Record-Breaking Saturday Sees Over 350,000 ScotRail Trips

ScotRail has recorded its busiest day yet for passenger journeys, with more than 350,000 trips made on Saturday, December 20. The operator said the figure highlights strong demand for rail travel as the Christmas season gathers pace.

A total of 353,846 customer journeys were logged on the day, beating the previous record of 345,216 set just over a week earlier on Friday, December 12. The latest total is also higher than any daily passenger numbers recorded since April 2022, underlining continued growth across the network.

The surge has been driven by festive travel, with customers using trains to attend Christmas parties, visit seasonal markets, go shopping, enjoy nights out, and travel to see friends and family. ScotRail has responded by running longer trains and adding late-night services on key routes, creating thousands of additional seats and expanding travel options throughout December.

Passenger numbers have also been boosted by the removal of peak fares across the ScotRail network from September 1. The Scottish Government-backed initiative, the first of its kind anywhere in Britain, has simplified ticketing and reduced the cost of many journeys by almost half, encouraging more people to switch from car to rail.

David Ross, ScotRail Chief Operating Officer, said:

“This milestone is a fantastic reflection of how Scotland is choosing to travel, and we’re delighted to see so many people making the most of the railway. Breaking the customer journeys record again shows the progress we’re making, and the confidence people have in using ScotRail. It demonstrates sustained demand for rail travel, and that we are providing good value for money and a service customers can rely on for work, leisure, and days and nights out. Our people right across the network are working hard to support customers during this busy Christmas period, with more seats on trains and additional late-night services helping people make the most of this busy time. We hope even more people will continue choosing to travel with ScotRail into the New Year and beyond.”

Image: ScotRail