In message .com, at
02:02:49 on Thu, 28 Sep 2006, Earl Purple
remarked:
Maybe because of the traffic problems on the M4?

There are alternatives to using the M4.

Only if your coaches aren't already stuck on the M4.

The A4 is one option although it may be busy.

If the M4 is closed (and at Slough, too), it will doubtless be
completely clogged up with diverted traffic. Slough town centre must
have been a real mess.

Other alternatives via the A40 / M40.

It's actually quite difficult to get from the A40/M40 to Reading (I used
to live quite close to the M40, north of Reading). The road is diverging
to the north quite significantly. I suppose you could try going via High
Wycombe and Maidenhead Thicket (as long as the M4 was OK west of there).
But it's an awful long way round.

M3 J3 and Bracknell is a better alternate (and it's further away from
the influence of the original jam).
--
Roland Perry