Residents will soon have more freedom to travel later and across the weekend as new and enhanced bus services are introduced across Newbury, continuing to connect our rural areas and towns, making local journeys easier, more convenient and more sustainable.

From Friday 4 September 2026, later evening journeys will run on routes 2 and 8 operated by Newbury & District (N&D) on Friday and Saturday evenings, giving people more choice when travelling home after work, leisure activities or a night out in Newbury town centre.

New Sunday services on Newbury & District routes 2 and 8 will start on Sunday 6 September 2026, improving weekend travel options for local communities. Route 2 serves Newbury and Wash Common, while route 8 serves Newbury, Greenham, The Nightingales, Pigeons Farm and Tesco Superstore.

A new Sunday service on Thames Travel route 34 between Newbury, The Ilsleys, Beedon, Chieveley, Harwell and Didcot will also begin on Sunday 20 September 2026. The service will provide a direct weekend connection to shopping, leisure and onward travel opportunities, helping people access services and destinations without relying on a car.

The improvements build on a wider programme of investment in local bus services across West Berkshire. Recent enhancements have included Sunday and later evening journeys on Stagecoach’s route 32 between Newbury and Basingstoke, as well as additional Friday and Saturday evening journeys on Reading Buses’ Jet Black 1 service between Newbury and Thatcham.

The Council has also been working closely with local bus operators, parish councils and town councils to improve public transport across the district.

This has included:

• Funding to parish and town councils and bus operators to install new or replacement bus shelters, improving passenger waiting experiences.
• Installing bus stop clearways and associated signs and road markings at many bus stops across the district to help maintain access for buses and improve network reliability.
• Introducing the West Berkshire Community Connect on-demand transport service in two areas of the district connecting our rural communities in with our Towns.
• Free Travel Days in the run-up to Christmas 2025 to encourage bus travel, and leave the car at home.

These improvements support the Council’s commitment to creating strong, connected communities and promoting more sustainable ways to travel. They have been made possible through funding provided to West Berkshire Council by HM Government to improve local bus services.

A range of additional support measures are also helping make bus travel more affordable. Single fares on many services remain capped at £3.00 until 31 December 2026, while children aged five to 15 can access free summer bus travel throughout August 2026 through the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme. Some operators are also offering discounted early-bird tickets for concessionary bus pass holders travelling before 9.30am on weekdays.

Councillor Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Transport and Highways, said: “These new evening and Sunday services are great news for residents and demonstrate our commitment to improving public transport across West Berkshire and connecting communities. Reliable and accessible bus services help people get to work, visit friends and family, access leisure opportunities and support local businesses.

“We know that people want flexibility in how and when they travel, and these additional journeys will make a real difference, particularly for those who do not have access to a car. We will continue working with our bus operators and local communities to improve services and encourage more people to choose sustainable transport.”

Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and check the latest timetables before travelling. Further information is available from Newbury & District, Thames Travel and Traveline journey planners, as well as on the Council’s Transport Service Changes or Disruption webpage and in the district-wide travel guide.