Supporters from Devon face rail disruption for England vs. Wales Rugby Clash

Rugby enthusiasts travelling from Devon and other parts of the southwest region via Great Western Railway (GWR) may encounter disruptions on their journey to the England vs. Wales Six Nations fixture at Twickenham Stadium this Saturday (February 10).

Maintenance work scheduled between Reading and Bracknell from Saturday, February 10, to Sunday, February 18, will impact travel plans for fans heading to the highly anticipated match set to kick off at 16:45pm

During this period, the closure of the line between Reading and Bracknell will necessitate adjustments for supporters accustomed to changing trains at Reading for South Western Railway (SWR) services to Twickenham.

To accommodate affected travellers, alternative routes have been provided:

• Travellers can opt for GWR or Elizabeth Line services from Reading to London Paddington, followed by a transfer to the Bakerloo Line from Paddington to Waterloo, where they can catch SWR services to Twickenham.
• Alternatively, passengers can journey from Reading to Basingstoke on GWR or CrossCountry services, connecting to SWR services via any reasonable route to reach Twickenham.

While there is no additional cost for travelling via London Paddington or Basingstoke, tickets loaded onto a Smartcard will not be accepted on the London Underground, requiring passengers to pay for this leg of the journey.
This special ticket acceptance arrangement applies only on Saturday, February 10, in both directions.

Richard Rowland, GWR Operations Director, explained the need for fans to plan their journeys carefully, especially considering the anticipated high demand leading up to kick-off and immediately following the match.

“We know many fans travelling on GWR services would normally change at Reading for SWR services to Twickenham. On Saturday, you’ll need to head on into Paddington or travel via Basingstoke before making your way to Twickenham," stated Mr Rowland.

He advised supporters to allocate sufficient time for their journeys and to anticipate busy trains as they travel to and from the rugby clash.