Education

The new shuttle bus will run between Bulmershe and Whiteknights campuses and will cost £1.20
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New shuttle bus for uni students

By Laura Herbert
February 09, 2010

Demands for a replacement shuttle bus service at The University of Reading to ferry students between two campuses have been met.

The university, working with Reading Buses, has now launched a number 19 service after the university’s shuttle between Bulmershe and Whiteknights campuses was axed last year as part of cost cutting measures.

Megan Pennyfather, welfare officer at Reading University Students Union (RUSU), said: “It’s not the result we were hoping for, but it is a result.

“It’s beneficial for the students, it’s just unfortunate it wasn’t in place last term when the evenings were darker for students walking between the campuses.”

The previous shuttle bus took students between the two campuses – a direct 10-minute bus journey covering about two miles – but it was stopped in July to cut costs and reduce the university’s carbon footprint.

A temporary service ran just for Freshers Week and the first week of term.

Now students will have to pay to use the number 19 with a special introductory rate of £1.20 until Sunday, April 4.

The fare price after that date is currently under review.

Of the price Miss Pennyfather said: “It’s a shame because I think one of the reasons why the university shuttle stopped was because the price went up every year and that’s what put a lot of students off using it. £1.20 is quite a big amount for students to pay and I think if the price goes up [after the introductory period] usage will drop.”

The hourly service, which runs Monday to Saturday from early morning until late night, will ferry students directly between the two campuses.

The route will start at Woodley before stopping at Bulmershe, travelling along Wilderness Road and Pepper Lane and turning on to the Whiteknights campus.

The campus stop is on Chancellor’s Way/Queen’s Drive and the route continues to Reading Station, via Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Denise Shearman, head of campus services at the university, said: “The university is delighted recent discussions between Reading Buses, the university and RUSU have led to a new regular bus service linking our Bulmershe and Whiteknights campuses.

“The 19 service will offer students a tailor-made service between their accommodation and academic studies and be of benefit to many of our staff.”

Reading Buses routes 20 and 21 already links the Whiteknights campus with Lower Earley and the town centre.

For the full timetable visit www.reading-buses.co.uk/university.

laura.herbert@reading-epost.co.uk

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Boo hoo. It's 2 miles from my home to the office and walk there and back every day. If our "future leaders" don't have it in them to walk 20 minutes (I know how long it takes) then we're all doomed.

el matric
11/02/2010 at 09:36

I agree with L. In fact, I could weep for the poor loves, and often do. They should by rights be getting a free bus service to wheresoever they choose; these are the future leaders of our country and nothing should be too good for them. Of course, there will always be those of mean spirit who say, "let the feckers walk", but I fear that is but the green monster within talking. It is, after all, NEARLY A MILE between campuses.

N Tropy
10/02/2010 at 21:41

The new shuttle service will start sometime after 2.30pm, or later during holidays, ands run till the kebab vans have all closed for the night.

Class work and education is optional.

The Racing Snake
9/02/2010 at 15:31

What I don't understand is Nottingham Trent University have a FREE shuttle bus service from the City Centre to the University... (more than two miles) paid for by the council. I'm not a University student but I work at a College that has four campuses and can understand the frustration that these students would have moving from one to another!