ScotRail is advising customers to plan ahead and expect some services to be busier than normal ahead of a packed weekend of sporting action.
Both men's Scottish Cup Semi Finals will take place at Hampden Park on Saturday and Sunday (20 and 21 April), while the country’s biggest horseracing meeting takes place at Ayr Racecourse, with the Scottish Grand National on Saturday.
To help fans enjoy the showpiece occasions, the train operator is running extra services, adding more seats, and operating a special shuttle bus linking Prestwick Town services with Ayr.
Aberdeen play Celtic at the national stadium on Saturday with a 12.30 kick off, while Rangers face Hearts the following day with a 15.00 kick off.
ScotRail has confirmed additional trains will operate between Glasgow Central and Mount Florida, before and after the matches, with queuing systems in operation at both stations.
Meanwhile, for horseracing fans, more seats are being added to services between Glasgow Central and Prestwick Town, and a shuttle bus service will run from there to Allison Street in the town, a short walk from the racecourse.
The buses will be operating between 10.00 and 13.00, and again from 17.00 to 20.30, taking customers both to and from the racecourse.
The train operator is warning fans that services will be busier than normal, so customers should plan ahead and leave extra time for travel.
To reduce the need to queue on the day, customers are encouraged to buy return tickets in advance via the mTicket system on the ScotRail app. Buying through the app means mTickets can be purchased from the comfort of home or on the way to the station, and it will instantly become available on a mobile device.
Customers are also reminded of engineering works on Sunday, 21 April, between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh via Shotts, where an amended timetable will be in operation. Lanark services will also see a bus replacement to Glasgow Central.
ScotRail will have extra staff on hand to assist customers throughout the weekend, and the train operator is reminding everyone that the carrying and consumption of alcohol is prohibited on ScotRail trains and in ScotRail stations.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail Customer Operations Director, said:
“This weekend is a busy one for major sporting events, and we are looking forward to playing our part to help people travel to both Hampden Park and Ayr Racecourse.
“In addition to adding more trains and more seats, the ongoing issues at Ayr station following the fire at the former station hotel, means that we need to do more to support our customers.
“As a result, we have managed to secure buses to operate a special shuttle service to and from Prestwick Town, which will help hundreds of people enjoy one of the most iconic events in the Scottish sporting calendar.
“Our advice to customers is to leave extra time for travel as trains are likely to be busier than normal, and we will have extra staff in place to offer advice and assistance along the way.
“Buying your return tickets in advance through our mTicket system on the ScotRail app will reduce your need to queue, and help your journey run smoothly.”