Back in 2018 I nearly didn’t make it to a funeral on the Thursday before Bank Holiday. Why? My train from Guildford to Reading arrived (from Gatwick way) full, not of passengers but of tents, rucksacks, folding chairs and other detritus being lugged by a few folk (and I mean a few folk) on their way to Reading Festival. I forced my way on, apologies to the three or four I ruthlessly pushed aside, and travelled wedged against the door. But at least I got on which is more than can be said for a good many poor souls. Put simply many non mainline GWR services especially those from Portsmouth to Cardiff can hardly handle the normal demand. Unless GWR and X Country really strengthen services into BTM for those dates and festival goers take to the trains it will be, I suspect, carnage.