ON THE WALLINGFORD BUNK

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2026 :: RMTnews 31 The Cholsey and Wallingford Railway (CWR) is a small heritage line that is connected to the Great Western Railway between Reading and Didcot stations. But is also plays host to BunkFest, one of the biggest volunteer-run free music festivals in the country, attracting over 10,000 people in the first weekend of September each year featuring food and music from all over the world. Theheritage line brings people from the main rail network atCholsey stationand includes performances on the train. The festival also includes boat trips on theThames with live music. The railway became known as the Wallingford Bunk after a train left Cholsey station without its coaches in the Edwardian period. The 2½ miles of track operates along most of the length of the former branch line from Cholsey station to the outskirts of Wallingford that used to serve the maltings there, the main reason why the line survived. Grand plans for a line through to Chinor collapsed over 150 years ago due the bank crash of 1866 so the GWR took over the track. The Cholsey and Wallingford Railway Preservation Society began running services on the full available length of the line in 1997 and today diesel locomotives and visiting steam locomotives run numerous special events. Trains run on weekends and bank holidays between April and September, and at Halloween and Christmas. The railway’s web site has details of operating days. BunkFest takes place on September 4-6 offering camping and a range of venues from the main stage, with artists including Dr Feelgood, to many fringe events and Ceilidhs. For information on the railway go to: https://www.cholsey- wallingford-railway.com For information on BunkFest go to: www.bunkfest.co.uk ON THE WALLINGFORD BUNK Oxfordshire heritage railway inspires an annual free music festival