No extra buses for Ludlow Food Festival, despite trains being cancelled

No extra buses will be put on to help people get to Ludlow's Food and Drink Festival despite all trains being cancelled into the town, council chiefs said today.

Major engineering works along the line on September 10 and 11, the weekend of the event, by Network Rail will take trains off the tracks going into Ludlow.

Organisers said they had been inundated with calls from people who were hoping to attend the festival but could not get train tickets. Shropshire Council today said it would be too expensive to expand the bus timetable at such short notice.

Network Rail has also refused to delay the works.

Jon Hayes, principal transport officer at Shropshire Council, said: "We have been in regular contact with Ludlow Food Festival and the train operating company regarding this issue.

"On both days there will be rail replacement bus services operating from all stations along the line at approximately the same frequency as the existing rail services.

"Passengers will need to consider that the journey will take longer than the corresponding rail service and should plan their day accordingly. "

Network Rail revealed the work had been timetabled for up to three years, but apologised for any inconvenience it would cause festival-goers.

Mavis Choong, media relations manager, said: "We are carrying out vital improvement work and this was planned around two or three years ago. It is a major improvement programme which will significantly improve the reliability of rail services."

Beth Heath, festival publicity officer, admitted the engineering works were an "absolute nightmare" for organisers, but hoped visitors would not be put off.