Great Western Railway (GWR) has warned surfers that they will not be allowed to bring their surfboards on long-distance trains to the Boardmasters festival at Newquay next week.
The operator is providing more than thirteen thousand for this year's Boardmasters, but travellers will have to reserve their seat.
GWR operated similar arrangements for Boardmasters two years ago.
The Watergate Bay festival site will open next Wednesday (9 August), from when GWR will operate a reservation-only system, which it claims will ensure that everyone who wants to travel will be able to book a seat on a train of their choice.
GWR will change the usual timetable in Devon and Cornwall and is advising regular passengers to check their journey before they travel. Extra buses will support the rail service for intermediate stops.
From Wednesday to Friday, extra trains will run between London Paddington and Newquay and between Plymouth/Par and Newquay. Extra trains will akso run, and for return journeys on Monday 14 August. Trains will, however, be busy and a queueing system will be in place at Newquay to manage the safe return of festival goers.
With these restrictions in place, GWR is suggesting that those travelling to the festival:
- think carefully about what they need to take
- reserve a seat with their ticket at the GWR website or through the GWR app
- allow extra time due to trains to and from Newquay being busy
- use the queueing systems in place at stations
- remember to bring any Railcard they have
- keep phones charged if using an electronic ticket
- leave surfboards at home and hire locally instead
- bring wheeled cases but four-wheeled trolleys or sack trucks.
Passengers will need to make specific train reservations all services to Newquay on Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 August, and from Newquay on Monday 14 August.
GWR West Cornwall Station Manager Sharon Holloway explains: “We're really looking forward to welcoming people to Newquay Station for Boardmasters. To try to keep everyone as safe as possible, a place must be reserved when you buy your train tickets.
“We would also like to remind those travelling by train that we cannot carry surfboards; trolleys; and excessive amounts of luggage. Queuing systems may also be in operation at busier stations on route to help you board safely – especially so at Newquay for return journeys on Monday.”
Bring a blow up plastic board then? Couple of thousand of the real things available to to rent in Newquay??