Edinburgh
How to get from Edinburgh to Glasgow
Take the train: ScotRail runs four trains an hour from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street in about 50 minutes, roughly £10–£30 return in 2026. It is the fastest and usually the cheapest option, so book only if you want a fixed seat; buses and the car are backups.
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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GuideEdinburgh
Key facts
- Fastest
- Train, about 50 minutes city centre to city centre
- Cheapestcheck
- Advance train ticket or coach, from about £5 one way (2026 estimate)
- Train frequencycheck
- About 4 trains an hour, roughly 06:00–23:00
- Coachcheck
- About 1h15–1h30 from Edinburgh bus station to Glasgow Buchanan Street
- Carcheck
- M8 motorway, about 70 km, 1h–1h30 in traffic
- Airport
- No useful flight; the cities are too close
- Book aheadcheck
- Not needed for the train; walk-up fares are capped and frequent
Options compared
Edinburgh and Glasgow sit about 70 km apart across the Central Belt, and the rail line between Waverley and Queen Street is one of the busiest in Scotland. Trains run through the day, so you can turn up and go. Coaches are slower but can be cheaper on the day; driving gives you flexibility for stops but adds parking and traffic in both city centres.
| Mode | Time | Price (2026 estimate) | Frequency | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train (Waverley → Queen Street) | About 50 min | £10–£30 return | About 4 per hour | ScotRail |
| Train via Airdrie or Bathgate | About 1h–1h15 | £10–£30 return | Hourly on some routes | ScotRail |
| Coach | About 1h15–1h30 | £5–£15 one way | Frequent, roughly hourly | Scottish Citylink / Megabus |
| Car (M8) | 1h–1h30 | Fuel plus parking | Any time | Self-drive |
| Taxi or private transfer | About 1h | £70–£100 | On demand | Local firms |
Prices are 2026 estimates; check the operator before travel.
How to book
For the train, buy at the station machine, at the ticket office or on the ScotRail app. Advance single tickets are cheaper if you fix a departure, but walk-up fares are reasonable and trains are frequent, so booking weeks ahead is not essential. Coaches are cheapest booked online in advance, and Megabus-style fares can be very low if you are flexible. If you are doing several Scottish journeys, a rail pass or a return ticket may work out better than singles.
- Train: ScotRail app, station machines or ticket office
- Coach: Scottish Citylink or Megabus websites
- Car: compare parking in central Glasgow before you drive
Tips
Both stations are central: Waverley sits under the Old Town, and Queen Street is a short walk from George Square and the Buchanan Street shops. Trains are busiest at commuter times, roughly 07:00–09:00 and 16:30–18:30, so a mid-morning or early-afternoon departure is calmer. If you are heading to Glasgow Airport, Queen Street has a direct bus link; from Edinburgh, the tram and bus run to Edinburgh Airport. A contactless card or phone works for many local journeys, but for this route a paper or app ticket is simpler.
- Avoid commuter peaks if you have luggage
- Queen Street is the best arrival point for central Glasgow
- Check last trains if you are returning the same evening
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get from Edinburgh to Glasgow?
The train takes about 50 minutes from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street. Coaches take about 1h15–1h30, and driving the M8 usually takes 1h–1h30 depending on traffic.
What is the cheapest way to get from Edinburgh to Glasgow?
An advance coach ticket can be the cheapest, sometimes under £10 one way. Advance train singles are also cheap if you fix a time. Walk-up train fares are higher but still reasonable (2026 estimates).
Do I need to book in advance from Edinburgh to Glasgow?
No. Trains run about four times an hour and you can buy at the station. Booking ahead only helps if you want a specific cheap advance fare or a coach seat at a busy time.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialScotRail
- officialScottish Citylink
- officialNational Rail