Organisers of music, food and cultural festivals across Kent fear attendance could be hit by rail strikes planned over the next two weekends

The RMT Union has called out its members on both Saturday, August 26, and Saturday, September 2, meaning a hugely limited service on the Southeastern network. ASLEF train drivers will also walk out on Friday, September 1, causing the cancellation of all services.

The strikes will wreck the plans of travellers, including those hoping to attend any of the festivals being held across the county.

The events this weekend include the Hacienda Classical at Margate’s Dreamland, the Ashford Festival in the Park, Dover Pride, Brogdale Cider Festival in Faversham, the We Love Hythe Life Food Festival and the Sandwich Festival.

The following weekend’s industrial action is also likely to affect travellers planning to attend the hugely popular Faversham Hop Festival, East Malling Beer and Cider Festival, Deal Food and Drink Festival and the Smugglers Festival, Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival, and the DnB Legends event at Dreamland in Margate.

Travellers are being advised to check if their routes are affected and plan their journeys accordingly. But with limited or no services running, it is likely to lead to more congestion on the county’s roads.

Organisers of the Faversham Hop Festival on September 2 and 3, which traditionally attracts up to 20,000 visitors to the town, fear the strikes could seriously impact numbers.

“My heart sank when I saw the date of the strike,” said fundraising lead Colin Jones.

“Thousands of our visitors come by train rather than car, because it’s a beer festival after all.

“So we are very concerned our numbers and consequently income for traders could be undermined.

“Train services should be running normally on the Sunday, which is traditionally a quieter day, so we hope more people will come then.”

Mr Jones says the committee has tried to mitigate the potential damage by securing more car parking at the Abbey School.

“It’s available from 9am to 9pm for just £5, all of which goes towards running the festival. And then it’s only a short walk or festival shuttle bus ride into town.”

Steve Laslett, who helps organise the Sandwich Festival taking place this Bank Holiday Weekend, describes the train strikes as an “absolute pain”.

“Quite a lot of our visitors come by train so it’s definitely going to affect us on the Saturday,” he said.

Steve Wood, who is organising the Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival on September 2 and 3, is keeping his fingers crossed that numbers are not too badly affected.

“We do have parking but quite a few people come by train because the station is only 500 yards away from the venue at the racecourse and sports ground, so there may be some impact,” he said.

“But Sunday tends to be our busiest day and I am hoping things will be back to normal by then.”

On both Saturdays, a limited number of trains will run from London Victoria to Bromley South, London Bridge to Dartford and Sevenoaks, and from London St Pancras International to Ashford International, Canterbury West and Ramsgate.

Passengers are being urged to check Southeastern timetables for their individual journeys.

RMT bosses say they are striking over working conditions, pay and job security as well as concerns over the planned closures of ticket offices.

General Secretary Mick Lynch says the mood among his members “remains solid and determined”.

"We have had to call further strike action as we have received no improved or revised offer from the Rail Delivery Group,” he said.

"The reason for this is the government has not allowed them a fresh mandate on which discussions could be held.

"Our members and our union will continue fighting until we can reach a negotiated and just settlement."

Meanwhile, ASLEF bosses, who represent train drivers, are demanding an improved pay offer from the rail operators.

General secretary Mick Whelan said: ‘We don’t want to take this action but the train companies, and the government which stands behind them, have forced us because they refuse to sit down and talk to us and have not made a fair and sensible pay offer to train drivers who have not had one for four years, while prices have soared in that time by more than 12%.”