Great Western Rail (GWR) have recently changed their surfboard policy. They claim this is due to their new trains no longer having the guard van having increased room for more seats. Instead if you wish to travel with a board, GWR have said to use their Sleeper Service. 

This petition requests GWR review this policy change. 

It’s is not clear why the new trains were designed without this storage space in mind, in particular considering their users and the key attractions of the South West. It also seems odd when considering ScotRail are looking to add dedicated carriages for skiers and snowboarders and looking further afield, Portugal rail actively encourages surfboards on their trains.

Moreover the change seems contradictory to the national message to collectively reduce the UK’s carbon footprint. Assuming there aren’t 4 surfers in a car, it is more sustainable to use public transport. 

Finally, GWR has a history of using surfing and water sport imagery in their marketing materials so are aware of the South West’s key attractions. If the intention is to continue to promote these, GWR should support the customers who use their services to access. 

We request GWR review their new policy that isn’t a total ban boards on trains except for the sleeper service. We request GWR to allow for flexibility and show their support for a community that has a long history of using their services.