line, has been split into many parts post deregulation. The Wycombe operations going to City of Oxford (part of the Go-Ahead group), the Reading and Newbury operations to Reading Buses and the remaining Bracknell & Slough operations, still under the Bee Line name, to Centrewest and ultimately FirstGroup. The Aldershot & District operations which were forceably merged with Thames Valley under NBC ownership have similarly been split between Stagecoach and Arriva - everybody's had a bit!
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Here we see the front end of 701 (MRD1) with a Tillingbourne Duple bodied Leopard in the background. The now defunct Tillingbourne had a bite of Alder Valley too, operating the remnants of the original joint route 12 operated by Thames Valley and Aldershot & District between Reading and Aldershot.
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 One of the first Spectras, 706 (L706FRD) in service in Reading - near the Cemetry Junction - in July 2007. |
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Seen in Oxford is this pair of Spectra buses. They are on a private hire to the city ice rink, in whose coach park they are laying over. Nearest the camera is 704 (K170FYG), another Optare demonstrator, and beyond 707 (L707LJM).
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Spectra 707 pulls out in front of one of the Goldline models at Reading Station.
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