RailAir, the non-stop coach service operated by First Bus connecting Reading Railway Station with Heathrow Airport, is in line for a major industry award this month.
The fast, frequent RailAir coach service that links the UK’s second busiest interchange station outside London and Europe’s busiest airport is short-listed in the 2016 UK Coach Awards’ Making Coaches A Better Choice category.
The news comes after RailAir relaunched its new-look facilities after a major rebranding and refurbishment program. This comprises an upgrade to its fleet of 10 high spec, air-conditioned coaches and passenger departure facilities at Reading Station.
All the vehicles now have an eye-catching modern livery, which highlights the ease of using the coach and train to get to Heathrow Airport to connect with a range of international destinations.
The coaches also have luxurious upholstery and are fitted modern on-board facilities including USB sockets and free wifi. These are designed to help business and leisure travelers keep in touch while on the move.
Coach services, which depart every 20 minutes from Reading Station and Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3 (Central Bus Station) and Terminal 5, take from just 38 minutes to reach their destinations, which is considerably quicker than the train.
RailAir’s departure lounge and signage at Reading Station have also been completely refurbished and modernized. Now available are free wifi, a rolling news television screen and a complimentary drinks machine.
As well as the new customer facilities, RailAir offers a range of fares and tickets, which can be obtained at the departure lounge or directly from the driver.
RailAir’s website provides a suite of e-tickets which can be bought in advance of journeys, while users of smartphones can download First Bus’s free mTicket app to buy a selection of mTickets. Customers then use their smartphones to show their tickets when they board the coach.
The award submission said, “With a passionate desire to build on 40 years of experience and customer service, RailAir has recently re-invented itself as a modern, quality and reliable coach brand, which delivers a vital resource within the thriving Thames Valley public transport infrastructure.”
Commenting on the short-listing, Simon Goff, General Manager of Berkshire, which operates RailAir, said: “This is fantastic recognition for all the hard work that our team has undertaken over the past few months to turn RailAir into a dynamic, modern coach service. The redevelopment of Reading Station was the catalyst for us to transform RailAir and equip it to cater for the increasing numbers of train customers expected to use it. To this end, we worked closely with Network Rail and GWR while we were upgrading our facilities at the station.”
Simon Goff added, “Being short-listed for this industry-leading award is an acknowledgement of the tremendous progress we have made towards further improving our RailAir coach service to meet the needs of both rail passengers, and customers living and working in the Thames Valley area.”
RailAir will find out if it has won the award at the UK Coach Awards’ ceremony and presentation taking place at the Mercure Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester on Thursday 21 April.
