Reading
Transport X1 : a brief history |
The X1
service was born out of the 1980 Transport Act and initially connected
Reading with Southend in 1982. However the following year
the service was divided, with Southend Transport terminating at Heathrow
and Reading Transport at Aldgate. At its height, the X1 had
over 20 vehicles. In 1991 the Bee Line X1/X2 and Reading X1
were combined and re-branded to give the Goldline L1 (and
others). Eventually after a gradual thinning of the
timetable, the Reading Buses service came to an end in May 2000. |
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Reading 132 (SGM132S) was one of two coach
seated Metro-Scanias. It is seen at Reading Station in
November 1983. |
Five coach seated Titans operated on the X1
in the mid-80's. Reading 76 (RMO76Y) is seen at the eastern
terminus of Aldgate in January 1985. |
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Possibly the smartest X1 vehicles were the
1984 Metrobuses. Reading 148 (B148EDP) is seen at the
station in January 1985. |
Reading 271 (L671RUA) at the station
loading for Victoria on the last Saturday of operation on 6th May 2000. |