A number of major events are currently taking place in Scotland that are expected to attract large numbers of customers and for which ScotRail has issued timely travel advice.

For anyone travelling by train to these events, ScotRail’s top tips include:

• Buying a ticket before board a train, as a valid is required ticket for travel and many stations will have ticket checks in place;
• Check your train times., and if you need to catch a connecting service make sure to leave time;
• Listen to loudspeaker announcements, as extra staff are being provided to help things run smoothly, and their instructions will be to help you travel and arrive safely;
• Download the ScotRail app., which can then be used to buy tickets, check train times, and find out live service information;
• Leave plenty of time, as train services will be busy, and it may not be possible to get on the first train that arrives.

Among the events this month are Largs Viking Festival which allows visitors to experience life in a 13th-century Norse-Gael village and is being held on Largs Promenade until Sunday, 10 September, and the International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight on Ayr Shorefront from Friday, 8 until Sunday, 10 September.

Because of the large number of visitors expected at these events. ScotRail will be running extra trains between Glasgow Central and Ayr next Saturday and Sunday, 9 and 10 September. However, services between Glasgow Central and Ayr are expected to be much busier than normal, and queuing systems will be in place at key stations along the route.

If possible, customers should use the mTicket system on the ScotRail app to purchase their return tickets in advance; that will reduce the need to queue.

Extra staff will be available to offer assistance to travellers, who should also note that alcohol is prohibited from being carried or consumed on ScotRail trains and in ScotRail stations.

Further information about the Largs Viking Festival can be found online at largsvikingfestival.co.uk

For visitors to the International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight, Stagecoach West Scotland and South Ayrshire Council are providing a park-and-ride shuttle bus service every 15 minutes between Burns Statute Square at Ayr station and Seafield Road.