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ScotRail says it pays not to take one of its trains

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ScotRail says the service is popular due to the scenery it passes through

ScotRail has asked customers to consider alternatives to one of its Inverness to Edinburgh services because it has become so busy.

It said demand for its 10:51 Monday to Saturday train could be so high some passengers were unable to get on.

Discounts of up to 60% have been offered on two earlier services.

The alternative journeys take longer and involve changing at Perth or Stirling, but ScotRail said customers would arrive in Edinburgh earlier.

A single ticket to Edinburgh on the 10:51 can cost £50 but the price can drop to about £18 if passengers take one of the earlier trains.

The operator said it had been unable to add extra carriages to the 10:51 service to better cope with demand.

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The state-owned company is publicising the situation on social media, and in a tweet says: "It pays not to get the 10:51".

The tweet features a video that says Inverness to Edinburgh services were popular with visitors due to the scenery the trains pass through, including locations such as the Drumochter Pass, Dalwhinnie and Blair Atholl.

But the video also warns the 10:51 service can get so many bookings it results in some people turning up to get on being unable to travel on the service.

A spokesman said: "It's not possible to add any more carriages to the service, and this is the alternative being offered to customers.

"This is an attempt to alleviate the pressure on one service, and utilise the alternatives.

"This is a service frequently used by tourists, and the earlier options are viable alternatives to allow them to visit the city."

Travel journalist Simon Calder told BBC Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme railway enthusiasts were among those keen on the service.

He said: "This is a really popular train with lots of tour organisations which will run trips for rail fans who want to catch a nice middle of the morning train that gets them into the capital early afternoon."

Mr Calder said ScotRail's solution was a "clever nudge" encouraging people to avoid having to stand for three hours on a busy train.

David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery manager, told Lunchtime Live, the 10:51 was the busiest of Inverness' 11 daily services.

He said: "In an ideal world we would add extra carriages to it to increase capacity, but we don't have those available currently. We are looking at options for the future."