ScotRail is urging customers to plan ahead as it prepares for a busy weekend across Scotland’s Railway.
The train operator has issued its travel advice ahead of a weekend of sport and climate change protests across the network.
On Friday, 5 November an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 participants are expected take to the streets as part of Youth and Public Empowerment Day, inspired by Greta Thunberg's activism. The procession is expected to leave Kelvingrove Park at 11.30am and make its way to George Square in Glasgow’s city centre.
Upwards of 50,000 people are expected to take part in a procession from Kelvingrove Park to Glasgow Green on Saturday, 6 November as part of a Global Day of Action for Climate Justice, leaving Kelvingrove at 12.30pm.
This means ScotRail services in and around Glasgow may be extremely busy on both days prior to the events, with large numbers of people travelling home from the city centre after the protests finish. Customers travelling to or from Glasgow on Friday and Saturday are urged to plan ahead and buy their tickets in advance, as queuing systems may be in place at stations within the city centre when the events finish.
ScotRail is adding extra carriages to services through Partick and Charing Cross on Saturday, 6 November to help make the day run smoothly.
The Scotland rugby team take on Australia on Sunday, 7 November (KO 2.15pm) in their second of four 2021 Autumn Nations Series at the BT Murrayfield stadium.
In addition to its normal Sunday timetable, extra trains will run between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Falkirk High, and more seats will be added to trains between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Airdrie and Bathgate throughout the day. Key services between Edinburgh and Fife and Dunblane will also benefit from more seats on extra carriages.
Fans travelling to the match are encouraged to plan ahead, and buy their return tickets to Haymarket in advance as queuing systems may be in place at Haymarket station after the final whistle.
Customers are also reminded that the wearing of a face covering is mandatory on trains and in stations, and the consumption of alcohol remains prohibited on ScotRail services.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said:
“We’ve got a really busy weekend coming up. Scotland will be looking to build on their Autumn Nations Series success with a win on Sunday, while multiple large scale climate change processions take place across the weekend.
“We’ve done everything we can to boost the number of available seats for travelling fans and customers, but trains will be very busy across the whole weekend.
“I encourage anyone travelling this weekend to allow extra time for travel, and to minimise the need to queue, buy your tickets in advance via our app or website.”