First ScotRail is introducing more train services - including Sunday services on the Glasgow to Larkhall via Hamilton line. The hourly services build on the resounding success of the first new branch line in Scotland for 25 years - and will allow the new stations at Larkhall, Merryton and Chatelherault to open on Sundays.

There will also be an hourly Glasgow-Stirling service via Croy – providing customers in Bishopbriggs with all-year round Sunday services.

Both enhancements to services are included in First ScotRail’s winter timetable which comes into effect on Sunday 9 December. It will also see the last service Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts now calling at Uddingston and Cambuslang, Mondays to Saturdays. But even before the winter timetable comes in there will be an expansion of services.

From 17 November:
• Extra carriages will be provided on a number of Saturday services serving East Kilbride and Lanark for customers heading to Glasgow for Christmas shopping or to visit family, and:
• Trains will be strengthened on Friday and Saturday nights on a number of Edinburgh-Glasgow, Bathgate, Perth and Stirling services.

In addition, from 2 December:
• First ScotRail will run extra Sunday services across Strathclyde to and from Glasgow in the run-up to Christmas.
The services – also on 9, 16 and 23 December - will operate on the following routes:
• Airdrie to Dalmuir via Glasgow
• Springburn to Dalmuir via Glasgow
• Glasgow to Anniesland
• Glasgow to Ayr
• Glasgow to Croy
• Glasgow to Cumbernauld
• Glasgow to Gourock
• Glasgow to Paisley Canal
• Glasgow to Shotts via Whifflet

The Glasgow-Anniesland, Glasgow-Springburn and Paisley Canal routes and the Whifflet line normally do not have Sunday services.

Mary Dickson, First ScotRail’s managing director, said: “We are particularly delighted to announce the extra train services throughout our winter timetable. We are confident that these enhancements will have a positive effect on the quality of service we provide for our customers.”

First ScotRail will also be reintroducing a number of services from 9 December which had to be withdrawn during Network Rail’s intensive engineering works for the £150million redevelopment of Edinburgh Waverley Station.

They include Newcraighall-Bathgate-Dunblane through services. And all Fife Circle services will now continue to Edinburgh Waverley rather than terminate at Haymarket. A full timetable is being reinstated between Edinburgh and West Calder.

A number of other services to and from Edinburgh Waverley will be subject to minor retimings. Our new timetable also includes minor retimings which are intended to improve punctuality on the Paisley Canal Line and on some West Highland Line services between Glasgow, Oban and Fort William.