Glastonbury train station: will train to 2022 festival be affected by strikes, nearest station and information

The thrill of finally reaching Worthy Farm's hallowed grounds never fades, and for the first time in three years, Glastonbury will take place again this week.

But, first and foremost, you must figure out how to actually get to the festival, and this year, festival-goers face difficulties arriving at the site in Pilton.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Network Rail and 13 train operators will walk out on 21, 23 and 25 June in the biggest outbreak of such industrial action in a generation.

As there is no Glastonbury train station and no direct trains to the festival grounds at Worthy Farm, where is the nearest station to the festival?

And just how much will travel to the festival be affected by the looming threat of widespread industrial action on the rail network?

Here is everything you need to know.

What is the nearest train station to Glastonbury?

The best railway station to reach the festival site at Worthy Farm is Castle Cary.

There are regular trains from Bristol Temple Meads to Castle Cary, which take roughly 70 minutes. Note that some journeys may require a change at Westbury.

Throughout the Festival, a free shuttle bus runs between Castle Cary station and the festival bus station for festival ticket holders.

The shuttle runs from Wednesday to Monday (no service is provided at night when trains are not running), and you'll need your festival ticket to ride the bus to the event.

How busy do the trains get?

Despite the fact that more rail services will be available to Castle Cary station, delays are likely.

When leaving the Festival, trains on Sunday afternoon and in the early hours of Monday morning tend to be less crowded.

Book your train tickets early to secure the best available fares, and remember to bring any Railcards with you along with your ticket.

On some trains, if three or more people travel together, you can save a third on your rail ticket with GroupSave.

Will trains be affected by strike action?

Talks between unions, the government and rail operators have failed to avert strike action, with three days of walk-outs announced.

The RMT union has said strike action is essential because it has been unable to reach an agreement on wages or guarantees about mandatory redundancies.

On the 21 June, 50,000 employees from Network Rail, 13 train operating firms, and London Underground will strike, the latter over a separate issue from the national strike.

Then, on the 23 and 25 of June, about 40,000 employees will take part in a nationwide strike.

While the nationwide action will be limited to three days, the strike is expected to have a week-long impact on services.

With Glastonbury 2022 running between 22 and 26 June, the strikes could have a huge impact on those hoping to travel to the festival by rail.

Great Western Railway, which operates the route between London Paddington and Castle Cary, has said it “plans to maintain timetabled trains” throughout the course of the week.

It added: “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.”

Keep an eye on GWR’s Glastonbury page for all the latest updates.

Further travel tips

Trolleys, wheelie bins, and four-wheeled trucks are not permitted onboard trains or the complimentary shuttle buses from Castle Cary station to the festival site, and you should not travel with more luggage than you can carry yourself.

Musical instruments and furnishings with dimensions greater than 30 x 70 x 90 cm are also prohibited.

Allow plenty of time to board the shuttle bus and pack your luggage if you're returning on the Monday.

Before travelling to the station, double-check what type of ticket you have, as some tickets can only be used on specific trains, and make sure your mobile device is charged for the return journey if you have an eTicket.

On the Sunday and Monday, all buses returning to Castle Cary and Bristol Temple Meads stations are scheduled to arrive at the station before the last train.

Avoid going to the station outside of these hours since you will have to wait in the station car park with no facilities, and it is preferable to wait at the bus park - which has shelter, food and drink - and catch the first bus in the morning.

Other ways to get to the festival

Coach

National Express, the official coach partner of the festival, will carry more than 30,000 music fans to and from the site but a spokeswoman has warned of congestion in the surrounding area.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

For schedules and rates, go to its website and use the journey planner.

Bike

As part of the festival's ongoing effort to decrease audience transportation CO2 emissions, people are urged to cycle to the event.

The festival is located a few miles south of Route 3 of the National Cycle Network, which connects Glastonbury and Wells. Cycle Streets' Glastonbury Trip Planner can help you plan your route.

Bike To Glasto will once again provide a secure bicycle lockup, cyclists' camping, and, for a small fee, return luggage transportation service from pre-arranged drop off places around Somerset and Bristol to cyclists attending the festival.

Car

Anyone arriving by car who does not yet have a parking pass can purchase one for £50 online until 15 June by clicking here.

If you are driving to the Festival, consider sharing rides to cut down on carbon emissions; carpooling is not only better for the environment, but it also helps spread the expense of fuel.

Air

Bristol International Airport is the nearest international airport to Glastonbury Festival, and it serves a number of European destinations.

A frequent bus service named the "Bristol International Flyer" runs between the airport and Bristol Temple Meads railway station, and coaches operated by National Express also run directly from Heathrow Airport to the festival.