How to get to Glastonbury during the rail strikes
Rail strikes will affect travel across the country. Here's everything you need to know.
By Nick Reilly
Glastonbury attendees will be hit by nationwide train strikes this week after it was confirmed that thousands of rail workers will walk out for three days in the largest bout of industrial action since 1989.
The RMT union has revealed plans for nationwide train strikes at Network Rail and 13 other operators today (June 21), Thursday (June 23) and Saturday (June 25) following a prolonged dispute over pay and other working conditions.
The industrial action is set to affect services before and after the strike dates, as well as the Wednesday and Friday in between the strikes.
However, it’s still entirely possible to get down to Glastonbury. Here’s what you need to know about travelling.
Are trains running to Glastonbury Festival?
Glastonbury-goers will arrive at Castle Cary, the closest station to the festival site.
The favoured route from London goes from London Paddington to Castle Cary, and it has been confirmed to be operating during the strikes.
However, Great Western Railway has warned it is operating a significantly reduced timetable, with just 30 per cent of services operating during industrial action.
Similarly, trains from Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa – both of which are on the London to Taunton line – will also run. In addition, trains from Cardiff Central are also expected to run.
If you’re coming from the North of England and Scotland, you can connect to a reduced train service from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool or Manchester.
It has also been confirmed that large portions of Dorset and Cornwall will be cut off from train routes to the festival. As The Independent confirms, no services from Cornwall – including the areas Newquay, Looe, Falmouth, Penzance and Gunnislake branches – will run towards Devon and Somerset across the three strike days.
Are there any alternatives are there to the train?
Yes! National Express is still selling tickets for buses that go straight to the Glastonbury site, although these are in high demand and many services are already sold out.
In addition, carpool site BlaBlaCar is offering a selection of spare seats if you don’t mind hopping in with a stranger and taking a seat in their car to Glastonbury. A typical ride from London to Glastonbury on the site costs £18.
What about travelling on non-strike days?
Services will run on these days, but National Rail and train operators bosses have warned that disruption from the strikes will affect the other four days of the week. Passengers are expected to cram onto trains and delays are expected.