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Trains from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley)

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  3. Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley)

Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) by train

It takes an average of 1h 13m to travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) by train, over a distance of around 42 miles (67 km). There are normally 209 trains per day traveling from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) and tickets for this journey start from $17.16 when you book in advance.

First train

5:00 am

Last train

12:07 am

Departure station

Glasgow

Arrival station

Edinburgh (Waverley)

Journey time

From 44m

Distance

42 miles (67 km)

Frequency

209 trains per day

Changes

Direct trains available

Price

From $17.16

Train operators

CrossCountry, ScotRail, Lumo

Travelling by train from Glasgow to Edinburgh in 45m

Planning a trip to the Scottish capital and need more information about the journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh by train? Start your journey with us! 

Generally, the train journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh takes around 1 hour and 14 minutes to travel the 42 miles between these two Scottish cities. Although, if you want to get there even quicker, the fastest services can take you from Glasgow to Edinburgh in just 45 minutes. As there are around 155 direct services available, you don’t need to worry about changing along the way.  

On this route, you’ll board a train at Glasgow Queen Street station operated by either ScotRail, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) or Avanti West Coast. Once you’ve boarded the train, you can sit back and enjoy the onboard amenities, including free WiFi and comfortable seating. In just 45 minutes, you will arrive at Edinburgh (Waverley) station, in the heart of the Scottish capital.  

Once you’ve exited the station, you can begin to explore the city’s famous landmarks. Head to Edinburgh Castle, an intimidating fortress perched proudly above the cobbled city. Alternatively, make your way to the National Museum of Scotland and uncover the country’s fascinating history. If you're in the Old Town, keep an eye out for the filming locations from the Netflix series One Day. If you want to see more of Scotland, check out our guides:

If you’d like to take advantage of the best train deals, try traveling during Off-Peak hours, as tickets tend to be cheaper outside of morning/evening rush hours between Monday and Friday. To save even more, try booking Advance tickets – they’re usually released 12 weeks before the departure date and tend to be cheaper than tickets purchased on the day of travel.  

Ready to book? Begin your search for cheap train tickets from Glasgow to Edinburgh in our Journey Planner. There’s no need to wait, start a search with us today! For more information about the journey, continue reading for timetables with first and last train times, tips on booking cheap train fares and FAQs.  

What do people frequently ask about the train journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley)?

Want to know more about your journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley)? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How do I travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley)?

You can get from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) in 1 hour and 13 minutes on average, with the fastest trains taking just 44 minutes. Check out our Journey Planner for more details on times, tickets and prices.

How long does the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) take?

The average journey time by train between Glasgow and Edinburgh (Waverley) is 1 hour and 13 minutes, with around 209 trains per day running on this route. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.

How much does the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) cost?

Train tickets from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) can start from as little as $17.16 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending on the time of day, route and class you book.

What's the fastest journey time between Glasgow and Edinburgh (Waverley) by train?

The fastest journey time by train from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) is 44 minutes.

How do I find cheap train tickets from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley)?

The price of train tickets from Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) starts at $17.16 one-way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. Booking on the day is usually more expensive and costs can vary depending on the time of day, route or class.

1. Book in advance

Look out for Advance tickets – they usually come out up to 12 weeks before the departure date and can be cheaper than buying on the day. If you’re here a tad early, sign up for our Advance ticket alert today to get notified when your tickets are released.

2. Consider a Season Ticket

If you catch this train more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly and weekly options available, find out if a season ticket for Glasgow to Edinburgh (Waverley) is right for you.

3. Use your Railcard

National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel a few times or more in a year. Find out how you can save with a National Railcard here.

4. Split your tickets

Download our app to find split tickets — courtesy of SplitSave, our handy feature which 'splits' your train tickets where possible to find you a better deal. Learn more about the clever tech behind split tickets, and how to spot SplitSave discounts in our app.

For more money-saving tips on UK and European train travel, read our cheap train tickets guide.

‡Advance adult single fare. Excludes booking fee. Prices seen by Trainline customers in the last 30 days. Availability limited.

What are my ticket options for this journey?

If you're like us, you've probably seen the sheer number of ticket types available in the UK and wondered "Why are there so many?!" To help, we've put together a handy guide to the main UK ticket types, simply tap the one you’re interested in to find out more.

Advance train tickets

Single tickets released ahead of time for a specific time and date. Generally, the sooner you book, the cheaper these tickets are likely to be.

Anytime train tickets

Flexible tickets that allow you to travel at any time of the day. Perfect if you have to be somewhere but aren’t sure for how long.

First Class train tickets

Fancy traveling in style? Enjoy perks like more spacious seating, complimentary refreshments and lounge access with First Class train tickets.

GroupSave train tickets

Save up to 1/3 when traveling with a group of 3 to 9 people on eligible single or return journeys at Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak times.

Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak train tickets

Available at quieter times of the day, Off-Peak tickets offer the flexibility of traveling at any time during the Off-Peak window and discounted fares.

Return train tickets

Return tickets combine your outward and return journey into a single ticket. Choose from a Day or Open Return ticket for more flexibility on travel dates.

Family train tickets

Traveling with your family? There are plenty of family offers to help you save money, including Kids for a Quid tickets for children aged 5-15 and Off-Peak Family Travelcards.

Tips and tricks from our Trainline team

We love helping our customers find inspiration for their next train journey. Discover some travel stories written based on our employees' experiences.

A day trip from Glasgow to Edinburgh by train

I was working in Glasgow for a couple of weeks and decided to take a day trip to Edinburgh, as I’d never been before, and it only takes around 40 minutes to travel between these two cities by train. I arrived about 15 minutes before my train was due to leave, so I grabbed a coffee before heading to my platform.

On the train

I hopped on the ScotRail service I’d booked to travel to Edinburgh and found my seat with ease, there was enough space above me to store my coat, so I settled in for the journey. There was free WiFi on the train so I used this to upload some snaps of the countryside from my window to social media, as it looked so pretty as we whizzed along.

Arriving into Edinburgh Waverley station

We arrived into platform 4 at Edinburgh Waverley, did you know it’s the second-largest station in the UK? Well, you can tell! It’s huge! The main concourse sits right in the middle of the station and has exits on both sides, as I was heading into Old Town first to look at the castle, I took the Market Street exit.

About Jorja

Jorja is one of our trusted, hand-picked travel writers. The information for this article was recorded first-hand, based on her own genuine experience of the journey.


* Based on European average monthly visitors to Trainline’s app and website from 1.1.2023 to 10.31.2023 vs other independent retailers.

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