New rail shuttles from Edinburgh to Linlithgow and Montrose

ScotRail is introducing new rail shuttles from Edinburgh to Linlithgow and Montrose next week.

The service between the capital and Montrose will run Monday to Saturday, and between Montrose and Dundee on Sundays.

It follows the introduction of a rail shuttle service between Aberdeen and Stonehaven last week.

Network Rail has begun work to reopen the railway at Stonehaven following the derailment that killed three people on August 12.

A 600-tonne crane is being used by special engineers to carefully lift the derailed carriages from the railway, and a new 900-metre road and temporary bridges over the surrounding farmland have been created to bring the specialist lifting equipment to the site.

Meanwhile, a new rail shuttle service will run between Edinburgh and Linlithgow from Monday, 14 September.

The service will operate in both directions and will call at Linlithgow, Edinburgh Park, Haymarket, and Edinburgh Waverley.

Existing replacement bus services between Falkirk Grahamston and Linlithgow remain in place for customers.

ScotRail is running the shuttle services while flood damage repairs are carried out by Network Rail on the main line between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street, near Polmont.

David Simpson, ScotRail operations director, said: “The unprecedented rainfall near Polmont had a severe impact on Scotland’s Railway, from which we’re still trying to recover.

“Network Rail’s specialist engineers are working as quickly as possible to complete repairs to the track and railway infrastructure near Polmont that was caused by flood damage.”

Mr Simpson also said the shuttle service between Edinburgh and Montrose would allow customers in the north-east to complete their journey by rail.

He said: “As we work towards the full return of rail passenger services in the north-east, we’ll continue to support those impacted by this tragic event (derailment near Stonehaven) in any way we can.”