Reading's Buses 2010-2019 A Decade of Colour and Change

The decade 2010-19 was a period of change and colour in Reading’s bus services. Many routes and liveries changed, not just for Reading Buses but also the other operators that ran longer-distance services into the town. It was a period of expansion as Reading Buses took on the services of other operators in the middle of the decade and new operators appeared in the town – some more enduring than others. In this book author and photographer Julian Walker traces the development of the bus network in Reading, the vehicles being introduced and the changes to the liveries as the decade progressed. Starting with an introduction to the history of Reading Buses prior to 2010, the important ‘Premier Routes’ concept is also covered. This had been conceived and rolled out during the previous decade to give each main core route its own identity and colour, albeit to a corporate template. It was this that set the scene for the ‘change and colour’ of the 2010s, as routes changed – or were acquired from other operators - and the style of the branding evolved, with new names, colours and styles being introduced. Each year of the decade is covered separately to give a brief account of how it reflects the changes that were going on at the time. A postscript chapter gives a brief outline of events post-2019, and the future for Reading’s buses is considered. This photographic survey of the bus scene in Reading in the decade 2010-2019 will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of road transport in this area.

Yorkshire-born but brought up in London, Julian Walker has been photographing the road transport scene and things that catch his eye and interest him around the country for a number of years. During the decade 200-19 he was visiting Reading frequently and recording the ever-changing and colourful bus scene there. He moved from Bethnal Green to Devon in late 2019 and this is his first book for Amberley Publishing.