New look, new mod cons, new seating, quicker journeys and cleaner air – What’s not to like about Slough Service 4?

• First Berkshire to invest in Slough network with ultra-low emission buses
• Newly introduced vehicles on Service 4 improve local air quality along the route
• A4 bus lanes deliver 80% improvement in bus journey times, bus data shows  

Passengers travelling by bus between Maidenhead, Slough and Heathrow Airport will see their journey experience transformed on First Berkshire’s Slough Service 4 over the coming weeks, which follow improvements in journey times over recent months.

First Berkshire is introducing Euro VI-compliant buses which the operator has treated to a complete make-over, from a fresh livery which brightens up the exterior to the interior of the bus where seats have been given a new lease of live with a stylish purple-blend moquette. USB charging points which will enable passengers to keep their devices charged whilst making use of the service’s free Wi-Fi are due to be fitted over the coming period.

Simon Goff, First Berkshire’s Head of Operations said: "We’re pleased that we’re able to offer passengers who use our Service 4 a much-improved journey experience with a fresh look and newly refurbished vehicles that also improve the air quality for communities living in Slough and other places along the route."

The dedicated bus lanes recently installed by Slough Borough Council along the A4 to the east and west of Slough town centre have already made a significant improvement to the running times of most of Slough’s buses, recent analysis of journey data by First Berkshire found. Before the bus lanes were introduced, a bus journey from Slough town centre to the Three Tuns could take up to 20 minutes. Using the bus lanes, the same journey takes as little as 6 minutes, speeding up journey times for the bus-travelling public on this stretch by 80 per cent.

Praising the newly introduced bus lanes, Simon said:

“These bus lanes are exactly what Slough needs. Our buses on the A4 used to be stuck in traffic whenever congestion occurred. The proximity of the M4 means that Slough’s road network can become very busy whenever there’s an incident on the nearby motorway network. If the bus lanes would become permanent, they’d make a massive difference to public transport, bringing improved reliability and quicker journeys, which can lead to higher bus frequencies, resulting in a better bus service for Slough residents.”

At the beginning of the year, First Berkshire in partnership with Heathrow Airport extended the route of Slough service 4 to call at Heathrow Airport, creating a direct link between Maidenhead and the airport.

Matthew Wooll, Heathrow Airport’s Route Development Lead, Surface Access said:

We are delighted to see the additional investment from First Berkshire and Slough Borough Council in public transport between Slough and the airport. These environmentally friendly refurbished buses will provide a very sustainable way to travel to Heathrow. And thanks to the council’s bus lanes, the journey from Slough town centre to Heathrow Central Bus Station is already more reliable and usually takes no more than 30 minutes.