OurBus is set to launch a new Reading-to-Philadelphia service next week, providing more frequent trips and a direct connection to Philadelphia International Airport. The updated route will feature smaller vehicles and an expanded schedule, aiming to offer greater convenience for travelers in Berks County.
Following an announcement of the cessation of Amtrak Thruway Bus service from Reading to Philadelphia and a survey of travelers in the area, OurBus has announced a new replacement route which will begin operating next week. Preparations are underway for a start date that will be on or before Friday March 21, 2025.
“The most common feedback we received from travelers is that more people would use the service if it was broadly advertised and offered more convenient departure times. That, and nearly 40% of respondents wanted to use the route to connect to the Airport.” said OurBus co-founder Axel Hellman. “A significant number of people were also interested in park-and-ride bus stops.”
“It seems passengers were not only using this route to reach Philadelphia and connect with Amtrak, but also to reach the airport to connect to flights.” The new route will feature more schedule options, a mixture of downtown and park-and-ride bus stops, and an extension to Philadelphia International Airport to serve passengers connecting to or from flights.
Exact bus stop locations are still to be determined, based on permit requirements from local authorities. These conversations, as well as with Philadelphia Airport, have already begun. The goal is to keep bus stops as close as possible to the current route, to allow seamless connections with local public transportation like BARTA, PART and SEPTA, as well as long-distance flights and trains.
The initial schedule calls for 3 round trips per day, as compared to two on the Amtrak Thruway schedule. A 4th trip will run on weekend nights from Philadelphia Airport, returning from Reading early in the morning on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Precise times at each stop are yet to be determined.
Instead of full sized motor coach buses, the service will be operated with smaller sprinter vans and mini buses. full sized buses will be deployed on busy travel days when passenger numbers require.
The route will be operated by Super Trans and Airport Connection Express Services, two Philadelphia-area companies that specialize in airport shuttle transportation. OurBus is licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a transportation passenger broker, and acts as the intermediary between customers and the vehicles the are traveling on.
“Airport Connection Express Services Inc has been transporting passengers around the tri state area for over 20 years.” comments owner Ty Sao, “We are committed to providing our customers the best traveling experience. We are very excited to start the Reading to Philadelphia Airport line.”
Ticket prices will start at $24 for Reading to Philadelphia, and $45 for Reading to the. Airport, plus fees.
