Widely regarded as one of the prettiest cities in the UK and Europe, Edinburgh is a city full of beautiful gothic facades, vibrant creative energy, and incredibly rich historical treasures. It is also a major rail hub, with 4 stations serving the city and connecting with dozens of destinations around Scotland and the UK. Edinburgh Waverley, in the heart of the city centre, is the centre of Edinburgh’s train network, connecting downtown Edinburgh directly with Glasgow, London, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Carlisle, and many other major cities across the UK.

Scotrail trains to Edinburgh

Scotrail is Scotland’s national railway provider, and Edinburgh Waverley is one of their biggest and busiest operation points along with Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central. Scotrail provide services from all of Edinburgh’s main train stations to destinations all over Scotland, from as far north as Inverness and the Highlands as well as Ayrshire and the southwest, plus long-distance services to England, Wales, and Ireland (via ferry).

Avanti West Coast trains to Edinburgh

Avanti West Coast run a large number of services to Edinburgh from a range of different West Coast and central cities in Scotland, England, and Wales. Most services connect with Edinburgh Waverley as the main endpoint, although Avanti West Coast serve other stations in Edinburgh including Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh Gateway, and Edinburgh Airport. They have long-distance services from as far south as London.

Virgin trains to Edinburgh

Virgin Trains operate a complex network of services emanating out of Edinburgh Waverley. Some high-speed Virgin services connect Edinburgh with London in as little as 4 hours and 30 minutes or Glasgow in as little as 45 minutes.

HS2 high-speed trains to Edinburgh

Edinburgh Waverley is part of the developing HS2 high-speed rail network, which aims to significantly cut the time to take a train to Edinburgh from cities such as London and Birmingham.

Main train stations in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Waverley is the primary railway station for a range of services by train to Edinburgh. It is the city’s biggest both in terms of facilities and in terms of train services. Waverley is by far the most conveniently located station in Edinburgh, located right in the middle of the city between the Old Town and the New Town, a stone’s throw from Princes Street and just a short walk from the Royal Mile. It has an excellent range of goods and services, including luggage storage, car hire, cash machines and currency exchange, accessible toilets, and a wide range of shops and eateries. The station has step-free access and passenger assistance services are available for disabled passengers. Edinburgh Gateway is a much smaller station, which is largely utilised for connecting the city and regional trains with Edinburgh Airport. Edinburgh Park station is another major station in the west of Edinburgh, receiving trains from Glasgow and the West Coast and convenient for business travellers for events at the nearby business park. Brunstane, Slateford and Kingsknowe are some of the smaller local stations, with very limited services and facilities, that are useful mostly for local connections.

How can I find cheap train tickets to Edinburgh?

There are many methods and tips for finding a cheap train to Edinburgh. However, a few of these stand out about the rest – first and foremost, book in advance and be flexible! Prices usually only always go up, so booking as early as possible will help you save money. Also, being flexible not only on what day and time you can travel but also where you travel (think smaller towns and breaking the journey up into multiple connections) could make a significant saving when it comes time to booking. In all cases, it makes sense to shop around and have a look at different options. Omio, which collates hundreds of different fares and ticket types from dozens of different providers in one place, makes it easy to do just that.

Before you travel to Edinburgh by train—good to know:

Edinburgh is a city full of world-famous monuments and events as well as plenty of pleasant surprises and under-the-radar delights. Although the Edinburgh Fringe is one of the world’s biggest cultural events, it is by no means the only thing worth visiting Edinburgh for – take the train to Edinburgh and see it from a different angle from atop Arthur’s Seat, the knobbly hill overlooking the city that provides better views than from Edinburgh Castle, without the ticket entry price! It’s worth having a walk around Edinburgh’s grand old streets, but don’t forget to take a stroll along the sleepy Water of Leith, too. Lined in parts by beautiful gardens, this eventually leads all the way to the sea with sensational views. Wherever you end up, it’s easy to get back to the city centre thanks to Edinburgh’s great network of public buses and trams.

Train providers: Grand Central Trains, Cross Country and Caledonian Sleeper to Edinburgh trains

Travel to Edinburgh on Grand Central Trains, Cross Country and Caledonian Sleeper trains with Omio. When comparing schedules and tickets, we will also show you other options with multiple connections or other travel modes if they’re available.

Lumo are an open access operator launched in 2021 owned by FirstGroup providing train travel from London to Scotland and the North-East of England. It runs between London and Edinburgh along the East Coast Main Line. Lumo trains offer 100% electric travel along with amenities like comforable seating, free WiFi & their LumoEats at-seat catering in their single Standard Class. Lumo offered two ticket types their advance tickets LumoFixed which are only valid on the date and train booked but are exchangeable prior to departure and their Anytime tickets which can be used on any Lumo train on the date of your ticket.

Transpennine Express is a train company based in the United Kingdom. It operates services from Manchester and Liverpool to Scotland, the North East and Yorkshire. It offers a range of services, including express, regional and local trains. Express trains are the fastest, with journey times of up to three hours. Regional trains are slower, but offer more stops and a more relaxed atmosphere. Local trains are the slowest, but offer the most stops. Transpennine Express offers a range of ticket types, including single, return, group and season tickets. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, comfortable seating and a range of food and drink options. The most popular routes for Transpennine Express are Manchester to Edinburgh, Liverpool to Leeds and Manchester to York. These routes offer a convenient and comfortable way to travel between the cities.

LNER is a train company based in the United Kingdom. It operates a wide range of services, from high-speed intercity trains to local services. Its most popular routes include London to Edinburgh, London to Leeds, and London to York. LNER offers a variety of train types, including the Azuma, InterCity 225, and HST. The Azuma is a modern, high-speed train that offers comfortable seating and onboard Wi-Fi. The InterCity 225 is a classic train that offers a more traditional experience. The HST is a high-speed train that offers a smooth ride and plenty of legroom. LNER offers a variety of ticket types, including Advance, Anytime, and Off-Peak. Advance tickets are the cheapest option and must be booked in advance. Anytime tickets are more expensive but can be used at any time. Off-Peak tickets are the most affordable option for travelling during off-peak times. Onboard facilities include comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a range of food and drink options. LNER also offers a range of discounts and special offers, making it an affordable and convenient way to travel.

The Caledonian Sleeper is a train service operating in the United Kingdom. It offers overnight journeys between London, Scotland, the North of England and Wales. The service is operated by Serco and consists of two types of trains: the Classic Sleeper and the Lowland Sleeper. The Classic Sleeper offers comfortable sleeping berths, while the Lowland Sleeper offers reclining seats. Both trains offer onboard facilities such as Wi-Fi, power sockets, and complimentary tea and coffee. Ticket types include Standard, First Class and Solo. Standard tickets offer access to the lounge car, while First Class tickets include access to the lounge car and complimentary breakfast. Solo tickets are available for single travellers and offer access to the lounge car and a private sleeping berth. The most popular routes for the Caledonian Sleeper are London to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Passengers can also travel from London to Aberdeen, Fort William and Dundee.

Avanti West Coast is a train company based in the United Kingdom. It operates high-speed trains between London and major cities in the UK, including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The company offers a range of ticket types, including Standard, First Class and Advance tickets. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, comfortable seating and a range of food and drinks. The most popular routes for Avanti West Coast are London to Birmingham, London to Manchester and London to Glasgow. The company operates a fleet of Pendolino and Super Voyager trains, which offer a smooth and comfortable journey.

Grand Central Trains is a train company based in the United Kingdom. It operates services from London to the North East of England, Yorkshire and the East Midlands. Grand Central Trains offers a range of services, including express, semi-fast and stopping services. Express services run between London and the North East, Yorkshire and the East Midlands, with journey times of up to three hours. Semi-fast services run between London and the North East, Yorkshire and the East Midlands, with journey times of up to four hours. Stopping services run between London and the North East, Yorkshire and the East Midlands, with journey times of up to five hours. Grand Central Trains offers a range of ticket types, including Standard, First Class and Advance tickets. Standard tickets are the most economical option, while First Class tickets offer more comfort and space. Advance tickets are available for purchase up to 12 weeks in advance and offer the best value for money. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, comfortable seating and a range of snacks and drinks. The most popular routes for Grand Central Trains are London to Bradford, London to Sunderland, London to York and London to Wakefield.

Northern Trains is a publicly owned train operating company in the United Kingdom, headquartered in York. The company operates local and commuter trains across the entire north of England connecting regions of the North East, North West, East Midlands, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and the Humber coast line. The rail network in the UK has been run by over 20 train companies, but they work together as National Rail with coordinated fares and ticketing. Tickets such as Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime Day are available to purchase for routes with Northern. There is only one class option on Northern trains: Standard.

Scotrail is a train operating company in Scotland, providing rail services throughout the country. It operates a wide range of services, from commuter trains to long-distance intercity services. The company operates a variety of train types, including the Class 380, Class 385, Class 156, Class 158 and Class 170. These trains offer a range of onboard facilities, such as free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and comfortable seating. Scotrail also offers a range of ticket types, including Advance, Off-Peak, and Anytime tickets. The most popular routes for Scotrail include Glasgow to Edinburgh, Glasgow to Inverness, and Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

Train stations in Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Waverley is the most popular Edinburgh train station for Omio travelers, but Edinburgh has quite a few hubs. Find all the information you need to know about the main train stations in Edinburgh for your trip.

Edinburgh Waverley Wifi

Amenities at station

Wifi

Lockers

Shopping

Parking

ATM

Taxis

Accessibility

Address

Princes St, Edinburgh EH1 1BB, United Kingdom

Phone Number

+44 3457114141, +44 3450774224, +44 1315573508

Ticket Office Hours

Mon - Sat: 05: 00 - 23: 59 | Sun: 07: 00 - 23: 59

Public transit options for Edinburgh Waverley

Bus lines: 22, 30, 33, X22, X25, X37
Train lines: Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper, CrossCountry, LNER, ScotRail, Transpennine Express
Location for Rail Replacement Services: Buses pick up/drop off on Waterloo Place, pick up across from Apex Hotel and drop off outside the Apex Hotel.
Metro: No metro available.

Edinburgh

Amenities at station

Accessibility

Address

Edinburgh EH1 3EG, UK

Edinburgh Gateway Wifi

Amenities at station

Wifi

Parking

Accessibility

Address

Edinburgh Gateway station, 1 Myreton Drive, Gogar, Lothian, EH12 9GF

Public transit options for Edinburgh Gateway

Location for Rail Replacement Services: Buses pick up/drop off from the bus stops outside the station

Edinburgh Park Wifi

Amenities at station

Wifi

Parking

Accessibility

Address

Edinburgh Park station, Cultins Road, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, EH11 4DF

Public transit options for Edinburgh Park

Location for Rail Replacement Services: Buses pick up/drop off from Platform 2 bus stop, adjacent to Herminston Gate

Edinburgh, Airport

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Trains to Edinburgh: related information

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Travelling to Edinburgh: related information

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Trains from Edinburgh

Edinburgh to Glasgow train

Edinburgh to Aberdeen train

Edinburgh to York train

Edinburgh to Newcastle upon Tyne train

Edinburgh to Fort William train

Edinburgh to Oban train

Edinburgh to Birmingham train

Edinburgh to Cambridge train

Edinburgh to Durham train

Edinburgh to Leeds train

Trains to Edinburgh

Newcastle upon Tyne to Edinburgh train

Glasgow to Edinburgh train

Aberdeen to Edinburgh train

Fort William to Edinburgh train

Oxford to Edinburgh train

Birmingham to Edinburgh train

Leeds to Edinburgh train

Cambridge to Edinburgh train

London Gatwick Airport to Edinburgh train

Sheffield to Edinburgh train

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