Scotland v Ukraine: ScotRail adds late trains for Tartan Army

Extra train services have been laid on for football fans travelling home from Scotland's semi-final play-off match against Ukraine on Wednesday.

ScotRail made the announcement hours after warning supporters travelling further than Glasgow city centre they were unlikely to get home by train.

Critics described the move as a "U-turn... after a day of chaos".

ScotRail said 13 post-match services had been added.

It tweeted: "We said we'd do our best to put on extra late-night services for supporters going to the Scotland vs Ukraine World Cup play-off at Hampden on Wednesday and we've been working hard to do that. We've managed to schedule these extra services."

They include more trains to Edinburgh, Stirling, Ayr, Gourock, East Kilbride and Neilston.

However there will still be no way for fans travelling to Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Inverness or Dumfries to return home by train.

An emergency timetable is in place on ScotRail trains due to a driver dispute over pay.

Earlier ScotRail said its final services to most of Scotland's cities were due to leave before kick off at 19:45.

Some additional trains and extra seats were already laid on within the city, allowing fans to travel between Glasgow Central and stations near Hampden Park.

But the latest service outside Glasgow would have been to Edinburgh, due to depart Glasgow Queen Street station at 22:15.

Even if the match finished after 90 minutes - at 21:30 - fans would have been unable to leave Hampden and get to Queen Street in time for the last train.

Although additional services have no been added, supporters from locations further afield will still have to look for alternative transport.

The final service to both Aberdeen and Dundee will leave Glasgow at 19:45 - according to the ScotRail app - while the latest anyone can return to Dumfries would be 19:07.

Those hoping to head back to Inverness will be unable to do so after 19:07 and those hoping to return to Perth will need to make the 19:37 service.

The Scottish Conservatives welcomed the additional services, but said if this was how nationalised ScotRail would manage major events, passengers faced "a summer of misery".

Transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: "This is a welcome, last-minute U-turn by ScotRail after a day of chaos in which they initially refused to lay on later trains for fans heading back to Edinburgh.

"We flagged up this problem with the Scotland game 10 days ago, so this could and should have been resolved far earlier."

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "While this is an operational matter for ScotRail, we have their assurances they are looking at all opportunities to add further additional services.

"While we appreciate the complexities and difficulties of delivering extra services when there are a number of unknown factors and an industrial dispute is ongoing, Ministers were clear last week about their hopes for Wednesday's match.

"As they have already stated, ScotRail will provide further information as soon as possible."

The newly nationalised rail operator has been hit by a pay dispute with train drivers union Aslef, which has meant staff have refused to work on their rest days.

The temporary timetable brought in a week ago saw almost 700 fewer services a day, with many later trains cancelled.

Train drivers rejected a 2.2% pay offer but were offered a 4.2% pay rise and improved conditions on Thursday.

ScotRail confirmed there would be additional services for the Scotland v Ukraine match on 1 June to and from Mount Florida, and extra carriages on trains to Mount Florida and Kings Park - the closest stations to the ground. 

Visiting Ukraine fans who decide to travel by rail should use services to and from Mount Florida.

However, supporters were advised to allow extra travel time as services would still be busy. Buying return tickets to Mount Florida in advance would help to avoid queuing on the day.

The company said extra staff would be available to help customers on Wednesday and also for Scotland's Nations League home match against Armenia on 8 June.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail's head of customer operations, said: "We know this is a massive match for the Scottish national team and we are looking forward to helping supporters travel to Hampden to play their part in the occasion. It's also an honour to welcome Ukraine fans to Glasgow.

"We'll be doing everything we can to support fans travelling to the games by adding additional services where we can and more seats to trains where possible. The temporary timetable will still be in place, so it is important that fans plan ahead to make sure they are aware of their options for both getting into the city, and for completing their journey home.

"Regular commuters who travel home from Glasgow on the line via Mount Florida should be aware that services will be much busier than normal on Wednesday night with fans heading to the match."