Special train services will be operating throughout the weekend on the Marston Vale Line (Bedford to Bletchley) to transport visitors to and from the Bedford River Festival.
In addition to the normal hourly Saturday service, there will also be a late evening ‘Festival Flyer’ leaving Bedford at 11:10pm on Saturday night (calling at all stations to Bletchley), as well as a two-hourly service on Sunday between 10:15am and 5:50pm.
The Off-Peak return fare between Bletchley and Bedford is just £8.40, with children between 5 and 15 travelling for £4.20 – all under 5s go free. Bedfordshire Bus Pass holders are also able to travel for half-price, and there are plenty of great savings available for groups with the London Northwestern Railway GroupSave ticket (groups of 3-9 adults travel for a third off the usual fare).
Festival-goers can hop off at Bedford St. Johns for the short walk to the Festival Site (expanded for 2022 to include St. Mary’s Gardens). Connections are available at Bletchley throughout the weekend for services to Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes Central.
Stephen Sleight, Community Rail Officer for Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership (CRP), said: “I am delighted that the Community Rail Partnership is again able to offer these special services on the Marston Vale Line over the Bedford River Festival weekend as part of the 175th anniversary year of our line.
“The special Sunday service is also the ideal opportunity to visit a number of other attractions along the Marston Vale Line, including Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre, the Forest Centre and Millennium Country Park (from Millbrook Station) and Bletchley Park.”
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre will be open to tie in with the Sunday service, where visitors can enjoy the Museum, Vintage Tea Room and Gift Shop, all with free entry. There are also a variety of circular and linear walks available from the Heritage Centre.
Marston Vale CRP will have a stand in the Heritage Bedford Village (situated outside the Higgins Bedford) at the River Festival – the team would love to see as many people as possible calling in to find out more about the great range of days out available by train, and the exciting future for the Marston Vale Line.
There will be special events running throughout 2022 as part of Marston Vale CRP’s 175th anniversary year, and full details of the partnership’s upcoming activities can be found on their website.
You can download the full Marston Vale Line timetables for this weekend here.
