Changes to the number 7 bus service

Reading Buses and Stagecoach South have confirmed a joint agreement for Reading Buses to acquire part of bus route 7 which currently operates between Aldershot and Reading.

From Monday April 16 Reading Buses will operate the route between Reading and Hartley Wintney, continuing direct into Fleet for onward rail connections.

Stagecoach will continue to operate the southern section of the route between Hartley Wintney and Aldershot with most journeys continuing to provide a through link by buses that are timed to connect at Hartley Wintney. Plans are being finalised for through tickets to be available.

Both operators confirm there will be some minor timetable changes to their respective sections of the route and full details will be available soon.

Existing Stagecoach season tickets will continue to be accepted by Reading Buses until their expiry. Beyond Three Mile Cross the Reading Buses route 7 will become part of their ‘Simply Network’ fare zone.

However, there still remains questions concerning the survival of the subsidised part of the route between Hartley Wintney and Aldershot. At a recent Hampshire County Council Meeting on the 22nd February councillors voted in favour of a proposed budget which included cuts to local subsidised bus services. In the meantime, we are still waiting for confirmation concerning the future of the number 7 service.