Scotrail Issues Travel Advice Ahead Of Busy Weekend

8th August 2024

ScotRail has issued travel advice ahead of a busy weekend for travel with Rangers playing Motherwell at Hampden Park and the Edinburgh Festivals in the capital.

Customers are reminded that a temporary timetable is currently in place due to fewer drivers making themselves available for rest day working, as is their contractual right, while pay talks are ongoing with the trade union ASLEF.

However, to support travel to and from the events, ScotRail is adding as many carriages as possible to services.

For Saturday's Rangers versus Motherwell match, which kicks off at 15.00 at Hampden Park, there will be more seats added to trains to and from Mount Florida. Fans using those services should expect queuing times to be longer, allow extra time for travel, and are advised to make their way to Mount Florida after the match to travel back to the city.

The Edinburgh Festivals, including the International Festival, the Fringe, and events such as Fringe by the Sea, also continue this weekend. With it being the final weekend before the end of the Scottish school summer holidays, travel to and from Edinburgh is expected to be particularly busy.

Additionally, Party at the Palace is taking place in Linlithgow on Saturday and Sunday (10 and 11 August). Customers should note that the final trains on Sunday, 11 August depart Linlithgow before the end of the event.

As with last week, Sunday’s timetable will be significantly reduced and customers are advised to check the ScotRail app or website to get the latest information. This will be updated by Friday, 9 August.

As a reminder, the changes to support the Edinburgh Festivals are as follows:

Extra carriages to late night services leaving Edinburgh, with an additional express service to Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High departing after midnight at 00.15 (except on Sunday night/Monday morning).

Half-hourly service throughout the day and extra late-night trains from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High until the end of the festivals excluding Sundays. This is compared with the hourly service from 19.00 under the current temporary timetable.

Sundays will see an hourly service operate on the express service between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Falkirk High.

To support return travel to the popular Fringe by the Sea, an additional late-night service will operate from North Berwick to Edinburgh until Sunday, 11 August. On Thursday to Saturday, the last train will leave North Berwick at 0001, with an earlier departure time of 2220 on Sundays.

With services expected to be busier than usual, extra carriages will also be added to key trains to and from the capital city to destinations in central Scotland.

ScotRail is strongly advising customers to plan ahead and check their journey the day before travelling by using the ScotRail app. Retail systems will be updated by Friday, 9 August.

With thousands of festivalgoers heading to the capital during August, there may be additional queues at some stations for train tickets. Purchasing in advance can save time at the station, and train tickets are available to buy before you board as an mTicket via the ScotRail app.

Extra staff will be on hand to make sure everything goes smoothly, and the train operator is also reminding everyone that the carrying and consumption of alcohol is prohibited on ScotRail trains and in ScotRail stations.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Customer Operations Director, said, "This is another busy weekend for travel across Scotland’s Railway and we are doing everything we can to help customers get to the football match at Hampden and the events in Edinburgh.

"Customers are reminded that with the temporary timetable currently in place, there are fewer services than normal in operation. But to support both the football at the national stadium and the Edinburgh Festivals, we’ve made changes to our services, including extra seats and services and late-night trains to get people to and from Edinburgh.

“With trains expected to be busier than usual, we’re encouraging everyone to allow extra time for travel, and check their journey in advance via our online journey planner.

“Buying return tickets before you board using our mTicket system on our mobile app will help your journey run smoothly."