ScotRail to run Boxing Day services to and from Aberdeen for the first time

ScotRail will operate trains to and from Aberdeen on Boxing Day for the first time, as the train operator sets out its Christmas and New Year timetable.

On Boxing Day, new services will run between Aberdeen and Edinburgh Waverley, as well as between Arbroath and Edinburgh Waverley.

Trains will operate every two hours, giving customers in the north-east more options to visit friends and family, enjoy the sales, or travel for work.

The first trains on Boxing Day will be:

• 09:51 Arbroath to Edinburgh Waverley.
• 11:35 Edinburgh Waverley to Arbroath.
• 09:54 Aberdeen to Edinburgh Waverley.
• 10:35 Edinburgh Waverley to Aberdeen.

These new services complement a revised Boxing Day timetable which will operate the traditional service in the Strathclyde area, but also on routes to and from Perth, Alloa, Dunblane, Dundee, Leven, and between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Across December, ScotRail is adding extra services and more seats to trains across the country in the run-up to Christmas, with additional late-night weekend services on key routes alongside longer trains.

Over Christmas and New Year we will be operating our timetable while essential work is undertaken to maintain and improve your railway, so we are asking customers to please plan ahead.

On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the last trains will depart earlier than normal. As in previous years, no services will operate on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

A normal service – with the exception of routes undergoing engineering works – will operate between Saturday, 27 December, and Tuesday, 30 December, inclusive. A revised timetable will then operate on Friday, 2 January 2026.

Full details of all Christmas and New Year service changes, including the Boxing Day timetable, can be found on the ScotRail website and app.

If customers have any questions before they travel or while they are travelling, they can speak to a member of staff at a station, use a Help Point, or get in touch via social media for assistance.

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 during one of the busiest times of the year.

“Across Scotland’s Railway, we’re adding extra services and more seats in the lead up to Christmas and New Year to help customers make the most of the festive season, whether they’re heading to the sales, visiting family, or enjoying a night out.

“With the removal of peak fares, travelling by train offers even better value for money over the holidays, and we’re encouraging everyone to check their journey on the ScotRail app or website before they set off.”

Source: ScotRail