TransPennine Express (TPE) is set to run up to two extra services a day for festivalgoers travelling to and from this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
The train operator will run the additional services from Monday 3 August until Friday 4 September alongside its usual timetable to support those returning from a show, whether it be live music, comedy, or dance.
On weekdays, an evening service will depart Newcastle at 7:15pm, calling at Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reston, Dunbar, and East Linton, before arriving at Edinburgh Waverley.
For late-night travellers, a train will depart Edinburgh Waverley at 11:24pm, calling at East Linton, Dunbar, Reston, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth and Morpeth, before arriving in Newcastle.
On Saturdays, a service will leave Newcastle at 7:31pm, stopping at Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reston, Dunbar and East Linton on its way to Edinburgh Waverley.
For those returning from the Fringe, an extra train will depart Edinburgh Waverley at 9:57pm, serving East Linton, Dunbar, Reston, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth and Morpeth before arriving in Newcastle.
On Sundays, a late-evening service will leave Newcastle at 10:59pm, calling at Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reston, Dunbar and East Linton before reaching Edinburgh Waverley.
A further service will depart Edinburgh Waverley at 11:34pm, stopping at East Linton, Dunbar, Reston, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth and Morpeth en route to Newcastle.
Andrew McClements, Customer Experience and Transformation Director at TransPennine Express, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer these extra services for those travelling during the Fringe Festival and to support the city of Edinburgh during this popular event. Travelling by train is one of the easiest ways to enjoy the festival, allowing customers to avoid city-centre traffic and parking challenges while arriving right in the heart of Edinburgh. These additional services will give people even more flexibility to make the most of everything the Fringe has to offer.”
More than two million people are expected to travel the Scottish capital for the festival, with thousands of shows taking place across more than 250 venues in and around the city, so train services may be busier than usual.
Andrew added: “Given the event’s popularity, we’re asking our customers to allow extra time to complete their journey to the festival.”
Fringe ticketholders who haven’t yet purchased their rail tickets to travel to or from Edinburgh in August can do so via TPE’s website.
Image credit: TPE
