Maidenhead & Windsor

Many Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough residents are benefiting from major improvements to the borough's bus network with better and more frequent bus services to Heathrow's new Terminal Five now in operation – including bus route 60 from Eton Wick to the new terminal.

The package of improvements came into effect from last Saturday (March 29) – with more earlier and later buses serving the new Terminal Five and better Sunday services on several routes.

The revised route 60 – which amalgamates two former short loop services – has been extended to take in Terminal Five and is operating seven days a week from early morning to late evening.

The new route 60 runs from Eton Wick via Eton, Slough, Datchet, Welley Corner in Horton, Wraysbury, Horton, Coppermill Road in Horton, Poyle, Colnbrook and Staines and on to Terminal Five from 5am to 11pm seven days a week – compared with the previous smaller loop services which operated just five days a week between 8am and 5pm.

In addition, a new Horton Link trial route is providing a weekday service from Horton village green to Windsor via Datchet, leaving Horton at 10.15am and returning from Windsor at 1.15pm. This additional route has been set up to assist Horton residents who might otherwise be further from bus stops than with the previous arrangements.

The Horton Link service started on Tuesday (March 25) and is being run for a trial period until Friday May 2, after which a decision will be taken as to its economic viability.

The innovative package of improvements are the result of partnership working and joint funding arrangements between the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough, Slough Borough Council, British Airports Authority and the First Group to improve services within the borough and on to Heathrow to link with the opening of T5.

The package includes some new fully-accessible buses with lower exhaust emissions on many routes, as well as more Real Time Passenger Information on electronic bus stop displays at key locations.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways, transport and the environment, said: "Many more of our borough residents are benefiting from these new improved bus services – particularly those who do shift work at the airport and people travelling to and from Terminal Five who now have a practical alternative to using their cars.

"I would urge Horton residents to make full use of the link service in the coming weeks to ensure that it is considered economically viable to continue with it after the trial period."

Windsor and Maidenhead Borough residents are also benefiting from additions to the current route 305 which provides a direct link to Staines, with extra early morning services now stopping at Horton village green at 8.05am to collect children for school.

Cllr Rayner added: "We are in talks to improve this service with the bus operators and we will keep residents informed." The service also provides the opportunity to connect with route 60 (including the schools services) at Wraysbury station and continue to Slough bus station.

Additionally, Horton residents who were registered at the surgery in Wraysbury (prior to its closure) and need transport to the doctor's surgery in Datchet can be provided with a free taxi. Arrangements should be made directly with the surgery when making an appointment.

For Windsor and Maidenhead residents with permanent (or temporary) mobility difficulties People to Places provides a bespoke community transport service which can be accessed by contacting them directly on 01628 587920.

For further details on bus services and timetable information go to www.heathrow7series.com. Copies of the new timetables are available from borough libraries and customer service centres at Maidenhead Town Hall, St Ives Road and York House council offices in Sheet Street, Windsor.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead