ScotRail Urges Festive Travellers to Plan Ahead as Boxing Day Services Expand

ScotRail is advising customers to plan ahead and check their journeys before travelling over the Christmas and New Year period, as changes will be in place across the network. Passengers are being reminded that the last trains will depart earlier than usual on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, while no services will operate on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, in line with previous years.

On Boxing Day, December 26, ScotRail will expand its timetable to offer more opportunities for people to travel by rail and spend time with family and friends. For the first time, services will operate to and from Aberdeen, marking a significant extension to the usual Boxing Day network. Trains will run between Aberdeen and Edinburgh Waverley, as well as between Arbroath and Edinburgh Waverley.

The new north-east services will operate every two hours, giving customers greater flexibility to travel for leisure, shopping, visiting loved ones, or work. ScotRail said the move reflects growing demand for Boxing Day rail travel and aims to make train services a more attractive option during the festive period.

Alongside routes within the traditional Strathclyde area, Boxing Day services will also run on a wider range of lines across Scotland, including:

• Aberdeen and Edinburgh Waverley.

• Arbroath and Edinburgh Waverley.

• Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High.

• Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley via Bathgate.

• Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts.

• Alloa and Glasgow Queen Street.

• Dunblane and Edinburgh Waverley.

• Perth and Edinburgh Waverley via Dunfermline.

• Leven and Edinburgh Waverley via Kirkcaldy.

A largely normal timetable, aside from routes affected by engineering works, will operate between Saturday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 30. A revised service will then be in place on Friday, January 2, 2026. Full details of all Christmas and New Year timetable changes, including Boxing Day services, are available via the ScotRail website and app.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said:

“The introduction of Boxing Day services to and from Aberdeen for the first time is a real boost for customers, and we’re pleased to be offering more options for travel across the country. We’re encouraging everyone to plan ahead and check their journey on the ScotRail app or website before they set off as there will be changes during the Christmas period, including the last trains on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve departing earlier than usual.”

Image: ScotRail