Scottish Cup final: Hibs and Hearts fans to travel on same trains

RIVAL fans will be allowed to mix on the trains heading from Edinburgh to Glasgow before this weekend’s all-Edinburgh football showdown.

Police chiefs have insisted there is “no need” to attempt to segregate more than 20,000 fans who will be travelling by rail from the capital on Saturday for the Scottish Cup final.

However, they have warned a strict alcohol ban will be in force and have also advised fans not to drink heavily before the game, as they risk being turned away from the stadium if they are clearly drunk.

Police are also taking steps to ensure the nine Hibs and Hearts fans subject to football banning orders are kept away from Hampden and are also pledging that “antisocial behaviour” will not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, the police have urged fans to steer clear of either Tynecastle or Easter Road stadiums on Saturday night if their team claims the trophy, as the open-top bus tour for the winners on Sunday afternoon is planned as the main public celebration.

Although no extra rail services are running on Saturday, operator ScotRail has plans to provide an extra 11,000 seats.

Chief superintendent Ellie Bird, of British Transport Police, said fans would be allowed onto all Glasgow-bound trains leaving Edinburgh on Saturday. Fans will be segregated en route from Glasgow Central to stations near Hampden.

She said: “There will be no segregation of fans on the way to Glasgow, although there will be a queueing system at both Waverley and Haymarket, and you will need a ticket to board a train.

“We don’t see any need to segregate people going to Glasgow. We want people to enjoy their day out, but we want to ensure that the minority don’t spoil it for anyone else.”

Chief superintendent Andy Bates, of Strathclyde Police, said the force would be taking a “softly softly” approach on the day, but insisted Glasgow’s public drinking ban would be strictly enforced.

“People who turn up and try and get into the stadium whilst drunk could potentially get arrested after having paid good money for a ticket,” he said.

Assistant chief constable Bill Skelly, of Lothian and Borders Police, added: “We are not saying to people do not drink at all on the day, but when you take into account the fact that you cannot drink on trains or coaches, or on the streets of Glasgow, people should not be drinking too much anyway.”