Additional trains for Toulon v Saracens at the Millennium Stadium

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the First Great Western press release:

Additional trains for Toulon v Saracens at the Millennium Stadium

First Great Western (FGW^▸ (First Great Western)) is delighted to announce nine additional trains will be provided to help rugby fans travel to and return home from Cardiff^s Millennium Stadium, but are warning customers to allow plenty of time.

With 74,000 fans expected to watch Toulon take on Saracens, train services will be busy prior to and after the match. FGW is to provide nine additional trains, equating to almost 3,500 extra seats, as well as strengthening other services.

FGW^s General Manager Central, Rob Mullen, said: "We are delighted to announce nine additional trains will be provided to help rugby fans return from Cardiff^s Millennium Stadium, but customers are warned to allow plenty of time, as a queuing system will be in place."

With five extra trains being provided to take fans into Cardiff, four additional services will be on hand to carry supporters home:
^        1940 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
^        2006 Cardiff Central to Swindon (for connecting services)
^        2040 Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
^        2124 Cardiff Central to London Paddington

Real-time running information for First Great Western can be found at www.journeycheck.com/firstgreatwestern, or for further information or advice please visit www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk.

[bobm]

The game, this Saturday (24th), kicks off at 17:00.

[TaplowGreen]

It's not before time either - the last train back to Bristol/London from Cardiff is always ridiculously early after matches at the Millenium stadium - I can remember catching it after a Wales v England match a few years ago - we got on at the next station along (Bridgend I think?) but when we got into Cardiff Central it was utter carnage - as is the case with rugby crowds it was good natured, but I have NEVER been on a train that was so overcrowded all the way back to Bristol - people literally wedged in everywhere and loads left on the platform - God knows where they spent the night - I can't remember exactly what time it was but it certainly wasn't after 9 - let's hope these additional services become permanent for matchdays - no point having a world class stadium with third class travel arrangements!!!

[John R]

Heading east I've just passed the 0916 Euston to Cardiff calling Acton Main Line only. That has to rank as one of the more unusual workings of late. Taking not long over 2 hrs either for the journey .

[LiskeardRich]

Heading east I've just passed the 0916 Euston to Cardiff calling Acton Main Line only. That has to rank as one of the more unusual workings of late. Taking not long over 2 hrs either for the journey .

There was a similar working yesterday, that I saw arrive my afternoon, I'm assuming was a special for the Amlin cup. I was escaping Cardiff just as the crowds were arriving!