ScotRail has reported its busiest day of 2025 so far, with around 340,000 journeys made across Scotland’s Railway on Saturday, 8 November. The record figure of 337,441 trips exceeded previous peaks recorded during August events, including the Oasis concerts and the Edinburgh Festivals, which saw approximately 326,000 journeys. It also marks the second-busiest day for ScotRail since public ownership began in April 2022.

A sell-out match at Scottish Gas Murrayfield between the Scotland men’s rugby team and New Zealand played a significant role in driving demand, with thousands of fans choosing to travel by train to attend the fixture. Additional ScotRail staff were deployed at key stations across the network to assist customers, carry out ticket checks, and help manage the increase in passenger numbers.

Since 1 September, ScotRail has permanently removed peak fares, making rail travel simpler, more flexible, and better value for money. The Scottish Government initiative has reduced journey costs in some cases by almost 50 per cent, including trips between Edinburgh and Glasgow. ScotRail believes the fare changes have contributed to the increase in journeys, encouraging both leisure travel and commuting.

Major events remain a key focus for ScotRail, with tailored travel plans, extra services, and additional carriages deployed to ensure safe and reliable journeys. The operator’s efforts to provide smooth connections to sporting and cultural occasions are designed to encourage more people to choose train travel over driving, reducing road congestion and environmental impact.

David Ross, ScotRail Chief Operating Officer, said:

“It was fantastic to see so many people choosing to travel with ScotRail on Saturday – our busiest day of the year. Our teams worked hard to deliver additional capacity and support the huge numbers travelling to the rugby and across the country. Major events are a big part of what we do, and it’s always great to see Scotland’s Railway playing its part in helping people come together to enjoy these occasions. With another packed week ahead, including Scotland’s match against Argentina at Murrayfield on Sunday, and the national football team’s game against Denmark on Tuesday, we’re ready once again to get fans to and from the action.”

Image: ScotRail