OREANDA-NEWS. Network Rail staff are preparing themselves for an influx of music lovers ahead of the annual Reading Festival this weekend.

Thousands of excited revellers will pass through Reading station leading up to, during and after the three-day event which takes place on 26th to 28th August. Passengers can then either walk or catch a dedicated shuttle bus between the station and the festival site.

Reading station is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the festival which attracts around 90,000 people each year and passengers who are planning to use the station during the course of the weekend are being urged to stay safe around the tracks, platforms and concourse – both on the way to the festival and on the way home.

Calum MacKay, Network Rail’s Reading station manager, said: “We’ll see thousands of extra people passing through the station this weekend at all times of day, and it’s important that they start and finish their weekends safely.

“Trains, platforms and walkways will be busier than usual and it’s really important that both regular stations users and those going to Reading festival can all pass through the station safely. Please be patient when traveling over the next few days and try not to block walkways and the areas around the ticket barriers.

“While people will arrive with full rucksacks and clean equipment, the return journey is likely to see muddy boots and unwanted tents brought though the station. We will have extra customer support services in action throughout the weekend to make sure that the station is pleasant for all who visit.”

Passengers travelling between Reading and London Waterloo are advised that they will be diverted between Twickenham and Clapham Junction (via Kingston) and their journey will take longer than normal. This is because Network Rail is upgrading the railway between Clapham Junction and Barnes, and involves a ?350,000 investment to upgrade tracks at Waterloo.

Passengers with luggage such as tents and rucksacks which they don’t want to travel home with are urged not to leave their items unattended in the concourse or on platforms because of the potential safety and security risks. Passengers are instead asked to give their unwanted equipment to a member of station staff who will be happy to discard it safely.

Station users are always reminded that trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence which can result in a fine of up to GBP 1,000.