Please don’t bring wheelie bins of beer to music festival, say rail bosses

Railway operators are urging customers travelling to one of the UK’s biggest music festivals not to bring wheelie bins filled with beer.

East Midlands Railway (EMR), which runs several services to this year’s Download Festival in Donington Park near Derby, a rock music festival starting on 10 June.

Tens of thousands of revellers are set to descend onto the park to witness acts such as Guns n’ Roses, Limpbizkit, and Linkin Park take to the stage.

But after several people were prevented from boarding the trains with their large and prohibited luggage last year, EMR is looking to avoid a repeat.

“Following incidents last year where some customers attempted to travel with wheelie bins filled with beer cans and bottles, passengers are also being reminded that these items will not be permitted on board,” the company’s plea reads on the website.

“While it might seem like a great idea for getting your supplies to the festival, it just isn’t safe or possible to bring them onboard train services,” said Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director at East Midlands Railway.

“Our teams will be on hand at stations to support customers and help them complete their journeys, without their bins or trolleys, as smoothly as possible.”

Customers are also being urged to plan their journeys well in advance, due to the risk of cancellations, with engineering work set to affect services on routes to and from London St Pancras International.

Engineering work taking place at various locations on the Midland Main Line means some lines will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, resulting in a reduced timetable and some replacement bus services.

Festival goers will also be provided with boot-cleaning brushes at the stations following the festival to allow them to remove mud before boarding the trains.

Ms Cresswell said: “We’re advising customers travelling to Download Festival to plan their journeys in advance and be aware that essential engineering work will affect services across the weekend. As a result, some services will be reduced or amended, and passengers should check before they travel and allow extra time.”