Wednesday July 29th 2026
Edinburgh Waverley
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
ScotRail will provide extra late-night services and thousands of additional seats to help customers travel to and from Edinburgh’s world-famous summer festivals.
With the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival getting underway on Friday, 7 August, the train operator is reminding customers to check their journey and make the most of the enhanced timetable.
From Friday, 7 August until Sunday, 30 August, extra late-night trains will operate on key routes from Edinburgh Waverley, while longer trains will provide more seats for customers travelling into and out of the capital.
Additional services and longer trains will also operate for Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick, which runs from Friday, 31 July until Sunday, 9 August.
Highlights of ScotRail’s festival timetable include:
– Extra late-night trains between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street every night throughout the festival period.
– Additional late-night services from Edinburgh to Tweedbank, Dundee, and Leven.
– A special late-night service from North Berwick to Edinburgh each evening during Fringe by the Sea.
– Longer trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Borders, Fife, Perth, Dundee, Leven, Stirling, Dunblane, Bathgate, and North Berwick.
Customers are encouraged to check train times before travelling using the ScotRail app or website, allow additional time for their journey, and buy their ticket before boarding where ticket-purchasing facilities are available.
Stations and trains are expected to be particularly busy during the festivals, especially following evening performances, and queuing systems may be introduced to help customers board safely and efficiently.
Part of Princes Street will remain closed during the festivals following a recent fire. Customers who would normally travel to Edinburgh Waverley before continuing by foot or tram to venues outside the city centre should allow longer for their journey and consider whether travelling through Haymarket would be more convenient.
More information and full details of the additional services are available on ScotRail’s dedicated Edinburgh Festivals webpage.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said:
“The Edinburgh festivals are among the highlights of Scotland’s cultural calendar, attracting visitors from across the world, and we’re ready to help customers make the most of everything the capital has to offer.
“We’re providing extra late-night services and longer trains on key routes, making it easier for people to travel home after evening performances and providing thousands of additional seats throughout the festival period.
“We’re reminding customers to check their journey before travelling, buy their ticket before boarding, and allow some extra time, as stations and trains will be much busier than normal.”
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