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Edinburgh to Perth by train
How to make the train journey from Edinburgh to Perth
Trains now take two different routes between Edinburgh and Perth as the slightly faster express trains heading beyond Perth now travel via Stirling.
Though on Monday to Saturday the more frequent trains still take the coastal route via Kirkcaldy.
However on Sundays the trains on the route via Kirkcaldy aren't so frequent
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Routes
Option 1: taking the slower trains via the coast
Journey Summary
1hr 28min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Perth
All trains also depart from: Edinburgh 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.
Monday to Saturday: 1 x train per hour
Sunday: 2 x trains
Tickets
Book Early and Save: No
ScotRail does not place discounted Advance tickets on sale for train journeys from Edinburgh to Perth, so you will pay the same price per departure whether you book ahead online, or purchase tickets at the station just prior to boarding.
Though you can save money by travelling at less busy times when Off-Peak tickets will be available, so on this route you can save money by not departing from Edinburgh between 16:20 and 18:20 when Mondays to Fridays are working days.
Because if you do depart Edinburgh at those times only the more expensive type of Peak tickets will be available.
ScotRail offers ticketing deals when Adults travel with children or in groups
Though there's no need to book ahead online to obtain these discounts - you will be charged the same prices when booking these ticket at the station just before boarding .
If you will be booking these deals at the station it can be less confusing to book in person at a ticket counter, rather than using a ticket machine.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| ScotRail | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
As will be seen, there are far fewer trains on this route on Sundays, the only departures are usually scheduled to leave Edinburgh at 17:50 and 18:55.
If you'll want or need to set off sooner then there are typically departures on the other express train route at 09:25; 13:54 and 15:52; plus connections will be available in Stirling if you depart Edinburgh on the trains heading to Dunblane.
For much of the journey between Edinburgh and Perth on the route via Kirkcaldy, the railway line is beside the coastline of East Fife.
Though the sea views on this journey can only be seen on the right-hand side of the train when facing north.
Though the views from the train as it travels by the shore are superseded by one of the most stunning train journey experiences which can be found anywhere in Europe!
Namely the views from the Forth Bridge, which occur around 12 -15 mins after the train has departed from Edinburgh.
Option 2: taking the express trains via Stirling
Journey Summary
1hr 18min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Inverness
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.
As will be seen, there are far fewer departures on this route on Sundays, so if you will be travelling on that day of the week and plan to purchase tickets at the station just before boarding, it can be worth looking up the departure times before heading off to Edinburgh Waverley.
Monday = 5 x trains
Tues - Friday = 6 x trains per day
Saturday = 6 x trains
Sunday = 4 x trains
Tickets
Book Early and Save: No
ScotRail does not place discounted Advance tickets on sale for train journeys from Edinburgh to Perth, so you will pay the same price per departure whether you book ahead online, or purchase tickets at the station just prior to boarding.
Though you can save money by travelling at less busy times when Off-Peak tickets will be available, so on this route you can save money by not departing from Edinburgh between 16:20 and 18:20 when Mondays to Fridays are working days.
Because if you do depart Edinburgh at those times only the more expensive type of Peak tickets will be available.
ScotRail offers ticketing deals when Adults travel with children or in groups
Though there's no need to book ahead online to obtain these discounts - you will be charged the same prices when booking these ticket at the station just before boarding .
If you will be booking these deals at the station it can be less confusing to book in person at a ticket counter, rather than using a ticket machine.
Seat reservations are available on these trains, but not on the trains which travel on the other route.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| ScotRail | * |
On this journey
Good to Know
All trains also depart from: Edinburgh 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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