All trains also depart from : Haymarket
If the starting point of your journey is at the western end of the city centre, you can save time by heading to Haymarket station rather than Edinburgh Waverley, in order to board these trains.
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Additional connections are available by taking other trains from Edinburgh to Perth and connecting there for trains on to Inverness.
The connecting time between trains at Perth station will be around 20 minutes when departing Edinburgh at:
09:36 on Mon-Sat
11:35 on Mon-Sat
14:37 on Mon-Sat
17:50 on Sunday
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The train which is usually scheduled to depart from Edinburgh at 16:32 on Sunday and 16:34 on Monday to Saturday is the train which will have travelled from London and is operated by LNER.
It takes a different (less scenic) route between Edinburgh and Perth, as it travels via Stirling, though it is the fastest service of the day - though it's only a few minutes quicker than the fastest trains on the usual route via Kirkcaldy.
An
Azuma train is used on this service which travels via Stirling.
Inter7City trains are now used on most other departures, but the Turbostar trains are also used, particularly at weekends.
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If you wil be continuing a journey north from Inverness, the connections on towards Kyle of Lochalsh, Thurso and Wick aren't particularly convenient.
The train which departs Edinburgh at 10:36 on Mon-Sat arrives in Inverness less than 15 mins after one of the four trains per day on to Thurso and Wick has departed!
The best connection on to Kyle of Lochalsh involves departing Edinburgh on Mon-Sat at 13:31 and then spending an hour in Inverness between trains.
When heading to Thurso and Wick, the only option for spending less than 90 minutes in Inverness when taking a direct train to there from Edinburgh, is to depart at 13:57 on Sundays.
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Final Destination: Inveness
All trains also call at: Perth, Pitlochry, Kingussie and Aviemore
Type of Scenery: Coast and mountains
Senic Rating: ****
Even the most fabulous routes followed by European express trains have their more prosaic moments, when for a while all that can be seen from the train windows are the suburbs of towns or fairly uninteresting farm land.
But this particular journey, when travelling by the trains operated by ScotRail, is the exception - because aside from the first 10 minutes, while the train is still escaping from Edinburgh’s suburbs, every other part of this train ride is fairly fabulous.
It’s why it was singled by the UK’s Channel 5 and showcased in its TV series of ‘World’s Most Scenic Train Journeys'.
And what makes it extra special is that very few journeys combine both stunning sea views and wild mountainous landscapes, but this route ticks both of those boxes!
And there’s also a cherry on top moment, because the trains from Edinburgh to Inverness, which are operated by ScotRail, also cross the mighty Forth Rail Bridge.
While the majesty of the bridge’s iconic structure can only be seen from a distance while on the train, what can get overlooked when extoling its virtues, are the marvellous views which can be seen from the train windows, while crossing the bridge.
This is the first highlight of this journey, because on the other side of the bridge, the railway line descends, so that for around 15 minutes the train will be travelling by the shore of the East Fife Coast.
If your seat is on the right, when facing north, you’ll have the opportunity to appreciate some of the finest sea views that can be seen while on a British train.
After departure from Kirkcaldy, the railway turns inland, but between there and Perth the train will pass through rolling Scottish farm land, with the hills, which on this part of the route are on the left, becoming ever higher as it heads north – a hint of what lies ahead!
Because after Perth the remainder of the journey will be on the Highland main line, which lives up to its name, because the highest elevation on the British rail network is attained on this line.
For the final two hours epic views of the rugged highland landscape can be appreciated from both sides of the train!
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More general information about travelling by train in England, Scotland and Wales is available on this guide to British train travel.
