Check before you travel: GWR warns services will be busier than usual as music fans head to London for big-ticket events
Great Western Railway is warning customers heading in and out of London for this weekend’s big-ticket music events it expects trains to be busier than usual, with no additional services operating after 2300.
Customers heading home from the capital are being urged to travel on as early a service as possible, with engineering works and industrial action short of a strike restricting the number of late-night trains it is able to operate from London Paddington.
The industrial action by the Aslef union means services will be subject to late-notice cancellations and alterations.
Customers are advised to check before they travel and, to help people leaving London Paddington, tickets will be valid for travel on earlier services.
GWR Director of Performance and Train Service Delivery, Daryn McCombe, said:
“If you’re travelling back from London Paddington either tonight, Saturday or Sunday night, please do catch an earlier train home if you can.
“Industrial action short of a strike and engineering works mean we’re not able to operate additional trains as we might normally and we’re expecting our later trains from Paddington to be extremely busy.
“The industrial action also means services will be subject to late-notice cancellations and alterations, so we would urge customers to check before they travel throughout the weekend.”
British Summer Time Hyde Park continues with Billy Joel tonight, Bruce Springsteen tomorrow night and Lana Del Ray on Sunday. Over the next two nights, Blur play Wembley Stadium, Iron Maiden are at the O2 and The Weekend at the London Stadium.
Elsewhere on the network, Castle Cary station is expected to be busy as music fans head for the NASS Festival (until Sunday), while those attending Bristol Pride Day tomorrow are reminded about engineering works affecting journeys between Gloucester and Yate.
Industrial action short of a strike means we’ve also had to cancel services between Swansea and Pembroke Dock tomorrow.
Contact Information
John Carter
Media and Communications Manager
Great Western Railway
0845 410 4444
Notes to editors
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us