The town of Bedford will come alive with the sights and sounds of one of the country’s biggest family festivals this month and rail users will be specially welcome.

Bedford River Festival, staged on Saturday and Sunday 21-22 July 2012, is a unique combination of carnival, musical and nautical.

The town's Victorian embankment, Russell Park and the River Great Ouse will be home to five live music stages, river activities, fireworks, artistic activities, heritage and sports villages. There are dragon boat races, raft races and lots of water-based events.

The festival attracts in excess of 300,000 spectators and is free.
Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership will have a stand at the festival.

The Midland main line provides an impressive service to Bedford but it is now also possible for passengers from Corby to gain easy access to Bedford by train following the reopening of Corby station only three years ago.

On Saturday 21 July 2012, off-peak fares and direct trains are available from Corby to Bedford.

On Sunday 22 July 2012, off-peak fares are available although a change of trains is required at Kettering. There is a service every hour on both days.

The Corby to Bedford return fare for an adult is £10.90 (child £5.45) with reductions for railcard holders.

Groupsave return fares are also available with three people travelling together for £21.60, and four people travelling together for £21.80
 
Tickets can be obtained from Corby rail station, by phoning 08457 125 678 or online at EMT

Other rail passengers are expected to use the Bedford-Bletchley branch line (also known as the Martson Vale line) to get to the festival.

In past years, Sunday trains have been provided on the line to serve the festival, but train operator London Midland will be providing only the normal service on Saturday this year. There will be no Bedford-Bletchley Sunday service.

On the previous weekend, rail passengers can use the Bedford-Bletchley line to gain access to Woburn Sands Folk Festival which takes place on Saturday 14 July 2012 from 10.30 to 20.30.

WS Folk Festival

London Midland

Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership

Bedford River Festival

Information from David Fursdon, 9 Southfield Road, Gretton, Northants NN17 3BX. Tel: 07790 197220.

Additional info from Stephen Sleight at stephens at bedsrcc.org.uk