ScotRail Adds Late Trains for Edinburgh Festival Nights

ScotRail will add late-night trains and extra seats during Edinburgh’s busiest summer festival weeks, giving audiences more options after evening performances. The temporary changes cover the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick. Services linking the capital with cities and towns across central and eastern Scotland will be strengthened, although customers are being advised to expect busy stations and longer boarding times.

Extra ScotRail Services for Edinburgh Festivals

• Operator: ScotRail
• Main festival period: 7–30 August 2026
• Fringe by the Sea: 31 July–9 August 2026
• Main Edinburgh station: Edinburgh Waverley
• Late-night destinations: Glasgow, Tweedbank, Dundee and Leven
• North Berwick: Extra evening train to Edinburgh during Fringe by the Sea
• Longer trains: Selected routes serving Glasgow, the Borders, Fife, Perth, Dundee, Leven, Stirling, Dunblane, Bathgate and North Berwick
• How often: Every night during the relevant festival dates
• Duration: Temporary services for the summer festivals

Festival visitors should also prepare for disruption after arriving in Edinburgh. Part of Princes Street remains closed following a recent fire, affecting some onward journeys beyond Waverley. Walking and tram connections to venues outside the city centre may take longer, with local diversions in place. Depending on the event location, Haymarket could be a more convenient station. ScotRail advises checking current journey information and buying tickets before boarding.

Later departures make evening comedy, theatre and music performances easier to attend without booking a night in Edinburgh. Visitors arriving earlier can combine a show with Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the National Museum of Scotland or a walk up Calton Hill. The separate North Berwick timetable also improves access to Fringe by the Sea and leaves time for the town’s beach and Scottish Seabird Centre before performances.

Late trains will make it easier to stay for evening performances, but services differ by route and Waverley is likely to be crowded. Check the departure time of your last suitable train on the day rather than relying on the usual timetable. Leave enough time to reach the platform, particularly after major shows, and consider travelling through Haymarket if closures or crowds make Waverley difficult to access.