getting the train?

[nickoo]

pre ordered my tickets which work out alot cheaper man.. plus u have a reserved seat but im guessing that wont really matter coz the trains will be ramped right??

[johnmcga]

Depends where you're coming from, but I think they usually operate a queuing system from Paddigton for the trains to Castle Cary.

I've hopped on at Reading for the last two years and had no problems at all. Planning to do the same this year, so it'll probably all go horribly wrong for some reason...

Be aware that with cheap advance tickets you have to get the train you're booked on. If you don't then your ticket's not valid and you can be fined. This will be a problem heading back on the Monday, cause there are large queues and it's all done on a first-come-first-served basis.

(Actually, I thought for this reason they didn't offer cheap advance tickets over the festival weekend. But if you've managed to book some then clearly I'm wrong!)

[Ashaz42]

I plan to get on at Reading too (as I live there). Booking my tickets this week. What time train would be best? I'm thinking one around 8.30am which gets me at Castle Cary at 10.15am on the wednesday.

[Dukeicon]

Oh they joys of living in Taunton... Only two stops and 20 mins away!!

Edited May 5, 2009 by Dukeicon

[Mellon collie]

Oh they joys of living in Taunton... Only two stops and 20 mins away!!

[Dukeicon]

I am planning on getting the train from taunton on one of the first trains is it busy? only going to be for 20 mins but wouldn't mind a bit of space for a seat

Edited May 31, 2010 by Dukeicon

[let's 'ave it!!!]

what would be the cheapest/ best way to get there from London?

[ukslim]

Strange situation: a return ticket Reading -> Exeter (passing through Castle Cary) is significantly cheaper than a ticket Reading -> Castle Cary.

Any idea whether buying the cheaper ticket be a mistake?

[Al the CAT]

Strange situation: a return ticket Reading -> Exeter (passing through Castle Cary) is significantly cheaper than a ticket Reading -> Castle Cary.

Any idea whether buying the cheaper ticket be a mistake?

Edited May 5, 2009 by Al the CAT

[81020xegw]

Going from Crewe to Bristol on the choo choo 23rd , overnight stay in Bristol for the shuttle bus to the festival first thing weds .

[pineapple-tea]

I thought it was actually quite expensive. 22 Quid for a return from Exeter. It's only about 30 minutes away, if that.

[paulo999]

what would be the cheapest/ best way to get there from London?

Edited May 5, 2009 by paulo999

[Dukeicon]

what would be the cheapest/ best way to get there from London?

Edited May 5, 2009 by Dukeicon

[ukslim]

what would be the cheapest/ best way to get there from London?

[Keev]

I was looking at getting the train from Manchester but it's an absolute fortune so think it will be the bus for me.

[paulo999]

If you are coming from London check the First Great Western site as they have a train from London Paddington which goes onto Devon and Cornwall. FGW are the operators of the Castle Cary station and do give discount on advanced tickets. This route goes through reading if anyone is travelling from there too.

The 'official' place to get tickets from is here but it doesn't mean that you have to get them from there. Apparently they are supposed to be cheaper or something from there but from my experience I haven't found this to be true!

[strudders]

I have just been looking for cheap tickets.....

I can not believe how bloody expensive rail travel is.

I have been out of it for a few years from my season ticket days in London but these prices are absurd!

Sorry had to say it. Just does not seem fair that those of you wanting to go by train get walloped with such expensive charges when doing the green thing, and keeping the roads clear.

For me to get to glasto in my car will cost. 45 quid in fuel return

for the train 37 quid off peak, plus 3 changes and takes 4 hours...... Insane. its 97 miles!

[rfs]

Luckily I have other means of getting to the festival this year than taking the train. Forcing you to walk in front of a sniffer dog before you get on the shuttle bus goes against ACPO guidelines and is just not cool.

[lloydmfd]

The best way, in my opinion, is to keep it simple. Go off peak from Paddington, direct. It's a fixed fare, about £55 return, and you can come back on any train. You can buy that ticket at the station when you go. No extra booking fees or having to stealth a 'deal' on line, and nothing to lose if your plans change.

The first off peak is around 11am, getting you to CC at about 1pm.

There are complicated tricks with mutliple single fares, weird routes, and fixed train times - all with a risk of having to pay a massive on-the-spot fare if you don't make it for a specific train going back. Too much hassle and risk, for me.

[emily@raileasy]

@ALL

If you need any advice about getting the train to the festival please ask me - We are the official rail provider of Glastonbury 2010.

Those looking to save a few £££s should know there are still some cheap advance fares available London - Bristol, then just jump on the coach. It's definately worth booking in advance. There are even some one way £10 fares left if you are thinking of heading down on Tuesday.

@emilyraileasy

[lea7784]

i payed 250.60p for 2 of us to get from newcastle to castle cary only changing once and got reserved seats well i hope i can sit on them a whole 6 hours

[tinytim27]

Nah not too busy, think I got the one about 10 ish last year, willy probably get an earlier one this year. I'm meeting a friend on the train and he is coming from Plymouth so will meet him at Taunton. Will probably see you there!

[guyfawkes]

We're going down on tuesday and staying in a b&b in Taunton, 1st train to Castle Cary in the morning and set up in time for the footie!

[krofh]

Be aware that with cheap advance tickets you have to get the train you're booked on. If you don't then your ticket's not valid and you can be fined. This will be a problem heading back on the Monday, cause there are large queues and it's all done on a first-come-first-served basis.

(Actually, I thought for this reason they didn't offer cheap advance tickets over the festival weekend. But if you've managed to book some then clearly I'm wrong!)

Edited May 30, 2010 by krofh

[mikeb]

Ummmmm, sorry but I *really* don't think the above is quite right at all TBH

Firstly: Advance Tickets almost always have a line in the Ts&Cs which prohibits Break Of Journey (other than for any necessary change of trains) and usually specifically state "is not valid for starting or ending a journey at intermediate stops" or words to that effect - i.e. it is only valid for use between the 2 places printed on the ticket on the specific date/times printed on the ticket ! Here's an extract from the Ts&Cs for the Advance Tickets that I generally buy for almost all journeys other than to/from Glasto:

Non-refundable ticket, only valid for the date, time and trains specified.

You must travel on the date, time and trains specified. You may not start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary.

Edited May 30, 2010 by mikeb