Reading football buses back for season after protests

The club said it had been forced to subsidise services since they started in 2007

Bus services for football fans travelling to Reading's Madejski Stadium have been reinstated for the season after protests from fans.

The routes from Basingstoke and Farnborough in Hampshire, and Bracknell and Wokingham had been dropped in July.

The club said the Stagecoach services only attracted limited passengers and there were other transport links.

But after a successful trial for the first two games this season, with a £1 fare rise, the services will continue.

Fans had argued that the routes were busy and that going by train would cost them three times as much.

Reading Football Club said it had been forced to subsidise the services since they started in 2007 and it would still be covering the extra costs this year.

A spokesman added: "We were wary about the reaction to the £1 fare increase but the fans have supported the services for the first two games and we are happy to see it continue.

"The club will continue to subsidise the routes but the cost can be absorbed."