ScotRail is urging fans to allow more time for their journeys and to expect services to be busier than normal during a big weekend of cup football in Glasgow. Weekend engineering works on some routes also mean that replacement buses will be in operation, meaning longer journey times for those travelling to Hampden Park.
Celtic are set to take on Kilmarnock at 5:30pm on Saturday, January 14, with Rangers then facing Aberdeen FC at 3pm on Sunday, January 15. Rail bosses say they are running as many services as possible to help fans travel to the games, including additional trains to and from Mount Florida before and after the matches.
Due to planned Network Rail engineering works, replacement buses will be in operation between Kilmarnock and Glasgow as well as between Dundee and Aberdeen. Fans travelling on either of those routes will need to allow more time for their journeys as buses will take considerably longer with fewer seats available.
Queuing systems will be in place at Glasgow Central before the football and at Mount Florida and Kings Park after the final whistle. On Sunday, 15 January, separate queues will be in place for Rangers and Aberdeen fans at Glasgow Central station.
Rangers fans will queue for services to Mount Florida via the carriage driveway on Hope Street, while Aberdeen supporters will queue for services to Kings Park via the main concourse in Glasgow Central station. After the match, Rangers fans should travel home via Mount Florida, while Aberdeen supporters should make their way home from Kings Park station.
To reduce the need to queue, customers should buy their return tickets to Mount Florida or Kings Park in advance via the ScotRail app or website. Customers are also reminded that the consumption of alcohol remains prohibited on ScotRail services.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said: “We’re preparing for another big weekend of football with fans travelling to Glasgow to cheer on their team.
“To help the events run smoothly, we’ll be running as many trains as possible over the weekend, however, trains will be much busier than normal and engineering works will have an impact, so please plan ahead.
“I encourage anyone travelling this weekend to allow extra time for travel, and to minimise your need to queue, buy your tickets in advance on the ScotRail app or website.”
Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland Route Director, said: “The multi-million-pound investment we’re making to replace life-expired track along several sections of the route is essential to keeping the railway safe and reliable.
“Works of this scale are planned far in advance of football fixtures being released.
“While we appreciate that there’s never a good time for disruption on the railway, we thank fans for their understanding and advise everyone to plan ahead and allow extra time for travelling to and from the respective matches.”
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