Home » RAILWAY NEWS » Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025: Extra Train Services By TransPennine Express For Festival-Goers, Know More
Saturday, July 19, 2025
With the biggest arts festival in the world just around the corner, the Edinburgh Fringe prepares to open its doors for another year and TransPennine Express (TPE) will be running additional services to help people make their way to the festival. The train operator will put on extra services between 2 and 29 August 2025 to transport festivalgoers to and from the Scottish capital to enjoy the festival shows in comedy, live music, theatre and dance. These additional amenities are aimed at providing even more convenience for event-goers who want to maximize their time at the show.
With two million people expected to pour into the Scottish capital for the festival, there are anticipated to be more people needing to travel to and from Edinburgh than normal. To help with this demand, TransPennine Express are introducing up to three extra services a day, providing more choice for our customers in terms of when they can travel and how. These additional trains will complement the normal timetable, so that festival-revellers can leave themselves plenty of time to travel.
Extra Services to Meet Festival Demand
TransPennine Express will operate several additional train services during the festival period. For weekday travelers, there will be an evening service departing from Newcastle at 8:02 pm, stopping at Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reston, Dunbar, and East Linton before reaching Edinburgh Waverley. This service provides an excellent option for those returning from shows and events in the evening.
Another additional service will depart from Edinburgh Waverley at 9:56 pm, heading to Carlisle, with stops at Haymarket and Lockerbie. For those traveling late at night, a train will leave Edinburgh Waverley at 11:28 pm, calling at East Linton, Dunbar, Reston, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth, and Morpeth before arriving back in Newcastle.
On Saturdays, passengers will have even more choices. A service will run from Newcastle at 7:27 pm to Edinburgh Waverley, with the same stops at Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reston, Dunbar, and East Linton. A late departure from Edinburgh Waverley will also be available at 10:02 pm, following the same route as the evening service.
TransPennine Express is also introducing an additional evening service at 7:57 pm on Saturdays from Edinburgh Waverley to Carlisle, stopping at Haymarket and Lockerbie. With these extra services, festival-goers will have more flexibility in their travel schedules, whether they’re catching late-night performances or returning to their accommodation after an event.
Supporting Festival-Goers During Peak Times
Andrew McClements, the Customer Experience & Transformation Director at TransPennine Express, expressed excitement about the additional services, noting that the company is thrilled to be part of the festival experience. “We are pleased to be able to offer these extra services for those traveling during the Fringe Festival and to support the city of Edinburgh during this popular event,” McClements said.
With more than two million visitors expected in Edinburgh, the festival can bring about some challenges in terms of crowded transport. McClements encouraged passengers to plan ahead, expect busy services, and allow extra time for their journeys. The company is committed to making the travel experience as seamless as possible, though passengers should be aware that services could be busier than usual.
For those attending the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it’s crucial to secure rail tickets in advance, especially if you haven’t already purchased them. Tickets can be easily booked via the TransPennine Express website, ensuring that festival-goers can enjoy a hassle-free journey to and from the event.
Community Appreciation and Continued Support
The decision to provide additional late-night services this year is also a response to community feedback. Tom Thorburn, Honorary President of Rail Action Group East of Scotland, expressed his gratitude for the expanded services. “We are delighted that TransPennine Express has positively responded to community requests and agreed to operate their late-night Edinburgh Festival trains during August again this year,” Thorburn said.
This is not the first time TransPennine Express has responded to the needs of festival-goers. Last year, their late-night trains proved popular, and this year, the addition of Saturday services alongside the weekday trains offers even more options for attendees.
The expansion of these services is a key part of supporting the vibrant culture of Edinburgh during one of the world’s most celebrated festivals. The late-night trains are particularly valuable for those wanting to enjoy the full festival experience without worrying about travel constraints. With an extended travel window, festival-goers can take in performances, have fun, and return to their accommodations with ease.
Plan Ahead for a Smooth Journey
Like always, travelers attending the Edinburgh Fringe Festival should buy their tickets in advance to save a spot. On that same note, visitors need to keep in mind that the city will be packed during the festival and they must clock in sufficient travel time. Going to one of the world’s most inspiring festivals just became easier, thanks to additional services from TransPennine Express.
In summary, the gesture was welcome, TransPennine Express’s efforts in increasing travel to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival are commendable. St. Ives based travel operator is increasing services and supporting the city during the busiest period of the year, all because it wants to see that when festival goers hop on board they arrive in style and comfort, not missing out on any of the festival.
source:
- TransPennine Express
- Department for Transport (DfT)
- Transport Scotland
- Edinburgh City Council
- Rail Action Group East of Scotland (RAGES)
