ScotRail is urging customers to plan ahead for an upcoming busy weekend filled with exciting events across the country.

The action-packed schedule begins with Harry Styles’ performance at BT Murrayfield on Friday, May 26. At the same time, Radio 1’s Big Weekend commences at Camperdown Park in Dundee, running from May 26 to May 28.

On Saturday, May 27, Harry Styles returns to BT Murrayfield, followed by the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday, May 28. Additionally, several football matches are set to take place on Saturday, marking the end of the Cinch Scottish Premiership season and leading to increased demand for services.

To accommodate the surge of passengers during these events, ScotRail will be adding more carriages and trains across its network. For the Harry Styles concerts, additional seats will be provided on services to and from Edinburgh Waverley. Extra trains are also planned after the concerts to ensure smooth travel experiences for concert-goers. With gates at BT Murrayfield opening at 17:00 each day, ScotRail advises fans to arrive early due to the expected high demand for trains. Haymarket station will be particularly busy in the early evening, serving both football fans and concert attendees.

After the concerts, ScotRail encourages concert-goers to walk, if possible, back to Haymarket station promptly and join the holding area on Haymarket Terrace, where they will be directed to the appropriate queue. Customers traveling to and from Fife may consider using Edinburgh Gateway station for convenient connections between the entrance of BT Murrayfield and the station, thanks to Edinburgh Trams’ fast and frequent services.

Festival-goers heading to Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Camperdown Park will also benefit from increased seating and additional services. ScotRail confirms that extra carriages will be added to services connecting Dundee with Glasgow Queen Street, Edinburgh Waverley, and Aberdeen throughout the weekend. Late-night services will be available for return journeys to these cities.

For participants of the Edinburgh Marathon on May 28, ScotRail is making efforts to provide more seats on trains to and from Edinburgh. Additional trains will operate between Prestonpans and Edinburgh Waverley during the afternoon to facilitate the transportation of marathon participants back to the city after they cross the finish line.

To enhance convenience and reduce queuing time, ScotRail advises all customers traveling by rail during the weekend to purchase their return tickets through the mTicket system on the ScotRail app. This allows users to instantly access their tickets on their mobile devices, eliminating the need to queue on the day of travel.

To ensure smooth operations and assist customers, ScotRail will deploy additional staff at key stations throughout the network during the weekend. Passengers are reminded that the consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited on ScotRail services and within ScotRail stations.

By following these travel tips and making necessary arrangements in advance, customers can enjoy hassle-free journeys during this action-packed weekend of events. ScotRail aims to provide efficient and enjoyable travel experiences for all passengers, and their efforts will contribute to a seamless transportation network during these popular gatherings.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said: “We’re preparing for a really busy weekend, with events across the country, including Harry Styles at BT Murrayfield, Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Dundee, and the Edinburgh Marathon. We’ll be running as many trains as possible to help people enjoy the occasion, however, trains will be much busier than normal, so our advice to anyone travelling this weekend is to plan ahead and allow extra time for travel. Buying return tickets in advance on the ScotRail app or website will minimise your need to queue and help your day run smoothly.”