Tartan Army urged to leave Hampden before full-time if they want to catch train to Glasgow Central

ScotRail has told members of the Tartan Army who plan on using its service for the match against Armenia that they will have to leave Hampden before full-time to avoid missing the last train into Glasgow city centre.

The warning comes as the rail operator was forced to cut hundreds of daily services across the country with supporters also warned that there will be no trains on most routes out of the city centre following the game.

Scotland take on Armenia in Glasgow in their first Nations League game on Wednesday with a kick-off time of 7.45pm.

ScotRail has also encouraged fans to get to the ground as early as possible, with the turnstiles at Hampden Park opening at 6pm.

We'll add extra carriages to as many trains as possible from Glasgow Ctl to Mt Florida prior to the game.

However, the last trains of the night from Mount Florida back to Glasgow Central will depart before the final whistle due to the temporary timetable currently in place. 2/3
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) June 8, 2022

The last train from Mount Florida, the closest station to the National stadium, to Glasgow Central will leave at 8.46pm before the referee blows the final whistle.

So fans have been urged to plan their journeys in advance to avoid disappointment.

ScotRail added that there will also be very limited journey opportunities departing from Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street after the match.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail’s head of customer operations, said the operator was “doing all we can to help football fans head to Hampden and cheer on the national team”.

He said: “We’re adding extra carriages to services to help customers get to the game; however, trains are expected to be very busy, so we’d encourage people to travel to the stadium early if they can.

“Customers should be aware that the last trains of the night will depart Mount Florida before the final whistle, so we urge fans to plan ahead and consider their travel options.”

Scotland take on Armenia in their first game since last week’s World Cup play-off defeat to Ukraine.

Following Wednesday’s game Steve Clarke’s men will travel to Dublin to take on the Republic of Ireland on Saturday before a trip to play the Armenians again in Yerevan next Tuesday.

Meanwhile rail passengers have faced chaos in recent weeks as 700 services have been cut from the ScotRail timetable as a pay row with union members continues.

Aslef train drivers are currently refusing to work on rest days as a result of the dispute.

The union has said that talks between ScotRail and train drivers will resume on Thursday.

Aslef union members received a revised pay offer of 4.2%, but have turned it down.

The Scottish Conservatives has hit out ScotRail’s decision and say the SNP is accountable as the Tartan Army face ‘travel chaos’.

Shadow transport minister Graham Simpson said: “The Tartan Army face travel chaos thanks to ScotRail’s unacceptably poor service.

“While tonight’s match is not as high-profile as last week’s Ukraine play-off, it has been in the diary for weeks, and we’re still talking about tens of thousands of fans who will now have to rely on cars or buses to get home from Hampden.

“SNP ministers nationalised ScotRail, so they are now accountable for this shambles and ought to have intervened to ensure supporters were not left in the lurch.

“ScotRail’s suggested solution – that fans leave at half-time to get the last train from Mount Florida to Glasgow Central – is insulting and tone deaf to the reality of being a football fan.

“I asked Jenny Gilruth last Tuesday what contingency plans the SNP had should Aslef reject ScotRail’s pay offer, and it was clear there were none. The next day, Aslef rejected that offer. Now Scotland fans – indeed all rail passengers – are paying the price for that complacency, dithering and failure to plan for every eventuality.”