Travellers in Scotland are to benefit from an increase in the number of trains that ScotRail will be running on Boxing Day, compared with previous years.

Until this year, there have only been very few train services on Boxing Day in Scotland, mainly in the Strathclyde area. However, this year, there will also be services to and from Perth, Dunblane and Glenrothes, and between Bathgate and Edinburgh.

The extra services will help people to visit family and friends at this special time of year without the need to drive and include:

• Bathgate to Edinburgh.
• Glasgow to Alloa.
• Edinburgh to Dunblane.
• Edinburgh to Glenrothes via Dunfermline.
• Edinburgh to Perth via Kirkcaldy.

ScotRail will be operating as many services as possible during the Christmas period, with the only days without any trains being Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Anyone intending to travel on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve should plan ahead as the last services on both days will depart earlier than normal. Full details of changes to the timetables will be published on the ScotRail website in the coming days, whilst the ScotRail app has been updated to show all services that are expected to run on Boxing Day.

Fiona Hyslop MSP, Minister for Transport said: “When we brought ScotRail into public ownership, we pledged to improve it by putting the passenger in control. Providing these extra Boxing Day services at significantly more stations is proof we are making this happen.

“We would encourage everyone to consider the train for all their festive journeys, particularly where they can take advantage of off-peak fares all day, every day.”

David Simpson, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: “We know how important this time of year is for people to be able to visit family and friends and we are delighted to be able to provide extra services for them to do that.

“Traditionally we have only been able to run trains in the Strathclyde area, but this year we have been able to significantly extend that to include Perth, Dunblane and Glenrothes, and between Bathgate and Edinburgh.

“There may be minor changes to some trains time during the Christmas period, including the last trains on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day departing earlier.

“We are encouraging customers to plan ahead, and check the ScotRail app and website for journey times before they set off.”