ScotRail are adding extra carriages to trains in preparation for a "very busy" Scottish Cup Final weekend amid service disruptions and cancellations.
Many fans are expected to use popular lines this weekend for the final in Glasgow - and the national rail operator has urged people to buy their tickets in advance.
Passengers are being warned that queuing systems will be in place before and after the final whistle and return tickets to either Mount Florida or Kings Park - the two stations near Hampden Park where the final will take place - should be bought in advance.
However, ScotRail is advising supporters to leave extra time for travel on Saturday, 21 May, as trains will be busy and some services may be cancelled due to a shortage of drivers.
Extra staff will be helping passengers on the day of the final - and supporters are warned that alcohol is banned on all ScotRail services.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said: “We’ll be doing all we can to help football fans head to Hampden and see who lifts the final piece of silverware this season.
“We’re adding extra carriages to services to help customers get to the game; however, trains are expected to be very busy.
"Queuing systems will be in place before and after the match so please make sure you know where to go. We have a dedicated webpage at scotrail.co.uk/sport with more information, and our staff will also be on hand to direct you.
“A current shortage of train drivers means that some services across the ScotRail network may be cancelled, so fans travelling to the match should plan ahead and purchase their return train tickets in advance to help their journey go smoothly.”
This comes as the network operator has had to implement a reduced timetable due to driver shortages, and they warn that disruptions and cancellations could still occur this weekend.
The new timetable will not come into place until Monday, 23 May so football fans may still experience disruptions.
The shortages have been caused as drivers are now refusing overtime amid a pay row between ScotRail and the drivers’ union, ASLEF.
ScotRail says that it is "reliant" on drivers working overtime, adding that: "This is something experienced by all operators across Britain."
This has been caused by delays to training for new drivers caused by the pandemic, the network operator has said.
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