One of the single-car units which operate on the Bedford-Bletchley line, pictured at Fenny Stratford on 12 June 2014. Other services are operated by two-car Sprinters



Special trains will be running on the Bedford-Bletchley rail line for the Bedford river festival on 19-20 July 2014.

An extra late night train, the Fireworks Flyer, will leave Bedford Midland at 23.10 on Saturday 19 July , calling at all stations to Bletchley.

It will allow people to watch the illuminated boat parade on the River Ouse at Bedford and the fireworks spectacular later in the evening.

The following day, a rare Sunday service will run. Normally there are no trains between Bedford and Bletchley on a Sunday.

Sunday trains will leave Bletchley at 10.48, 11.48, 13.08, 14.10, 15.10 and 16.00.

Sunday trains will leave Bedford at 11.36, 12.37, 14.05, 15.00, 16.05 and 17.10.

The stations served are Bedford, Bedford St John's, Kempston Hardwick, Stewartby, Millbrook, Lidlington, Ridgmont, Aspley Guise, Woburn Sands, Bow Brickhill, Fenny Stratford and Bletchley.

The extra trains were laid on after lobbying by the Bedford to Bletchley rail users association.

Last year, the rail users association reported that one passenger used the special service while travelling from Hemel Hempstead to Doncaster, changing trains at both Bletchley and Bedford.

BBRUA is hoping that providing the river festival service will lead to a regular bank holiday service in future.

The river festival includes First World War commemoration events, including rifle firing displays and a War Horse display, as well as raft and dragon boat racing.

BBRUA

River Festival