Football buses

[Clyde1998]

Reading Buses have made some changes to the football buses ahead of the 2026-27 season: https://www.reading-buses.co.uk/new-f1- ... 627-season

The F23 route will now run via Coley Avenue and the F30 route is being rerouted to serve Woodley. Route F31 will no longer run, with route F32 being extended to cover stops missed by the F31.

There are also changes to the timetables on route F20.

[...]

We’re also making changes to the fares on our F1 route.

Starting from the Saturday 1 August friendly match, return fares will no longer be offered, with a single each way costing £3.

There are no changes to the concessionary discount, or change to fares on any other route.

[RG30]

I can see a scenario where the queues are ridiculously slow post match if everyone is having to pay again.

[Zammo]

^ agreed. In no other public transport service would you be forced to buy two singles at the point of departure and not a return ticket. If queues are ridiculously long, supporters will start leaving even earlier than usual to catch those first buses out lol.

[windermereROYAL]

Don`t agree, there`s usually two guys taking fares and checking tickets, scanning a credit card takes no time at all.

[PieEater]

Don`t agree, there`s usually two guys taking fares and checking tickets, scanning a credit card takes no time at all.

Rubbish, it takes way longer to pay with the mobile ticket machine or bus driver compared to waving a ticket a piling on. I'm guessing 10 people could get on compared to paying, assuming you wait for the ticket. It will cause massive queues to load the buses unless they change the process to tap in.

This seems like an utterly stupid decision, presumably just to catch out the few people that pile on with an old ticket or no ticket at all.

I thought the club were trying to improve the matchday experience and encourage public transport use?

[RG30]

Might be a tactic to get people to stay behind after the game and spend some more money.

[Zammo]

One thought, maybe they will start loading more than one bus at a time so that might help. Otherwise, this'll be queue carnage.

[Whore Jackie]

^ agreed. In no other public transport service would you be forced to buy two singles at the point of departure and not a return ticket. If queues are ridiculously long, supporters will start leaving even earlier than usual to catch those first buses out lol.

Wonder if they'll even allow you to buy two singles at Reading Station?

Presumably you can still buy returns for the other football buses?

Not even sure you can buy a return on a standard, non-football Reading Buses route now. Think most bus operators just offer singles or tap on, tap off.

[windermereROYAL]

Well that started off very well, purchased a £2.50 single into town on the F1, scanned my card with one of the guys outside the bus, didn`t give me a ticket, just told the driver to let me on.
No phone signal anywhere near the stadium as we all know.
Got into town and discovered I`d been charged £5.50, pretty much the perfect day.