ScotRail has announced its biggest-ever Edinburgh Festivals timetable – including more late night trains to Glasgow and an additional service to Dundee. Customers travelling to and from the festivals will also benefit from extra carriages on many existing services.

And Sunday morning services from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh will be increased during August.

Steve Montgomery, ScotRail’s managing director, said: “We hope our expanded timetable will mean that even more customers will enjoy the Edinburgh Festivals this year.”

In addition, Fringe festival tickets will be sold in Glasgow for the first time – at a new box office beneath the departure boards at Glasgow Queen Street station.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “Edinburgh Festivals are Scotland’s biggest tourist draw, and that means welcoming visitors from the rest of Scotland as well as elsewhere in the UK and overseas.

“These additional services provided by ScotRail will make it easier than ever for people to enjoy the festivals without having to worry about getting there and getting home.

“Alongside the event ticket booth at Glasgow Queen Street station, more and more is being done to ensure the whole of Scotland can take part in the August festivities.

“That means more money spent in Scotland, less congestion on the roads around Edinburgh and - generally - a more enjoyable time all round.”

Kath Mainland, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The Fringe is the greatest show on earth and we are delighted that ScotRail is making it easier for people from all over Scotland to get involved.

“The extra services to Glasgow, Dundee and North Berwick are all very welcome indeed.

“The extra carriages and additional late night and Sunday services between Edinburgh and Glasgow in August will make a huge difference to audiences and performers.

“Also, for the first time this year we will be selling tickets for all 2,965 shows at this year’s Fringe through our box office in Glasgow Queen Street station. This would not be possible without the generous support of ScotRail.”

Glasgow trains
The 00.30 Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street service – which previously ran at weekends only – has been expanded and will now run seven days a week from August 4 to 26 August inclusive.

The service will call at Linlithgow, Polmont, Falkirk High, Croy, Lenzie and Bishopbriggs.

Additional ‘night’ festival trains to Glasgow Queen Street will also depart from Edinburgh every day at 00.01 from August 4-26. These will call at Linlithgow, Polmont, Falkirk High, Croy, Lenzie and Bishopbriggs.

In addition, there will be extra Sunday morning services from Glasgow Queen St throughout August, thanks to additional trains at 10.05, 10.57, and 12.10.

Festival fans in the west of Scotland will also be able to take advantage of extra Edinburgh to Garscadden trains in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings – departing at 00.06 and calling at all stations via Bathgate & Airdrie, except High St, Charing Cross and Partick.

Dundee trains
For the first time, ScotRail will be providing additional trains from Edinburgh to Dundee – at 23.52 on Friday 3, 10, 17 and 24 August.

North Berwick services
Additional late night trains to North Berwick, first introduced in 2010, will again run this year.

They will depart Edinburgh Waverley at 23.50 on Fridays from August 3 to 24 and at 23.52 on Saturdays from August 4 to 25. These trains will also link with onward Drem-Dunbar buses.

ScotRail will also run extra late night trains for the Fringe by the Sea festival in North Berwick, which runs from 6 to 12 August.

These include a 23.59 service from North Berwick to Edinburgh from 6 to 11 August and a 23.59 service to Edinburgh on Sunday 12 August. They will call at Drem, Longniddry, Prestonpans, Wallyford, and Musselburgh.

Fireworks – 2 September
ScotRail will also provide extra trains for customers after the Virgin Money Fireworks on 2 September.

These includes extra services from Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street, North Berwick, Fife stations, West Calder, Newcraighall and stations to Partick via Bathgate and Airdrie.