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Friday 25 Aug 2023

Festival-goers are reminded that there are no trains home from Reading station this Saturday evening

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail is reminding Reading festival-goers that Reading station will close early this Saturday evening because of industrial action by the RMT.

The station will close its doors at 7pm on Saturday, reopening at 7am on Sunday morning. A limited timetable will be in operation throughout Saturday and services will also start later than usual on Sunday morning as a result of the industrial action.

Thousands of excited revellers are expected to pass through Reading station to attend the three-day music festival which takes place from Friday 25 August to Sunday 27 August.

Those attending the festival and intending to travel while the trains are running can either walk approximately 20 minutes from the station to the festival site or catch a dedicated shuttle bus from the Northern exit of the station, with additional station staff on hand to direct passengers to get to where they need to be.

Trains are expected to be busier than usual and passengers who are planning to use the station during the course of the bank holiday weekend are being urged to stay safe around the tracks, platforms and concourse – both on the way to the festival and on the way home.

Bernadette Sachse, Network Rail’s station manager for Reading station, said: “We’re expecting to see thousands of extra passengers passing through Reading station this bank holiday weekend to go to the festival and would remind attendees that there will be no trains home on Saturday evening because of strike action.

“The influx of passengers means the station will be busier than normal, including on bank holiday Monday when festival-goers return home.

“It’s important that people get to where they need to be safely, and to support the high volumes of passengers we will have extra customer support services in action to make sure that the station is pleasant for all who visit.

“If you’re travelling by train to the festival, please remember that there will be a limited timetable in operation on Saturday and to check before you travel to avoid disappointment.”