ScotRail gears up for Calcutta Cup crowds in Edinburgh

ScotRail is preparing to carry thousands of supporters to Edinburgh this weekend as Scotland face England in their first home match of this year’s Guinness Six Nations.

The Calcutta Cup encounter, the oldest trophy in international rugby, takes place at a sold-out Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday 14 February, with kick-off scheduled for 16.40. With demand high, fans are being urged to travel by rail to reach the capital.

To support the influx of passengers, ScotRail plans to run longer trains on key routes into and out of Edinburgh throughout the day, where possible, in a bid to ease congestion and improve the matchday experience.

Haymarket station, located within walking distance of Murrayfield and also accessible by tram, will be the primary rail hub for supporters. After the final whistle, those travelling home by train will be directed to Haymarket, where a managed holding area on Haymarket Terrace will be used to control crowd flow before passengers are guided to the correct queues for their services.

Supporters are encouraged to purchase return tickets in advance through the ScotRail app, online, at ticket offices or via self-service machines. Additional staff will be deployed across the network to assist customers and help services run smoothly.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Customer Operations Director, said:

“It’s always a special atmosphere when the Scotland team run out at Murrayfield, and with a sell-out crowd expected for the Calcutta Cup it promises to be another fantastic occasion. We’re operating longer trains on key routes to help supporters travel to Edinburgh and get home as smoothly as possible after the final whistle. Taking the train is the easiest way to enjoy the day – it avoids traffic, gets you close to the stadium, and lets fans focus on soaking up the matchday atmosphere and cheering on Scotland.”

Image: ScotRail