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Tuesday 12 Mar 2013

Hearts fans urged to plan ahead for Hampden final

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Hearts fans heading to Hampden are being urged to plan their journeys carefully due to vital engineering works affecting services on the Edinburgh Waverley-Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High line this Sunday.

With Network Rail engineers working to deliver a range of bridge and track works between Falkirk and Linlithgow, buses will replace trains between Polmont and Edinburgh on March 17.

Direct train services will still run between the two cities on the Edinburgh-Glasgow Queen Street via Bathgate line and on the Edinburgh-Glasgow Central via Shotts line, providing up to five trains an hour.

ScotRail will be providing longer trains and running an expanded timetable on the line via Bathgate and Airdrie, with trains every half hour.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “These engineering works are vital to the long-term future of the railway and are part of a wider programme of enhancements being delivered across the central belt.

“We are working closely with train operators to limit disruption to journeys and to deliver these improvements to our infrastructure as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

ScotRail will also have extra staff on the ground to assist customers at Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, Glasgow Queen Street, Mount Florida, and Paisley Gilmour Street.

A ScotRail spokesman said: “We have worked closely with industry partners – including the clubs and British Transport Police – to deliver a plan that will help thousands of fans enjoy the big day.

“To limit the impact of Network Rail's engineering improvements near Linlithgow, we recommend fans from Edinburgh use the routes via either Airdrie or Shotts.

“We would also encourage fans to plan ahead, by buying tickets in advance and allowing plenty of time for their journeys, as services are likely to be busy.”