Bracknell's New Network, a few months on.

It's been a few months since when I was supposed to post about this, but finally, I decided to do a post on the new Bracknell network of routes, where there are confusingly two routes with the same number!

The stickers on bus stops were inevitable, and 155 is covered by B5, whilst a white sticker with B3, 90, X1 and 701 is covering something else. The 172 is still there due to the competing Courtney Buses service.

Routes 90 via Southern Estate & 90 via John Nike Leisure Centre:


First Beeline 33179 on Route 90 via Southern Estates, Bracknell Bus Station
The 190 was replaced by two routes - the 90 and the 90. To be clearer, the 90 via Southern Estates goes via the long way round through the Bracknell southern estates before going to Jennett's Park and the A329 link road to the old 190 route for Reading.


First Beeline 32348 on Route 90 via John Nike, Bracknell Bus Station
This bus, even with its "greenline" branding, only sparingly goes on the Green Line 701/702 and usually ends up on the 90 with LEDs, even with blinds at the side and rear. On the first day though, buses with blinds had to make do with paper "via John Nike" displays on A4.


190 via Wokingham
The blinds had to do with a little bit of marker pen to cover the "1".


First Beeline 33142 on Route 90 via Southern Estates, Bracknell Leisure Centre
Buses with LED displays did the 90 via Southern Estates, including a few Green Line buses off the 701/702 on the first day! Eventually, all the TNs were converted to LEDs and had their "TN" part of the fleetname removed (well, most of them).


First Beeline TN33145 on Route 90 via Southern Estates, Bracknell Bus Station.
This one didn't, and look at the destination! It's to the Southern Industrial Area, just before Jennett's Park.


First Beeline 33147 on Route 90 via John Nike, Bracknell Bus Station
The branding had to be adapted for the 90, so the frequency is changed to every 15 minutes (combined between Wokingham and Reading), and the 190 is changed to a 90.


First Beeline 33143 on Route 90 via John Nike, Friar Street
The LED conversion can be clearly shown, and note the LED display. First Berkshire are well known for custom LED displays, but this is interesting, as they have tried to display a skier! The reason why the skier is there is because there is a ski slope (no snow of course) at the John Nike Leisure Centre.


First Berkshire 33147 on Route 90 via Southern Estates, Reading Station


First Beeline 32348 on Route 90 via John Nike Leisure Centre, Reading Station

Route X1:
The route was introduced as a shopper's route, running to the same time as the 90 via Southern Estates, but as it goes via the A329(M), it gets to the Southern Estates, where it continues via the 90 to Bracknell. It runs only on Saturdays, and every hour.


First Beeline TN33153 on Route X1, Reading Station
I do have to ask whether the route could be feasible, and the single fare end to end is nearly £6, considering a day ticket only costs a tad more! This Saturday route is aimed at shoppers from the Southern Estates who'd like a quicker ride to Reading for more shopping time.


First Beeline 33183 on Route X1, Bracknell Bus Station
If you want a 50mph ride on the A329(M) on a Trident, then the X1 is the best bet, even with the single fare being nearly £6. Past Jennett's Park, it's like any other bus route at Bracknell.

Route 94:


First Beeline 64038 on Route 94, Bracknell Bus Station
It is now being operated by a load of Citaros, as the 90 has taken all the ex-194/X94 Tridents.


First Beeline 64001 on Route 94, Bracknell Bus Station
A mix of older and newer, ex-7series and ex-London Citaros are on the route. This is ex-London, running previously on Route RV1


First Beeline 64020 on Route 94, Bracknell Bus Station
This bus has adapted 7series branding, initially for the X94 every 60 minutes, now the 94 every 20 minutes!


First Beeline 64031 on Route 94, Bracknell Bus Station

Route B1:


First Beeline 64018 on Route B1, Great Hollands


First Beeline 64014 on Route B1, Bracknell Bus Station

Route B2/B3:


First Beeline 40956 on Route B2, Bracknell Bus Station
These Darts were only at Bracknell for a few months before they were replaced with more Citaros and more Enviro 200s from Wales.


First Beeline 64018 on Route B1, 64014 on Route B3, Bracknell Bus Station
B2 and B3 are opposite directions of the same Crown Wood & Birch Hill loop.


First Beeline 64013 on Route B3, Bracknell Bus Station
And by November, the allocation has settled on the Beeline Citaros

Route B5:


First Beeline 64005 on Route B5, Bracknell Bus Station
It's just the 155 renumbered, so not much change here either.


First Beeline 44561 on Route B5, Bracknell Bus Station
But by November, some Enviro 200s from Slough have reached Bracknell and run various routes, including the B5. The destination display has changed a tad as well.

Other Stuff:


First Beeline 44504 on Route 53, Bracknell Bus Station
Apparently, the Welsh buses do have wi-fi, but I haven't tried it. Some are at Slough, whilst others are at Bracknell. Compare the larger hole in the masking of the blind box compare to the Berkshire natives (see B5 photo above).


First Beeline 44505 on Route 108, Bracknell Bus Station
Note how 44504 has new style bumpers, whilst this bus has old-style bumpers. They were repainted into new First Group livery when they were at South Wales, before moving to the South of England at Hampshire & Dorset. They then moved north to Berkshire, as shown, to replace older Darts.