Rugby fans warned to plan ahead for journey to Murrayfield Stadium this weekend as Scotland take on Fiji
Scotland are set to play Fiji this Saturday in the last of the Southern Series fixtures in the Nations Championship
Thousands of rugby fans heading to Murrayfield Stadium this weekend as Scotland take on Fiji are being warned to check their journey ahead of time amid city centre disruption.
The match will be taking place at 2.10pm on Saturday, July 18 in what will be the last of the Southern Series fixtures in the Nations Championship tournament.
Public transport through the city is expected to be heavier than usual with the recent closure of Princes Street.
The road closure began after emergency services responded to the fire at the former Debenhams store on Princes Street on Thursday, July 9 and is expected to continue until August at the earliest.
As a result of this, Edinburgh Trams have been unable to offer services on the eastern side of the line, from Princes Street to Newhaven, with trams unable to resume until full safety checks of the remaining structure have taken place.
There are still tram links between Edinburgh Airport and the West End, but fans are being told to expect services to be busy.
For fans travelling to and from the east of the city towards Murrayfield Stadium, tram tickets are being accepted on Lothian Bus services 16 and 25 between Newhaven and the West End.
Edinburgh Trams said: “Whether you’re taking the tram or the bus with Lothian to the game, due to the disruption on Princes Street and diversions in place across the city, make sure you plan your journey and make travel arrangements in advance.
“Services are likely to be busy so please ensure you have a travel plan in place. The forecast for Saturday’s game is set to be a good one, so if you want to soak up more of the city, the West End is only a 15–20-minute walk to Murrayfield.”
Becky Love, marketing and communications manager at Edinburgh Trams, added: “The new Nations Championship international rugby tournament is sure to be a rugby highlight here in the Scottish capital, and we know it’ll be an epic showdown between Fiji and Scotland.
“We’ll have staff on tram platforms and managing the gateline to ensure supporters get there as efficiently as possible.
“If you’re heading to the match, plan your journey in advance and please ensure you have a valid ticket so you can have peace of mind whilst you make your way there.”
Lothian Buses has also urged fans to take extra time for their journey to and from Murrayfield Stadium.
The transport service said: “Please be aware that due to the partial closure of Princes Street following a building fire and ongoing works on Gorgie Road, services will be subject to diversions and delays. Please plan your journey ahead of time and allow extra time.”