ScotRail is ready for busy weekend of sporting action with extra staff in place, and additional services operating to help customers take in the showpiece occasions.
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 their big day out, 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 before and after the matches between Glasgow Central and Mount Florida, the closest station to Hampden Park, with extra staff available to help, and queuing systems in operation at both stations.
To help horseracing fans enjoy the Scottish Grand National showpiece at Ayr Racecourse, ScotRail is adding more seats to services between Glasgow Central and Prestwick Town, where a shuttle bus service will run from there to Allison Street in the town, a short walk from the racecourse.
The buses will operate between 10.00 and 13.00, and again from 17.00 to 20.30, taking customers both to and from the racecourse locality.
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:
“We’re looking forward to helping our customers attend what will be a lively weekend of major sporting events, with extra services for fans travelling by rail to Hampden Park and Ayr Racecourse.
“In addition to more trains and more seats, the ongoing issues at Ayr station following the fire at the former station hotel, means that we’ll be doing even more to support our customers.
“As a result, ScotRail have arranged a special shuttle bus service to and from Prestwick Town, helping hundreds of people enjoy one of the most iconic events in the Scottish sporting calendar.
“Our advice to customers is to plan ahead and allow extra time for travel, 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.”
