Perth (Perth)

Perth is a station of contrasts, not only do the trains arrive and depart from two distinct parts of the station, it also has a mix of beautiful, but dilapidated, architecture and somewhat ugly more modern additions.

The beautiful part of the station is what’s left of its main building, which spans platforms (tracks) 3 – 7.
Until the 1960s the express trains on Scotland’s premiere route between Glasgow and Aberdeen used to leave from this part of Perth station and now it is reminiscent of a bygone era of rail travel, as it still looks pretty much as it did when the last of those steam trains departed.
It is now mainly used by the trains which take the Highland line to Inverness; the trains heading north on this route now leave from platform 7, which is located farthest from the station’s rather basic entrance hall.

Platforms 1 and 2, which are to one side of the main station roof, are where the trains to and from Aberdeen have arrived and departed for more than 50 years.
All of the trains between Perth and Dundee also now use this part of the station, so most of the trains heading for Glasgow depart from platform 1; though those from Inverness; including the trains to London, depart from platform 4.
Trains to Edinburgh tend to use platforms 4 - 6.

Perth station doesn’t have a left luggage office, but the station hotel, which is right by the station, will allow travellers to deposit bags for a reasonable fee.
And if you have time to spare, its bar is a pleasant location in which to wait for a train.

When entering the station and passing through the ticket gates, the signs will direct you to the left for platforms 1 and 2; and to the right for platforms 3 to 7 - though if you'll want to use the escalator to access platform 1, you'll also need to go to the right

At Perth station, platforms 2 and 3 are adjacent to the station entrances, but the access to and from platforms 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 is by footbridge and the station now has three of them.

(1) The bridge closest to the entrance hall is accessed by ramps and staircases.
(2) At the south end of the station, outside the roofed area, a new footbridge has been equipped with elevators, but as it's farther away from the entrance and the parts of the station used by the trains, it's only worth using if you don't want to use the ramps or stairs to access platforms 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7
(3) Within the main station building there is another footbridge, which only has staircases, and links platform 3, to platforms, 4, 5, 6 and 7; but it doesn't provide the quickest route to the trains.

What can make Perth station a tad confusing for first time users is that the station has a hidden concourse by the ends of platforms 5 and 6; and it also where the trains using platform 7 can be boarded.

There is also a secondary entrance to the station here which is where the bike racks and the station car park are located.

To platform 1:

Turn left when exiting the ticket gates and step on to platform 2; where to the right you'll immediately see some steps up to the footbridge; if you want to use the ramp up to the bridge turn to the left.
From this footbridge another ramp and staircase will lead down to platform 1.
Or if you want to use the lifts / elevators to access platform 1, turn right after the ticket gates and step on to platform 3, then turn left and you will see the footbridge with the lift access ahead of you on the other side of the station roof.

To platforms 4 to 7:
If you'll be happy to use stairs to access these platforms from the entrance, the route is fairy obvious, take the staircase you'll see on platform 3 and then walk ahead from the stairs on platform 4; a gap in the wall gives access to platform 5 and you can walk along it to platforms 6 and 7 (this gap in the wall can be seen in this image below).

If you want to use the ramps to access the footbridge, you'll have to take a longer route, which involves turning right on platform 3 to access the ramp.
Then having descended from the ramp on to platform 4 you'll need to turn around and walk under the footbridge to access platforms 5 to 7; as described above.

You need to take an even longer route if you want to use the lifts / elevators; turn left on platform 3 to access the footbridge at its far end, then walk along the full length of platform 5 to access platforms 6 and 7 - the same lift gives access to platform 4.

Platforms 2 and 3 are on either side of the main exit; though there is a separate secondary exit from the station on the platform 7 concourse, which is also closer to platforms 4 to 6 and leads on to Glasgow Road.
Though use the main exit from the station if you want to take local buses or head to the bus station.

At platform 1 - used by trains from Aberdeen and Dundee to Glasgow
There will be a ramp up to the main footbridge within the station towards the rear of the trains, and steps up to this bridge towards the front of the train.
This footbridge gives access to the main exit and to all of the other platforms within the station; platforms 5 to 7 can be accessed from platform 4, though platform 7 is particularly distant from platform 1.
Though if you'll want to use the elevators / lifts and not the ramps or stairs, there is a newer footbridge at the far end of the platform, located beyond the front of the trains.

At platforms 2 (used by trains heading to Aberdeen and Dundee from Glasgow) and 3
These are on either side of ticketing hall, so have step-free access to the main exit.
To access platforms 4 to 7 you can use the main footbridge within the station, but if you don't want to use the ramps and stairs, which connect the platforms to this bridge, you can use the more modern bridge equipped with elevators / lifts, which is at the end of the platforms, beyond the rear of the trains.

At platforms 4 (used by trains heading to Edinburgh or Glasgow from Inverness) and 5
Halfway along these platforms you'll find the main footbridge within the station, though you if you want to use the ramp to access it, you'll likely find it on the other side of the bridge.
This footbridge leads to the main exit and platforms 1 and 2, but if you'll want to use elevators / lifts to access these parts of the station, you can use the more modern footbridge, outside the station roof.
It's beyond the front of the trains which arrive from the north on platform 4.

At platforms 6 and 7 (used by trains heading from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness)
These platforms share a concourse area of the station, which also has step-free easy access from platforms 4 and 5.

There is an exit here which leads to the car park, but if your train arrives at platform 6 and 7, it offers a quicker walking route to the city centre, as the road way leads to the far end of York Place.
Though head to the main exit from the station if you want to take local buses or those which leave from the bus station.

The route to the main exit and to platforms 1 and 2 is to use the arch way from this concourse to access platform 4 and then turn right to walk along it to access the main footbridge, though you'll find the ramp which provides the step-free access on the other side of the bridge.
Though if you want to avoid the ramp and the stairs, there is bridge equipped with lifts /elevators at the far end of platform 4.
The route between platform 7 and platform 2 will take around 3 mins if you use the footbridge within the station, but allow 5 - 10mins if you'll want to use the bridge equipped with elevators.

Perth station is located in the south-eastern corner of the city centre, so the heart of the city is a 10 -20 min walk away, just follow the road, Leonard Street, which leads away from the station to the left.

However, many of Perth’s most popular attractions, including the concert hall are in the north-west corner of the city centre, so are on the opposite side of the city to the station.
Most of the local buses from the station (the closest stop is opposite the Queens Hotel, which is the cream coloured building, which can be seen in the middle distance when exiting the station), don’t head across to this part of the town, so a taxi can be the best option.

Perth bus station, which has connections to locations no longer served by trains, including Blairgowrie (route 34), Comrie (route 15) and Crieff (routes 15 and 15A), is a 3-5 min walk from the station, turn left on to Leonard Street.

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