GT Reading — Test 15

Reading passage

TEXT A — Notice: Changes to the Number 12 Bus Route From Monday 3 August, the Number 12 service between Harwell Cross and the Riverside Retail Park will follow a revised route while repairs are carried out on the Mildon Street bridge. During the works, the 12 will no longer stop outside the Central Library. Instead, passengers wishing to reach the library should use the temporary stop on Castle Lane, a two-minute walk away. The diversion is expected to last for roughly ten weeks. Buses will continue to run every fifteen minutes on weekdays, but on Saturdays the gap between services will increase from twenty to thirty minutes. No Sunday service will operate during the repair period. Please note that the early 06:10 departure from Harwell Cross has been withdrawn until the works finish; the first bus will now leave at 06:40. Concession card holders may still travel free of charge before 09:00 on this route, unlike on most other city services. We apologise for any inconvenience. Timetables displayed at affected stops may not yet show the revised times, so passengers are advised to check the boards inside the depot or telephone the operator on the number printed on your ticket. ———————————— TEXT B — Advertisement: Greenway Community Minibus Struggling to reach the shops now that the Number 12 has changed? The Greenway Community Minibus is here to help. Run entirely by trained volunteers, our friendly service picks you up from your own front door and takes you to the Riverside Retail Park, the health centre or the weekly market. We operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays only, so please book your seat by 4 p.m. the day before travel. A single trip costs just £2.50, and return journeys are £4. Children under five travel at no cost when accompanied by an adult. Unfortunately we cannot carry mobility scooters, though folding wheelchairs are welcome and our drivers are happy to assist with shopping bags. To reserve a place, call our co-ordinator, Priya Nandal, on 0800 114 227 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on any weekday. New passengers must register once before their first journey; this can be done over the telephone and takes about five minutes. We do ask that you give us at least a day's notice if you need to cancel, so that another resident can use your seat. ———————————— TEXT C — Information Leaflet: Using the Replacement Shuttle While the Mildon Street bridge is closed, a free replacement shuttle will link the two halves of the Number 12 route. The shuttle runs between Castle Lane and the Riverside Retail Park only, and does not serve any stops beyond these points. Look for the bright orange vehicle marked ‘Bridge Link’. You do not need a ticket to board, but seats cannot be reserved and are offered on a first-come basis. The shuttle departs every ten minutes throughout the day, from 07:00 until 19:30, seven days a week, including Sundays when the ordinary 12 does not run. Bicycles may be carried in the rear rack, subject to space, but the driver has the final say if the rack is full. Assistance dogs are always permitted; other pets are not. If the shuttle is cancelled owing to bad weather or a mechanical fault, notices will be posted on the operator's website and read out at Castle Lane. During the morning and evening rush, an extra vehicle joins the service, so waits are often shorter than the timetable promises. Buggies are welcome, but for everyone's safety they should be folded when the aisle is crowded. Lost property found on the shuttle is kept at the depot for twenty-eight days before being passed to a local charity shop.