ScotRail announces extra services for Edinburgh Festival

Extra rail services are to be laid on for the Edinburgh Festival. Picture Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

ScotRail Alliance has announced a revised timetable for a number of routes, including the Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street line.

But passengers are urged to plan well ahead, booking their journeys in advance where possible, owing to the huge demand expected on many lines.

Perry Ramsey, operations director at the ScotRail Alliance, said: “To make journeys as hassle free as possible we are urging passengers to plan their journeys in advance by visiting scotrail.co.uk, downloading the ScotRail app and buying a ticket before they board.”

The changes include more services, late-night trains and extra carriages compared to the regular timetable.

Edinburgh’s festivals are the focus for the alterations, and Linlithgow’s Party at the Palace and North Berwick’s Fringe by the Sea have also been taken into account.

The move has been welcomed by festival organisers.

Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “We are delighted that the ScotRail Alliance is providing extra rail services to and from Edinburgh during August.

“These additional services will make it easier for people to enjoy the Fringe and Edinburgh’s other major festivals, and also comfortably get back to their homes right across Scotland’s Central Belt.”

ScotRail’s August festival programme includes further late night trains between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street operating daily, departing from Edinburgh at 00.01 and 00.30.

There will also be a major increase in the number of carriages between Edinburgh and Glasgow, especially from Fridays to Sundays.

Travellers can also expect many extra carriages between Edinburgh and Fife on Friday evenings.

A revised timetable between North Berwick and Edinburgh will also be introduced.