Late trains from Electric Picnic?

n97 mini

I see on the EP website there are shuttle buses to Portlaoise train station every half hour from 12:30am to 3:00am on each three nights.

But looking at the train timetable the last departing Portlaoise is before 11pm.

Are there extra trains, running later, on from EP?

coylemj

That service is probably for the convenience of people living in Laois and Offally, the intention being that their parents and friends can then come and pick them up at Portlaoise railway station because they probably wouldn't be allowed to bring their cars near the EP site.

n97 mini

IE's website says "Take the train to Electric Picnic".

I suppose they mean it literally.

coylemj

It's not like a Nitelink bus service, trains need signalling and locomotives and carriages have to be turned around and sent back down the line to maintain a continuous service. The last time that Irish Rail ran services at night was probably to bring people to Heuston Station for the Papal mass in the Phoenix Park in Sept 1979.

n97 mini

Which is a shame, as say for example the Reading Festival is served by trains that run through the night.

coylemj

n97 mini wrote: »

Which is a shame, as say for example the Reading Festival is served by trains that run through the night.

Reading is located in the middle of the Great Western railway, there's no comparison. This Friday morning there are 11 trains from Reading to London Paddington between midnight at 6 a.m.

Which is probably one of the reasons why the festival is held in Reading in the first place.

n97 mini

I know, I've used them to get home from the Reading Festival. As someone who is not into camping, especially if only attending for one day, having an option to get home after midnight is a god send.

n97 mini

And for around £8 return iirc.