Advertisement

Glastonbury travel: Will train strikes disrupt my journey to the festival?

Watch: Glastonbury 2022: What to expect

Music fans heading to Glastonbury Festival are facing huge travel disruption as rail workers stage the biggest train strike in a generation.

The Somerset festival, which kicks off on Wednesday, is expected to welcome 200,000 revellers as it celebrates its belated 50th anniversary.

But the three-day rail walkout has forced many revellers to find alternative routes to the site in Pilton.

Around 50,000 members of the RMT union are striking in a protest over pay, jobs and conditions, crippling services across the country.

Here is everything you need to know about how Glastonbury has been affected.

How will train strikes affect Glastonbury 2022?

More than half of the trains due to serve Glastonbury Festival have been cancelled because of the strikes.

Castle Cary, the closest station to the festival, will only be accessible on the Exeter to London route on the strike days.

Just five services are running from London Paddington to Castle Cary on Thursday, with a total of 24 between Wednesday and Friday.

People arrive at Castle Cary train station during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Picture date: Wednesday June 22, 2022.
Glastonbury festival-goers arrive at Castle Cary train station. (PA Media)

Before the strike was announced, 51 trains were expected to run on the route over the three-day period.

Great Western Railway (GWR) told passengers: "We plan to maintain timetabled trains between Castle Cary and London Paddington throughout the course of the Glastonbury Festival.

"Some services might be subject to alterations to train times and we will be in contact with customers who have already booked seats on board those trains.

"Other parts of the GWR network are likely to be more affected by the strike action and customers may need to consider alternative ways to travel to a station serving Castle Cary."

There will be a limited number of direct trains to Castle Cary from the following stations:

  • Bath Spa

  • Bristol Temple Meads

  • Exeter St David's

  • Plymouth

  • Reading

  • Taunton

  • Westbury

Crowds listen to Kylie perform on the Pyramid Stage at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival held at Worthy Farm, in Pilton, Somerset on June 30, 2019 near Glastonbury, England. The festival, founded in 1970, has grown into one of the largest outdoor green field festivals in the world. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
More than half of the trains due to serve the festival have been cancelled. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Motorists are being warned to expect a surge in traffic around the area due to the strike.

National Express, the festival's official coach partner, will carry more than 30,000 music fans to and from the Worthy Farm site.

A spokeswoman said: "Demand for coach travel is high with a significant increase in both enquiries and bookings on our scheduled network on and around the dates of the strikes, including on routes that provide travel to Glastonbury.

"We are working hard to increase availability to meet additional demand where possible. Seats are selling fast, so the advice is to check services and book in advance.

"We do expect and are prepared to be busy but also recommend that customers allow plenty of time when planning their journey."

Boston, MA - June 7: Paul McCartney in concert at Fenway Park in Boston on June 7, 2022. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Sir Paul McCartney will headline the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2022. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

An AA route planner spokesman said: "Even though the strike is for three days, many travellers will give up on the trains for the whole week.

"It coincides with big events like Glastonbury and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, so drivers not going to those locations are advised to give the areas a wide berth."

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said the strikes will "inevitably lead to the roads being used more".

The festival, which finishes on Sunday, will be headlined by Billie Eilish, Sir Paul McCartney and rapper Kendrick Lamar.