ScotRail has issued a warning to spectators heading to St Andrews to The Open Championship over the next few days.
The Open Championship, also known as The Open, kicks off today in St Andrews for its 150th year, with 290,000 people expected to descend on the golf course over the week. The Open runs from Thursday July 14 - 17.
However, despite ScotRail agreeing to a pay deal with the union Aslef, the temporary timetable that has thrown many travel plans into chaos over the last couple of months remains in place. ScotRail bosses admitted that it would take time for the schedule to go back to normal.
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With this in mind, ScotRail are urging golf fans to consider other modes of transport as trains to and from Leuchars - the closest train station - are limited. There will also be limited space on board and no rail replacement buses have been organised.
In a statement, the transport provider said: "It's disappointing that we are unable to provide the same level of support to the Championship as we have done in previous years, with additional services and extra carriages. We are working closely with key partners, including The R&A, Fife Council, and Transport Scotland, and will continue to play our part during this major event."
They add: "The timetable will see trains between Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen and Leuchars operating roughly every 60 minutes on Championship days, Thursday, July 15 to Sunday, July 17 2022.
"Space on board trains is very limited, and no rail replacement transport is available, so please plan ahead, check your entire journey, and know what alternative modes of transport are available."
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If you wish to no longer use your booked train ticket from Edinburgh to Leuchars , you are able to request a full refund for your rail ticket and the standard administration fee of £10 will be waived. You can do that here.
How to travel to The Open in St Andrews from Edinburgh
Train
Trains between Edinburgh and Leuchars will run approximately every sixty minutes between Sunday and Thursday. However, there is no guarantee that you will get a seat on the journey there or back, potentially leaving you stranded in St Andrews.
Those who do arrive and depart by rail will be able to use the local 99 bus service operated by Stagecoach from Leuchars station to St Andrews and back.
The full timetables can be viewed here and here.
Bus
You can jump on the X59 bus service to Dundee that runs between Edinburgh and St Andrews. On its way to Dundee, there is a stop at St Andrew's Bus Station which is just a five minute walk from the course.
Multiple buses run throughout the day, and the full timetable can be seen here.
Car
For those wishing to drive, there are some factors to note. Most importantly, there is no public car parking at St Andrews Links or in the immediate surrounding area. Instead, public parking will be located at The Open Park & Ride facilities — where dedicated buses will be available to transport spectators to and from the course.
If you are planning on staying over, you will need to find somewhere else to park your car as overnight parking is not permitted at Park & Ride facilities.
You can purchase a Parking Pass, which start at £10 per day, here.
According to The Open website, here are the directions for those driving from Edinburgh:
- Follow the A90/M90 to the Forth Road Bridge (Queensferry Crossing).
- Continue to follow the M90 and leave at junction 2A to join the A92 towards Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes.
- At the Preston Roundabout, turn right onto the A911 then continue straight at the next roundabout to pick up the A915 towards St Andrews.
- Continue along the A915 and follow signs for The Open Park & Ride
Taxi
If you have the money to spend, or require a taxi for any reason, there will be a designated taxi rank and private hire drop off/pick-up area in operation for The Open.
This is located in the Yellow J Car Park, which is approximately 150-200m from the main venue entrance.
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