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Bee Line had a batch of Mercedes based Optare StarRiders delivered for use in Newbury, and there
they stayed when Reading Buses took over their Newbury based services, trading as Newbury Buses. This one is seen in Reading on the service linking the two towns.
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This Optare City Pacer, 215 (E236VUD) was one of a number of Optare City Pacers used on Reading Town Services and operated by the company's low cost unit. This vehicle was originally used in Newbury, hence the lime green contrast as opposed to the usual turquoise of Reading Buses. The bus was new to South Midland, later Thames Transit, as their 36 and came to Reading by way of Lancaster City Transport where it had been numbered M8. It eventually ended up with Bromyard Transport (fleet number 121).
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MAN/Optare Vectras took to rural routes along with the Optare Deltas. This one is seen at Reading Station about to depart for Newbury - it sports Newbury Buses fleetnames and colours.
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A few Leyland Nationals inherited from Bee Line remained with the Newbury Buses operation longer, though they were re-engined with Volvo power units. This one is waiting in Reading to depart on the service to Newbury.
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Newbury Buses had some doubldeckers: MCW Metrobuses transferred from Reading. Metrobus 173 (HCF173W) is seen on the Newbury-Reading service at Reading and has a singledoor conversion. One of the Newbury Buses Metrobuses was displayed at SHOWBUS in 1999. Note the interesting tree window protector fitted above the roof at the front. It was sometime since Newbury last had highbridge doubledecks - former Newbury and District Guy Arabs with Duple coachwork back in the sixties!
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