An exciting bus of the future display will be one of the highlights of the forthcoming Reading Buses Open Day.

This year’s event, with all profits from the day for Reading Buses charity of the year Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), will highlight what could be on board buses between now and 2050.

“Come along on Sunday July 3 and see what you think about our views on the future bus travel,” invites Chief Executive Officer Martijn Gilbert.

“We also want to see what our customers and visitors can come up with too.”

The gates at Reading Buses Great Knollys Street depot will open at 11.00 am and there will be an array of activities, stalls and events to keep families and friends entertained.  Staffed by a small army of volunteers, Reading Buses say the day is ‘sure to be well loved by all who attend.’

There will be the ‘famous’ bus rainbow on display which will become the cavalcade around the town at the end of the day (4.00 pm) as a procession showcases the bright and colourful buses that are run by Reading Buses.

Some of the most popular attractions are the behind the scenes tours.  Martijn advises:  “Book early to avoid disappointment as we show you how our control room works and what goes on in our workshop. 

“We also have some open top bus tours – weather permitting – as well as the family favourite – the bus wash.”

The Mayor will be guest of honour to open the day which last year, with the help of some generous sponsors, raised over £6,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society – a figure that Reading Buses would like to break this year.

To help with this, Reading Buses are also looking for sponsors, with Ticketer, the company’s ticket machine supplier, and Route One magazine, already amongst the generous organisations who are donating money to help cover some of the days’s running costs.

Visitors won’t go hungry as the ever-popular barbecue will again be sponsored by Tilehurst Village Butchers.  In addition, there will be a selection of cakes, ice cream and refreshments. 

For those who love buses in general, visitors will be well catered for. There will be plenty of memorabilia stalls, vintage buses on display, a video documentary of trolley buses and assorted bus items for sale.

Reading Buses will run their free shuttle from the town centre starting at 10.30 am.  Buses will do a loop of the town every 20 minutes to take visitors to the depot.

Added Martijn:  “There will be no parking available at the depot so we encourage visitors to take the bus.”