New ScotRail Timetable Brings More Trains Across Scotland

ScotRail is introducing a revised timetable from Sunday 17 May 2026, adding extra services across several parts of the network as passenger demand for leisure travel continues to grow.

The changes will mainly focus on weekends and evening travel, with additional trains being introduced on routes including Glasgow Queen Street to Anniesland via Maryhill, Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock, the Levenmouth Rail Link, Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick, Ayr to Glasgow Central, and Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

Passengers travelling in the northeast of Scotland will also see expanded Sunday local services between Aberdeen and Montrose as well as Aberdeen and Inverurie. Meanwhile, more electric trains are set to operate on the East Kilbride line on Sundays as fleet deployment continues to evolve.

ScotRail is also increasing capacity on Friday and Saturday evening trains between Edinburgh Waverley railway station and Helensburgh Central by adding extra carriages to help cope with higher passenger numbers.

The operator says the timetable revisions are designed to offer greater flexibility for people travelling to social events, tourist destinations and leisure activities across the country, particularly during weekends when demand has continued to strengthen.

Passengers will continue to benefit from Scotland’s rail fare freeze, which remains in place until March 2027, alongside the enhanced timetable.

Some weekday services will also see adjustments due to operational requirements and ongoing engineering projects, including electrification work linked to the Borders Railway route. Customers are being advised to check journey details carefully before travelling as departure times on some services may have changed.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said:

“From tomorrow, we are introducing timetable improvements to support the growing demand for leisure travel and provide customers with more flexibility when travelling across the country. The changes include additional weekend and late evening services on a number of routes, helping customers travel for events, social occasions, and days out by rail. Alongside the fares freeze, these timetable enhancements offer customers even greater value and convenience when choosing to travel with ScotRail. We encourage customers to check their journeys before travelling, as some train times may have changed.”

The latest timetable changes underline the continued shift in travel patterns across Scotland’s rail network, with operators increasingly targeting weekend, leisure and event travel rather than traditional commuter demand alone.

Image: ScotRail