Boardmasters Festival - annual music event each August in Cornwall (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[RailCornwall]

Some grim scenes being reported with many PAX left behind and severe overcrowding evident too. Sadly GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have been caught out badly by this event and its conclusion.

Not sure how this was handled. Surely a better service could have be provided though.

The Red Arrows at Falmouth also was a PR^▸ (Public Relations) failure too. Queues of up to 120mins at Falmouth Town.  The lack of BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) presence was notable on Wed, frustrations were very vocal.

[GBM]

From GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)  Other train service updates

13:04 Newquay to Plymouth due 15:11
13:04 Newquay to Plymouth due 15:11 will no longer call at Par, Lostwithiel, Bodmin Parkway and Liskeard.
This is due to overcrowding because of an event.
Last Updated:14/08/2017 12:54

3 Other Train Service Updates
11:32 Paignton to London Paddington due 14:54 
15:15 Plymouth to London Paddington due 18:34
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 15:15 Plymouth to London Paddington due 18:34.
Last Updated:14/08/2017 14:02
Due   Station   Status
15:15   Plymouth   15:15
16:18   Exeter St Davids   16:18
18:05   Reading   18:05
18:34   London Paddington   18:34

[TaplowGreen]

I was on the 1044 from Plymouth to Paddington (started from PNZ), fortunately in 1st class. The platform was several deep 10 minutes before departure and customers were being held in the tunnel at Plymouth to prevent more getting onto the platform. Many unable to board and standard class was about as rammed as I have ever seen on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train).

Platforms similarly packed at Exeter & not many managed to get on. Train staff were advising people to get off and wait for the next one if they were uncomfortable but few were falling for that one.....we ended up with Mother's having to change baby's nappies on the floor of the 1st class carriage which had been declassified. Truly awful experience and another PR^▸ (Public Relations) disaster for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway). It's already being widely covered in the media.

Why are GWR incapable of making the connection between huge events, advertised months in advance & the inevitable greatly increased demand?

[ChrisB]

Because the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) are fully utilised in the AM peak? And with insufficient time to get them bacjk to PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains) for 1035.....the organisers ought to put on coach transport rather than relying on a few trains

[RailCornwall]

Passing the buck to the organisers isn't on. If tickets have been sold then provision of extra trains and if necessary coaches is the responsibility of the transport operator. GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have admitted that over 5,000 tickets reasonably expected to be used today from NQY^▸ (Newquay (Station)) were sold. The grim weather in Cornwall today hasn't helped.

Reports of poor staffing at Newquay too are unacceptable. GWR have been thoroughly caught out by this.

[ChrisB]

Absolutely correct.

However, the festival organisers is a well-run festival usually discuss transport issues with the providers *well before* putting tickets on sale. This was obviously not done, and just an assumption made.

However, I do realise that this isn't thr first year of this festival, but maybe the numbers have increased substantially?

[TaplowGreen]

Absolutely correct.

However, the festival organisers is a well-run festival usually discuss transport issues with the providers *well before* putting tickets on sale. This was obviously not done, and just an assumption made.

However, I do realise that this isn't thr first year of this festival, but maybe the numbers have increased substantially?

http://www.boardmasters.co.uk/tickets/coach-travel-car-share

As you can see the organisers had thought ahead *well before* and arranged coaches from numerous locations and encouraged liftshare and carshare schemes - perhaps it's you that's making the assumptions Chris?

This situation was entirely predictable for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) simply by looking at ticket sales - in contrast to the organisers, GWR seem to have made little or no additional provision at all.

[ChrisB]

ok, fair point.

[bobm]

The 10:47 from Penzance is in effect an additional train in that it is formed by an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) and runs through to Paddington in the high summer rather than a two car unit as far as Plymouth.

I was in the proceeding 10:00 and first class was declassified in that and arrangements made to put luggage in both power cars as well as the catering supplies after the Pullman service was cancelled.

That train is always heavily loaded on a Monday in any event.

[Timmer]

Articles that TaplowGreen was referring to:
http://www.cornwalllive.com/thousands-stranded-at-newquay-train-station-after-boardmasters-due-to-lack-of-trains/story-30481207-detail/story.html

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/thousands-stuck-at-station-after-boardmasters-due-to-lack-of-trains/story-30481213-detail/story.html

It wasn't just the rails that were struggling according the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-devon-40851273

Boardmasters Festival-goers have faced road and rail problems trying to leave Newquay.

Some drivers have described being blocked in log-jam traffic, and train passengers have described hundreds or up to 1,000 people crammed on to a railway platform, leaving services unable to cope.

Some waiting at the station have told the BBC that they been waiting five hours for a train.

James Davis, from train operator GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), said the company did make contingency plans.

He said: "We have provided additional trains and also put additional carriages on to existing services.

"Clearly when you have 50,000 or so people leaving a festival at exactly the same time, you can expect a relatively small station like Newquay to be a lot busier than normal."

About its car parks, the festival's organisers said on Facebook in response to posts about parking: "Delays must be anticipated but we're working to get you all out as swiftly and as safely as possible. Thanks for your patience."

[bobm]

The M5 appeared to be three lanes of very slow moving traffic northbound as my train passed Cullompton.

[Timmer]

I'm sure lessons will be learned for next year both by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and the organisers. By then there should be a few spare HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) to hand to help as the 800s will be coming on stream at quite a pace by then.

I certainly think it would be good for a common pool of say 5 or so full length HSTs to be made available to operators to cover big events such as this one once the 800s are in full service on GWR and East Coast. Two or three car DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) are no use in situations like this.

I can already here ChrisB say 'whooossse gonna pay for it?'   

[RailCornwall]

I'm sure lessons will be learned for next year both by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and the organisers. By then there should be a few spare HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) to hand to help as the 800s will be coming on stream at quite a pace by then.

I certainly think it would be good for a common pool of say 5 or so full length HSTs to be made available to operators to cover big events such as this one once the 800s are in full service on GWR and East Coast. Two or three car DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) are no use in situations like this.

I can already here ChrisB say 'whooossse gonna pay for it?'   

Wholly agree about the pooled vehicle idea, as for who pays, the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) of course, they're taking the fares and offering what should be an acceptable service in return.

[grahame]

I can already here ChrisB say 'whooossse gonna pay for it?'   

Logic might suggest that passengers travelling on the trains ... 

[bobm]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Spotlight reported on the road and rail problems for fans leaving the event.  They also mentioned concerns about crowd control and safety during the weekend.

Meanwhile at almost the same time BBC Points West were reporting on a lack of buses to get people home from the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.