RUGBY fans using Great Western Railway services should board trains immediately after Saturday’s Wales-England Summer International to ensure homeward journeys.
Industrial action short of a strike by the Aslef union may lead to some short-notice alterations or cancellations, so GWR is urging supporters to join the queuing system outside Cardiff Central station as soon as possible following the match.
GWR will operate nine services to Bristol up to 2247, four services to London up to 2118, and six services to Swansea up to 2251, providing more than 9,500 seats.
GWR Director of Performance and Train Service Delivery, Daryn McCombe, said:
“We have put in some additional services alongside our normal timetable to help customers get home safely. But industrial action short of a strike may lead to some short-notice changes, so we would encourage fans to join the queueing system straight after the match to avoid missing the trains we’re able to operate.”
In a repeat of the system in place for this year’s Six Nations fixtures, supporters travelling east towards Newport will be asked to queue on the square in front of Cardiff Central, rather than from Riverside Car Park.
Transport for Wales staff are not involved in the industrial action and TfW will be running its normal timetable plus a shuttle service between Cardiff Central and Newport. It is reminding customers to check before they travel and allow additional time to complete their journeys.
Adam Terry, Head of Train Planning for Transport for Wales, said: “We look forward to welcoming thousands of rugby supporters to Cardiff on Saturday. Services to/from Cardiff will be very busy, particularly in the two-to-three hour window before and after the game.
“We’d encourage all passengers to plan their journey carefully, check for the latest travel information on the day and to familiarise themselves with the post-event queuing system in advance so they can get home as quickly and safely as possible.”
Fans travelling to the Principality Stadium are advised to allow time to enter the ground, and to travel early, with trains immediately before kick-off (1730) expected to be very busy.
For more information, or to check your journey, please visit GWR.com.
