FOUR MORE bus services have been suspended today, following government pressure to do so.

Reading Buses announced the suspension of the routes on Friday, February 5, explaining that bus companies nationwide have been urged to temporarily reduce lesser-used services, as a consequence of fewer people travelling during the third national lockdown.

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The changes include the Leopard 3, 8, and 9 services, as well as reductions to the Tiger 7 service.

Leopard 3 buses will drop from every 20 minutes between Reading and Arborfield to 30 minutes, but buses will still run hourly to Wokingham. Leopard 8 and 9 services will become hourly, giving a half-hourly service between Reading and Spencers Wood. Sundays will remain largely unchanged.

Leopard 3, 8 and 9 services will also combine to forma 15 minute service between central Reading, the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and Shinfield Road, before separating.

Reading Chronicle:

The Tiger 7 service will see a reduction in services with the later evening journeys suspended, due to "extremely low customer numbers."

These changes follow on from previous suspensions of services, announced on February 1, including Ruby 10, Greenwave 50 and Mereoak Park & Ride 600 services all being reduced to Saturday hours, as well as the Sunday service on the 600 being closed altogether.

Green Line 703 and Winnersh Triangle Park & Ride 500 have also both been suspended since January 25.

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Robert Williams, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We have tried to keep service changes and suspensions as simple as possible to ensure that we continue to provide space for social distancing on our customer’s essential journeys, whilst also toning things down to reflect the current coronavirus restrictions.

“Our team has worked very hard alongside our local authority partners to agree the best approach.”