ScotRail reminds customers of December timetable improvements

ScotRail is reminding customers that timetable improvements take effect from Sunday, 14 December, aimed at enhancing rail services on the Southside of Glasgow.

The new timetable will see modern four-carriage class 380 trains on the route between Glasgow Central and East Kilbride, replacing the current four-carriage class 156 diesel trains. Six-carriage class 156 trains will continue to operate.

As a result, around 75 per cent of services between Glasgow Central and East Kilbride will be operated by electric trains, marking a significant step forward in Scotland’s ongoing rail decarbonisation programme.

The introduction of electric trains follows a major project funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by Network Rail to electrify the East Kilbride line. This upgrade will provide smoother, quieter, and more comfortable journeys for customers.

The timetable change will include additional carriages on several peak-time services on the Glasgow Central to Newton, Neilston, and Cathcart Circle routes.

Additional evening services will operate between Edinburgh Waverley and Dunblane, providing, for the first time, two trains per hour Monday to Saturday that will call at all stations along the route.

Customers travelling on the Edinburgh Waverley – North Berwick / Dunbar line will see new weekday morning services, while ScotRail services to North Berwick, Dunbar, and Tweedbank will have adjusted timings to align with cross-border timetable changes by other train operators.

Some evening services between Edinburgh and Dunbar will now stop at Prestonpans, Longniddry, and Drem, eliminating a two-hour gap between services.

In Fife, on Monday to Thursday and Sunday evenings, some services will be revised to operate via Dunfermline instead of Kirkcaldy. Others will have additional stops to allow Network Rail enhanced access to carry out ongoing electrification works between Burntisland and Thornton North Junction.

Most other changes across the network are minor, but customers are encouraged to check their journeys on the ScotRail website, mobile app, or through social media channels as train times may have changed.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said:

“Our December timetable change marks another important milestone for Scotland’s Railway, as we introduce electric trains on the East Kilbride line.

“The move to electric trains will mean smoother, quieter, and more sustainable journeys for customers, while our additional evening services will offer greater flexibility for those travelling later in the day.

“Across the network, we’ve made a range of alterations to deliver more services and improve capacity where it’s needed most.

“These changes represent another step in our ongoing commitment to deliver the best service we can and encourage more people to choose rail travel instead of using the car.

“We’re asking all of our customers to make sure they check their regular journeys before Sunday, 14 December, as their train times may have changed.”

Details on the main changes that will be introduced from Sunday, 14 December:

Additional evening services on Glasgow Central – East Kilbride line:

• 2021 Glasgow Central to East Kilbride.
• 2058 East Kilbride to Glasgow Central.
• 2117 Glasgow Central to East Kilbride.
• 2157 East Kilbride to Glasgow Central.
• 2218 Glasgow Central to East Kilbride.
• 2257 East Kilbride to Glasgow Central.

Additional carriages on peak-time services between Glasgow Central and Neilston / Newton / Cathcart Circle:

• 0724 Neilston to Glasgow Central now six carriages (was four).
• 0813 Glasgow Central to Glasgow Central (via Cathcart Circle) now six carriages (was three).
• 0852 Glasgow Central to Glasgow Central (via Cathcart Circle) now six carriages (was three).
• 1720 Glasgow Central to Newton now six carriages (was four).

Additional evening services between Edinburgh Waverley and Dunblane:

• 2101 Dunblane to Edinburgh Waverley.
• 2154 Dunblane to Edinburgh Waverley.
• 2255 Dunblane to Edinburgh Waverley.
• 2035 Edinburgh Waverley to Dunblane.
• 2134 Edinburgh Waverley to Dunblane.
• 2235 Edinburgh Waverley to Dunblane.
• 2332 Edinburgh Waverley to Dunblane (Saturday only).

Additional morning weekday services from Dunbar / North Berwick to Edinburgh Waverley:

• 0741 Dunbar to Edinburgh Waverley (calling at East Linton, Drem, Prestonpans, Wallyford, Musselburgh).
• 0819 North Berwick to Edinburgh Waverley (all stations).

Source: ScotRail