Travel advice for football fans ahead of Hampden semi finals

ScotRail is urging fans to allow more time for their journeys, and to expect services to be busier than normal during a big weekend of cup football.

Weekend engineering works on some routes also mean that replacement buses will be in operation, meaning longer journey times for those travelling.

On Saturday, January 14, Celtic play Kilmarnock at 5:30pm, with Rangers then facing Aberdeen on Sunday, January 15 at 3pm, both at the national stadium Hampden Park.

ScotRail is running as many services as possible to help fans travel to the games, including additional trains to and from Mount Florida before and after the matches.

Weekend engineering works on some routes mean that replacement buses will be in operation.

Unfortunately, planned Network Rail engineering works will mean replacement buses between Kilmarnock and Glasgow, and between Dundee and Aberdeen.

Fans travelling on either of those routes will need to allow more time for their journey as the bus sections will take considerably longer, and there will be fewer seats available.

Queuing systems will be in place at Glasgow Central before the football and at Mount Florida and Kings Park after the final whistle.

To reduce the need to queue, customers should buy their return tickets to Mount Florida or Kings Park in advance via the ScotRail app or website.

On Sunday, January 15, separate queues will be in place for Rangers and Aberdeen fans at Glasgow Central station. Rangers fans will queue for services to Mount Florida via the carriage driveway on Hope Street, while Aberdeen supporters will queue for services to Kings Park via the main concourse in Glasgow Central station.

After the match, Rangers fans should travel home via Mount Florida, while Aberdeen supporters should make their way home from Kings Park station.

Customers are also reminded that the consumption of alcohol remains prohibited on ScotRail services.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said: “We’re preparing for another big weekend of football with fans travelling to Glasgow to cheer on their team.

“To help the events run smoothly, we’ll be running as many trains as possible over the weekend, however, trains will be much busier than normal and engineering works will have an impact, so please plan ahead.

“I encourage anyone travelling this weekend to allow extra time for travel, and to minimise your need to queue, buy your tickets in advance on the ScotRail app or website.”

Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland Route Director, said: “The multi-million-pound investment we’re making to replace life-expired track along several sections of the route is essential to keeping the railway safe and reliable.

“Works of this scale are planned far in advance of football fixtures being released.

“While we appreciate that there’s never a good time for disruption on the railway, we thank fans for their understanding and advise everyone to plan ahead and allow extra time for travelling to and from the respective matches.”