14 extra long-distance trains for this year’s Boardmasters, but you must reserve a seat

With the Watergate Bay festival site due to open from Wednesday 7 August, Great Western Railway will operate a reservation-only system, ensuring everyone who wants to travel is able to book on a train of their choice.

To provide these services, GWR will make significant changes to the usual timetable in Devon and Cornwall and warns regular customers to check their journey before they travel at gwr.com/check to avoid being caught out.

From Wednesday to Friday, GWR will provide extra trains between London Paddington and Newquay and between Plymouth/Par and Newquay, and for return journeys on Monday 12 August. Trains will, however, be busy and a queueing system will be in place at Newquay to manage the safe return of festival goers.

GWR West Cornwall Station Manager Sharon Holloway explains:

“To ensure we can carry as many people as possible, safely, to Boardmasters a place must be reserved when you buy your train tickets.

“We would also like to remind those travelling to consider their fellow passengers and only bring what they can carry; unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate trolleys for example. Queuing systems may also be in place at busier stations on route to help you board safely – especially so at Newquay for return journeys on Monday.”

This year GWR has partnered with the RNLI and is playing water safety message at stations near popular holiday destinations. The partnership marks the RNLI’s 200 years of saving lives at sea.

Listen out for GWR's Boardmasters specific announcement:

What do I need to pack?

GWR asks customers to think carefully about what they need.

To avoid disappointment when arriving at stations and at the festival those travelling should:

• Reserve a seat with your ticket at GWR.com or through the GWR app
• Allow extra time because trains to and from Newquay will be busy
• A queueing system will be in place at stations to help people board their reserved train
• Remember your Railcard
• Charge your phone if you have an electronic ticket

Did you know that there are two separate railcards for young people?

• A 16-25 Student Railcard, and a 26-30 Millennial Railcard; both offer great discounts.
• Tickets are available from other retailers, but often these add a booking fee on top, so save a little bit extra by buying directly from GWR.com.

Specific train reservations will be required on all services to Newquay on Wednesday 7, Thursday 8, and Friday 9 August, and from Newquay on Monday 12 August.

As well as additional rail services on the Newquay branch line, extra buses will support the rail service for intermediate stops.