A councillor has called for a direct bus service between Woodley and Twyford, the commuter village that has trains running to and from London.
A councillor is urging for a direct bus service between Woodley and Twyford, the commuter hotspot with rail links to London.
Twyford station connects to Great Western Railway and Elizabeth Line services, while Earley - the next nearest station - is serviced by South Western Railway on its route to London Waterloo.
Councillor Greg Bello (Labour, Loddon) made his request during the full council meeting on October 23, urging Wokingham Borough Council to support direct bus routes.
He pointed out that various residents have expressed a need for buses to Twyford station. Cllr Bello stated: “At the last meeting, councillors heard how residents want buses from their areas to Twyford. The response was a consultation set for January.”
He continued, “This consultation will mirror the long route taken from Woodley to Wokingham. Why not establish a direct Woodley to Twyford service that residents consistently ask for?”
Cllr Adrian Betteridge (Liberal Democrats, Barkham & Arborfield) responded, indicating the current bus service funding is locked in until 2027. He acknowledged the frustrations and expressed a desire to enhance bus services but noted that they rely on commercially sustainable routes operated by bus companies.
This news comes as Reading Buses will start a new route from Reading to Twyford on November 3, connecting Friar Street in Reading with Waitrose in Twyford, just a six-minute walk from the station.
However, the route will not stop in Woodley, instead heading directly to Sonning and Charvil after Shepherds Hill. After the meeting, Cllr Bello expressed disappointment at the council’s only committing to a consultation, stating, “It’s like asking if the sky is blue. We know the answer; residents have already raised this need.”
He added, “They will be annoyed that Woodley is overlooked as Reading Buses launches this new route. The council should have pushed for Woodley’s inclusion.”
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
West Berkshire's Future in Combined Authority Debate
