People from Edinburgh and Midlothian will now be able to stay on the move during periods of severe rail disruption, thanks to a new ticket acceptance arrangement between ScotRail and Lothian Buses.

From Sunday 4 October, ScotRail customers affected by any major disruption as a result of severe weather, emergency repairs or signalling issues, will be able to complete their journey using Lothian Buses services. It is hoped that Edinburgh Trams will be also involved in the near future to give full access across the Transport for Edinburgh Group.

Customers holding a valid train ticket simply show this to the driver on boarding to be able to travel free of charge.

This scheme will be activated during periods of severe disruption, and customers will be alerted by ScotRail’s station and on-train staff, via Twitter and online. A list of bus services calling at or near each station is below.

A similar ticket acceptance is already up and running in Glasgow with First Bus. It has been very successful in transporting passengers when rail services are not running as they should.

Danny Williams, ScotRail’s Operations Director, said: “This scheme will be a real benefit for our customers in and around Edinburgh and Midlothian.

“During periods of major disruption, our main priority is to keep customers on the move, and this partnership with Transport for Edinburgh will help us do just that.”

Speaking about the new scheme, Sarah Boyd, Head of Operations at Lothian Buses said: “We are delighted to be working with ScotRail on this initiative to help travellers in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“This partnership will provide passengers with an alternative way to travel and help limit any inconvenience during rail disruptions.”