Great Western Railway (GWR) has announced that it will provide more than 10,000 additional seats for Rugby Union supporters travelling to Cardiff for the double bill of rugby, when the Bristol Bears play the Harlequins at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, 28 March.

The rail operator is set to run 21 extra trains to accommodate the increased demand, as fans attend both the women’s fixture, which kicks off at 12:30 pm, and the men’s game at 3:30 pm, with the final whistle expected at around 5:30 pm.

A single ticket grants access to both matches.

Passengers travelling from Bristol to Cardiff are required to book in advance, as all services are expected to be extremely busy. Supporters are strongly advised to book ahead and leave plenty of time for travel.

Services will run from London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, as well as connecting stations such as Yate, Yatton and Nailsea.

While reservations are mandatory for outbound services, return journeys from Cardiff after the men’s match will operate without reservations on a first-come, first-served basis, with a queuing system in place at Cardiff Central station, directly adjacent to the Principality Stadium.

The last services of the evening leaving Cardiff Central are as follows: 8:22 pm to London Paddington, 9:18 pm to Bristol Parkway, and 10:47 pm to Bristol Temple Meads.

“We’re delighted to support Bristol Bears fans making the trip to Cardiff for this exciting double-header. With 21 extra trains and over 10,000 additional seats, we’re ready to get supporters there and back safely.

“Booking early is essential, all trains to Cardiff require reservations and will be extremely busy. We’d encourage fans to travel early and allow extra time for the return journey, perhaps enjoying Cardiff’s atmosphere before heading home.”

Rachel Geliamassi, GWR Customer Services Director.