Wednesday July 22nd 2026
ScotRail train (photo by Winston Tjia)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
ScotRail is getting into the festival spirit by helping tens of thousands of people travel to and from the capital during this year’s Edinburgh festivals, with extra trains and late-night services planned throughout one of Scotland’s busiest periods.
As Edinburgh’s streets come alive with world-class comedy, theatre, music, and performance, the train operator will provide additional capacity to help customers enjoy the city’s packed programme of events, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, and Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick.
From Friday, 7 August until Sunday, 30 August, customers will benefit from extra late-night services and additional carriages on key routes in and out of Edinburgh, making it easier to travel home after evening performances.
Additional Edinburgh – North Berwick services will operate from Friday, 31 July to Sunday, 9 August for visitors to Fringe by the Sea, including an additional late-night service from North Berwick to Edinburgh every night while this event is running, along with longer trains on some services.
Extra, late-night, services will operate between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street, Tweedbank, Dundee, and Leven, throughout the festival period.
Customers travelling on services between Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Borders, Fife, Perth, Dundee, Leven, Stirling, Dunblane, Bathgate, and North Berwick will also benefit from longer trains, providing thousands of extra seats during the festivals.
Highlights of ScotRail’s services during the festivals 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, Leven, and North Berwick.
– A special late-night service from North Berwick to Edinburgh each evening after Fringe by the Sea.
– Longer trains on routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Borders, Fife, Perth, Dundee, Leven, Stirling, Dunblane, Bathgate, and North Berwick, providing more seats on trains throughout the festivals.
Customers are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journey, and check train times before travelling using the ScotRail app or website.
Due to the recent fire on Princes Street, a part of the street will remain closed into August. As a result, customers who would normally travel to Waverley and continue by foot or tram to events outside the city centre, will be redirected. Journeys will take longer than normal, so please plan ahead, and consider using Haymarket station or other stations instead.
More travel information will be 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 proud to help people travel to and from the capital throughout this incredibly popular period.
“By adding extra late-night trains and using longer trains on routes in and out of Edinburgh, we’re making it easier for customers to enjoy everything the festivals have to offer, whether they’re heading to an afternoon performance or staying out for one last show before catching the train home.
“We encourage customers to plan ahead, check their journey before travelling, make sure they have their tickets for travel before boarding, and allow some additional time to board their train.”
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