Following my visit to the area earlier in the year to sample the new services provided by Carousel, I return to Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to ride First Bus routes based on Slough, which have recently been expanded to respond to the competition.

Map of First Bus operations in Berks & Bucks, showing the new M40 and extended X74 routes which began on 2nd March 2026. Strangely, the zones are shown as Slough & Windsor and Berkshire despite also serving Buckinghamshire!

First Berks & Bucks History

Back in 1986, Alder Valley North took over the Bracknell, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Newbury, Reading & Wokingham operations of Alder Valley in preparation for privatisation of the National Bus Company. It was later renamed The Berks Bucks Bus Company, trading as “Beeline” and was sold to Q Drive in 1987.

During the early 1990s, the High Wycombe operations were sold to the Oxford Bus Company and the Reading / Newbury operations to Reading Buses. However, Beeline purchased the Slough operations of Luton & District, previously part of LCBS and later London Country North West. Beeline was sold to Centrewest in 1996, which in turn was sold to First Group in 1997, who later rebranded it as First Berkshire & The Thames Valley. Services in Bracknell passed to Courtney Buses and Reading Transport in 2015, leaving just the Slough Garage operations remaining.

In recent years, the number of services operated by First has diminished, with Carousel and Thames Valley (part of Reading Transport) being the main beneficiaries. However, 2025/6 has seen a minor resurgence, with a new route and extensions to others in response to the competition. The Beeline trading name was revived for a while, with a smart new orange and purple livery introduced on buses, although this has since been superseded by the new First Bus corporate colour scheme. Currently, 8 regular bus routes are operated, plus 3 Rail-Air Coach services to and from Heathrow.

In terms of my own rides in the area, I have visited and sampled operations based on Slough many times, recalling London Country Atlanteans & Nationals in the 1980s, through the Beeline era of yellow Bristol VRs, Olympians and Nationals, to the more recent First Bus low floor types including Citaros and Volvo B7RLEs.

For many years, First produced a timetable booklet for Slough with fold-out map, whilst Berkshire County Council used to issue a series of booklets covering the county including one for Slough with the services of all operators. Now, none of this is produced, so I had to rely on the map and and timetables downloaded from the First website.

First Bus X74 was extended from Slough to Uxbridge over a faster intermediate route than First Bus 3 and Carousel Route 458 from 2nd March 2026. Enviro400 MMC 33301 is seen at Uxbridge Station after I rode it from Slough.

*This was one of a batch of these vehicles transferred from First Kernow when the Cornwall operation closed down and is in the new First Bus corporate livery.*

Part Route X74: Slough - Uxbridge

My day began at Wellington Street in Slough, where most bus routes in the town now start, terminate or pass through, following the closure of the nearby Bus Station after a fire in 2022 and which is not expected to reopen. Phase 1 of my plan was to complete a large circle encompassing First Bus Routes X74 and M40, travelling anti-clockwise via Uxbridge and High Wycombe back to Slough.

Beginning with the new section of the X74, which was extended from Slough to Uxbridge with the changes in March, I boarded the next eastbound working formed of Enviro400 MMC 33301. This was one of a batch transferred here from Cornwall following First Bus withdrawing their operations in that area earlier in the year. Whilst some of these vehicles are still in green Kernow livery, several are in the new First Bus corporate blue/grey scheme and this was one of them. Previously, the route was mainly single deck, but double deckers are now the norm on most workings.

The X74 now runs between High Wycombe, Slough & Uxbridge every 30 mins M-S daytimes. There is an Hourly service on Fri & Sat eves and Sun daytimes over the High Wycombe - Slough section only. The new extension means that together with First Bus 3 and Carousel 458, there are now an impressive 6 buses an hour between Slough & Uxbridge, all via different routes and taking different amounts of time. It is perhaps unfortunate that departures from each end are not evenly spread at 10 min intervals over the three routes, as when I travelled, buses were leaving Slough in packs at 00, 05, 07, 30, 35 & 37 past each hour, with a similar situation at the Uxbridge end - competition winning out over common sense in my view!

Anyway, we left Slough with a reasonable number on board, most going through to Uxbridge and taking advantage of the faster running time - 25 mins compared with 35 mins on the 458 and 45 mins on the 3. Interestingly, several were passengers from west of Slough who stayed on across the town. From Slough, we turned north along the main A412 Uxbridge Road and had a speedy run via the Wexham Court / George Green area to the wooded country section beyond, passing close to Pinewood Studios, famous as the site of many film productions including the James Bond, Star Wars and Carry On franchises. Continuing through Iver Heath, we picked up a few more, then linked up with the 3 and 458 for the final section into Uxbridge via Uxbridge Moor. Arrival at Belmont Road was more or less on time after a rapid 25 min journey. Certainly a useful addition to the network which will hopefully grow custom.

***First Bus introduced new Route M40 from 2nd March 2026, operating between Uxbridge and High Wycombe fast via the M40 Motorway.***

Enviro400 MMC 34375 in First Beeline livery and a transferee from First Glasgow is seen on stand in Uxbridge York Road. I travelled on this bus to High Wycombe then back to Slough when it changed to an X74.

Route M40: Uxbridge - High Wycombe

I then transferred to the new route which was added by First with the changes in March, the M40, which runs between Uxbridge & High Wycombe the quick way via its number-sake, the M40 Motorway. This offers a faster journey between the two towns at 35 mins compared with 55 mins on Carousel 102 via Beaconsfield. The M40 operates every 30 mins during M-S daytimes only, certain journeys interworking with the X74 to get buses and drivers to and from base at Slough.

I caught another of the habitual Enviro400 MMCs on the next departure from York Road in Uxbridge, 34375, in the attractive orange and purple “First Beeline” livery, introduced a few years ago on some vehicles in the fleet. This one was from the batch transferred from First Glasgow for services to Heathrow and equipped with a luggage rack just aft of the stairs, although these are now mixed in with the former Kernow examples on all double deck routes.

I was the sole passenger boarding at York Road, with only 2 more joining in the High Street, one of whom had luggage and had come from Heathrow on another service. Therein lies the problem with the M40 - it doesn't continue beyond Uxbridge to/from Heathrow, so whether there is sufficient demand over the Uxbridge - Wycombe section alone for an express link remains to be seen. Nevertheless, we proceeded out of Uxbridge towards Denham, soon turning onto the M40 and a long fast non-stop run along the motorway. Leaving at the Loudwater junction, we became an all stops service along London Road into High Wycombe, picking up 8 more customers over this section, who were clearly abstracted from other parallel routes.

We duly arrived into Wycombe Town Centre, depositing passengers at various stops through to the Bus Station, where we terminated after a decent 35 min run.

Part Route X74: High Wycombe - Slough

To complete my initial circuit back to Slough, I transferred to the X74 again at High Wycombe Bus Station, the next departure being my old friend 34375, which I reboarded after it changed from an inbound M40 to an outbound X74 following the 10 min layover.

A busier trip this time, with numbers into double figures as we left Wycombe back along the London Road and rejoining the M40 at Loudwater. However, this time, it was only a short hop along the motorway, before coming off again at Beaconsfield Services. The competitive Carousel Route 103 between Wycombe & Slough takes the longer route via Beaconsfield Town Centre rather than using the M40, so takes around 1 hour, whereas the X74 takes about 50 mins by “cutting the corner off”.

The next section of route from Beaconsfield down to Hedgerley is probably the most attractive and scenic on the route, passing through rolling green countryside and woodland, before arriving into Farnham Common. After this village, the route becomes urban again at Farnham Royal and we passed through the Slough suburbs back to the town centre, arriving back at Wellington Street 50 mins after leaving Wycombe. My whole round trip on the X74/M40/X74 had only taken just over 2 hours in total.

***Not a bus I travelled on, but Enviro400 MMC 33308 is seen at Slough Wellington St on the X74, bound for High Wycombe.***

*This bus is one of several transferred from Cornwall that still bear First Kernow two tone green livery.*

Part Route 7: Slough - Britwell

Next up, I turned my attention to the First Bus routes serving Heathrow, starting with the 7 (Britwell - Slough - Langley - Heathrow T5). On M-F daytimes, some journeys avoid the loop around Langley and operate direct to Heathrow Central as 7X. The M-F daytime frequency is 15 mins (alternately 7 & 7X), Sat daytimes 20 mins, Sun daytimes 30 mins, Early Mornings & Evenings 60 mins. There is a long operating day from 03.00 to past Midnight.

This is another mainly double deck route using Enviro 400 MMCs and I began by taking 33307 (one of those still in Kernow green livery) from Slough Town Centre to the outer terminus at Britwell. This section is effectively a Town Service and we were reasonably busy with short-riders as we progressed via Stoke Road, Elliman Avenue, Oatlands Drive and Sheffield Road to the Lidl Store at Farnham Royal, where we paused a while due to early running. Continuing on, we made our way through the estate roads in the Britwell area, before terminating at Kennedy Park Shops. A 25 min run.

***Nearside view of Enviro400 MMC 33307 on Route 7 at Britwell Shops after my trip aboard from Slough. I switched to 33306 ahead for the journey to Heathrow T5.***

*Another vehicle still in First Kernow livery, but strange that the fleet names at least have not been changed!*

Route 7: Britwell - Heathrow Terminal 5

It seemed that timetable padding was in force on several First routes in the area, including this one, with similar running times on a Saturday to M-F despite traffic levels being lower. As a result, I was able to step up a working at Britwell Shops and change to the bus in front, another Kernow liveried example, 33306, which despite leaving 5 mins late on the schedule, easily made up the time and arrived back at Slough Town Centre via the reverse of our outbound route a couple of minutes early.

From here, we continued eastwards, soon joining up with TfL Route 81 along London Road. However, the 7 then dives off around the back doubles of Langley, serving the Trelawney Avenue estate, before arriving at the Harrow Market shopping centre. From Langley High St, a sweep around more suburban housing in the Tamar Way / Parlaunt Avenue area, then into semi-rural Sutton Lane. After a double run to serve the Axis Business Park, we briefly encountered the 81 again at the junction with the A4, before turning left along it for a fast run via the Colnbrook By-Pass and over the M25, before swinging right to enter the Heathrow Airport perimeter area. We terminated in the dank and unwelcoming Bus Station at Terminal 5 after a run of 65 mins from the start.

***Enviro400 MMC no 34383 in First Beeline livery on Route A4 to Heathrow Central in Slough Wellington St. I rode this bus from the airport to Cippenham and back to Slough Town Centre.***

*This bus was another one of the batch transferred from First Glasgow.*

Route A4: Heathrow Central - Cippenham - Slough

To return westwards on my next route, the A4 (Heathrow Central - Slough - Cippenham), I had to take the Piccadilly Line one stop from T5 to T1, 2 & 3. Ascending to Heathrow Central Bus Station, I had only a few minutes to wait before another First Enviro400 MMC came into view, this one being another in “Beeline” livery and previously with First Glasgow, 34383. This service operates at a 15 min frequency M-F daytimes and 30 mins M-F eves plus all day Sats & Suns. It is a “24 Hour” service, running Hourly during the night.

After the layover, I jumped aboard 34383 with a crowd of home-going Heathrow workers plus a few airport customers with luggage. From the Central Bus Station, we made our way through the airport tunnel under the runway and turned left along Bath Road, with another fast run along the Colnbrook By-Pass. Passing under the M4 Roundabout, we continued via Langley into Slough on the direct route this time, although it was apparent that some potential passengers at stops were letting us go, presumably awaiting a cheaper ride on the parallel TfL 81 over this section.

There was a passenger exchange in Slough Town Centre plus a driver change, before we continued west along the main A4, skirting the Slough Trading Estate and passing the retail, office and business unit developments along this part of the route. At Cippenham, we turned left along St Andrew’s Way, lined with housing, to the terminus at Moreton Way. A 50 m run to this point, with a slightly early arrival on the schedule due to timetable padding.

Following the 10 min or so break, I rejoined the same bus for the short 20 min run back to Slough Town Centre along the Bath Road, with reasonable usage.

Wright StreetLite fleet no 63304 awaits a driver at Slough Wellington St before my journey aboard to Wexham Park Hospital. The 6 was extended to the hospital from Knolton Way in December 2025 providing new cross-town links.

*This bus bears scars of its former life with First Solent as attempts to remove the old branding have not been totally successful!*

Part Route 6: Slough - Wexham Park Hospital

Having completed the double deck part of my trip, there was time to fit in one of the single deck routes operated by First in Slough to end the day. The variety of such types has now been much reduced, with only a couple of Volvo B7RLEs still in service amid the larger fleet of Wright StreetLites. These comprise a mix of former First Solent examples in partially de-branded blue and white livery, together with some in First Beeline orange & purple and others in the new First corporate purple & grey scheme.

I opted for cross-town Route 6, which operates from Burnham in the west to Wexham Park Hospital in the north, having been extended a short distance from Knolton Way to the hospital only in December 2025 to provide new links. First operates a 30 min frequency during M-S daytimes over the whole route and every 60 mins Sun daytimes between Slough & Wexham Park only, although Thames Valley run one evening journey M-S and a 30 min Sun daytime service under the same number on the Slough & Burnham section, making the operation slightly complicated.

I began with the northern part of the route, picking up StreetLite 63304 in blue and white at Wellington Street, where a new driver had just taken over. A quiet journey with only a handful aboard, as we made our way from the town centre through the Upton Lea area towards Wexham Court. At the latter, we circumnavigated the loop via Knolton Way, serving the narrow estate roads in the area, before continuing along a short country stretch to Wexham Village Post Office and on to Wexham Park Hospital, where we terminated following a 25 min run. I was the only passenger beyond Knolton Way on this trip.

Wexham Park Hospital is served by various routes including those operated by First, Carousel, RedLine and Thames Valley. The latter operates the 53 to Bracknell and Enviro200 MMC no 672 is seen on stand there.

*This bus was previously owned by Courtney, with the former name faintly visible above the front registration plate and the bird logo still present on the side windows.*

Route 6: Wexham Park Hospital - Burnham

I took a short stretch of the legs at Wexham Park and was able to observe comings and goings on the various other bus routes serving the hospital, with most eliciting some custom except for a Thames Valley 53 to Bracknell which left with only the driver on board. Aftre 30 mins, the next 6 arrived, formed of StreetLite 47694 looking much smarter than my previous bus in the new First Bus livery.

We left almost immediately without stand time and went around the Knolton Way loop once again in the same direction, picking up only a couple of town-bound passengers. Then back via the reverse of the outward route to Wellington Street, where a reasonable crowd boarded for the western section towards Burnham. Due to a northbound road closure on the normal route in Stoke Poges Lane, we were on diversion initially, following the 7 route via Elliman Avenue before rejoining Stoke Poges Lane further up. Incidentally, the unusual name of this once rural village, now a suburb of Slough, came from William Stoke and Robert Poges, former Lords of the local manor house.

After looping around some fairly narrow estate roads, we emerged onto the main Farnham Road to call at the Lidl store. By now southbound again, we soon took a right to run through the heart of Slough Trading Estate. Being a Saturday, it was fairly quiet in this area, but I noted that we passed by the Mars Factory, where confectionery including Mars Bars, Galaxy chocolate and Maltesers are still produced in large quantities. Not far away, Gerry Anderson had his studios where his famous puppet series were produced in the 1960s, including “Stingray”, “Thunderbirds” and “Captain Scarlet”. Slough Trading Estate was also the supposed location of Wernham Hogg, the fictional paper company in the TV mockumentary series “The Office” starring Ricky Gervais and where some exterior shots were filmed.

After this, we re-entered suburbia and continued through more housing estates in the Britwell area, before arriving in Burnham, terminating at the Priory Estate Shops. A lengthy 1h10m journey end to end, although we again arrived a bit early on the schedule due to the overly-padded timetable.

***Another Wright StreetLite, but this time in new First Bus livery, no 47694, seen at Burnham Priory Estate during my rides aboard.***

*The evening and Sunday service here is provided by Thames Valley under the same number.*

Part Route 6: Burnham - Slough

A 15 min break, after which I rejoined 47694 at Priory Estate and we continued on around the Burnham loop at the start of our return journey. After less than 5 mins we arrived into Burnham Village, calling at the old “Garibaldi” pub adjacent to the attractive village green. Pausing for a minute or two to await time, with no other takers, we departed and soon rejoined the outward route, which we followed in reverse back through Britwell, Slough Trading Estate and Farnham Royal.

However, this time, we were able to traverse the normal route along the whole length of Stoke Poges Lane back into Slough, as the roadworks at the southern end were only affecting the other carriageway and there was no restriction in this direction. Soon, we were back at Wellington St, where I completed my rounder on the 6 after a 35 min run from Burnham.

***Endpiece… Just like the back of a bus!***

*A number of First Beeline double deckers have “witty” catchphrases on the rear end based on the bee theme, like this one on Enviro400 MMC 34285 parked at Slough Station.*

Conclusion

So ended a good day of First Bus rides in and around Slough! It will be interesting to see whether the new network will grow usage and prove profitable or whether some corridors are now over-saturated for the available demand. The survival of First in the area could be on a knife-edge but only time will tell.

Watton

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