Quick answer: The fastest way from Glasgow to Edinburgh is the train from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley, roughly 50 minutes to an hour and up to four or five departures an hour. The Citylink and Megabus 900 coach is cheaper, often around a tenner for a day return, but takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Driving the M8 is around 47 miles and close to an hour off-peak, but parking in Edinburgh is pricey. For most people, the train wins on speed and the coach wins on cost.
Train: Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley
This is the one most folk default to, and rightly so. Trains run from Glasgow Queen Street straight into Edinburgh Waverley, which puts you right in the middle of Edinburgh next to Princes Street. Both stations sit dead centre in their cities, so you save faffing about getting to and from the edge of town.
Journey time is roughly 50 minutes to an hour on the fast services. The line runs through Falkirk and Linlithgow, and there are up to four or five trains an hour at busy times. First train out is around 06:00 and the last runs late, near midnight, so it covers a normal day out or a night in either city.
Train fares
An Anytime single sits around the £16 to £17 mark, and an off-peak day return is broadly similar money because the route is priced cheaply for the distance. Book an Advance single days ahead and you can sometimes get it down to about £6.50. A few things to keep in mind:
- Peak vs off-peak: travel mid-morning, early afternoon or evening and you dodge the dearest tickets.
- Advance tickets are tied to a specific train. Miss it and the ticket’s void, so only book Advance if you’re sure of your time.
- Railcards knock a third off. Worth it if you do this trip more than a handful of times a year.
- Contactless and the ScotRail app make buying on the day easy, no need to queue.
Fares change, so check the live price on scotrail.co.uk before you book. We’ve got more on using the network in our Glasgow train guide.
What about Glasgow Central?
There are also trains to Edinburgh from Glasgow Central, but they go the long way round via Shotts or via Carstairs and take longer, usually around an hour and a quarter or more. Unless Central is genuinely closer to where you’re starting, Queen Street is the smarter pick.
Coach: the Citylink and Megabus 900
The 900 is run jointly by Scottish Citylink and Megabus, and it’s the budget option. It leaves from Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow and runs into Edinburgh, with stops including the city centre and Edinburgh Bus Station on St Andrew Square.
Journey time is about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 20, a fair bit slower than the train because it’s at the mercy of M8 traffic. The big plus is frequency and price. Buses go roughly every 15 minutes at peak times, 24 hours a day, dropping to every half hour later on and hourly through the small hours. That round-the-clock service is handy if the trains have stopped.
- Fares can be around a £10 to £12 day return, and singles can dip very low if you book early.
- Coaches have USB charging, tables and a bit more legroom on the newer vehicles.
- It runs 24/7, so it covers late nights the train doesn’t.
Check current times and prices at citylink.co.uk or megabus.co.uk. The same buses leave from Buchanan, which we cover in our Glasgow bus guide.
Driving the M8
Glasgow to Edinburgh by car is about 47 miles on the M8, the most direct route between the two cities and toll-free. Off-peak you’re looking at around an hour, but the M8 around both ends gets clogged at rush hour and the run can stretch to an hour and a half or worse, especially heading into Glasgow in the morning.
Driving only makes sense if you’ve got a few people splitting fuel, you’re carrying a lot of stuff, or you need the car at the other end. The catch is Edinburgh parking. The city is one of the most expensive in the UK to park in, with central street parking charged by the hour and tight limits. If you must drive, use a park and ride on the edge of Edinburgh and hop a bus or tram in. Before you set off, sense-check the day’s traffic and remember Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone if your motor’s older, and have a look at our free parking in Glasgow guide for the start of your trip.
Glasgow to Edinburgh: cost and time compared
| Option | Typical time | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (Queen St to Waverley) | 50 min to 1 hr | From about £6.50 Advance, £16 to £17 Anytime | Speed and city-centre to city-centre |
| Coach (Citylink/Megabus 900) | About 1 hr 15 min | Around £10 to £12 day return, singles lower if booked early | Saving money and late-night travel |
| Car (M8) | About 1 hr off-peak, longer at rush hour | Fuel for 47 miles plus Edinburgh parking | Groups, luggage, needing the car there |
Figures are a guide and change with time of day, how far ahead you book and traffic. Always check the official site on the day.
Which should you pick?
Honest take: take the train unless you’ve a good reason not to. It’s the quickest, it drops you in the heart of both cities, and an off-peak return isn’t dear. Go for the coach if you’re watching every pound, you’re travelling at an odd hour, or the price gap is big on the day. Only drive if you’re splitting costs across a full car or you genuinely need wheels in Edinburgh, and budget properly for parking.
- Day out, no fuss: train from Queen Street.
- Cheapest seat or a late one back: the 900 coach.
- Family with bags or a group: the car can work out per head, parking aside.
FAQ
How long is the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh?
The fast Queen Street to Waverley trains take roughly 50 minutes to an hour. Services from Glasgow Central via Shotts or Carstairs are slower, usually around an hour and a quarter.
How much is a train ticket Glasgow to Edinburgh?
An Anytime single is around £16 to £17, and Advance singles booked ahead can drop to about £6.50. Prices change, so check scotrail.co.uk before booking.
Is the train or the bus cheaper?
The coach is usually cheaper, often around £10 to £12 for a day return, but it’s slower at about 1 hour 15 minutes versus the train’s hour.
Where does the Citylink 900 leave from in Glasgow?
Buchanan Bus Station in the city centre. It runs into Edinburgh roughly every 15 minutes at peak times, 24 hours a day.
How far is Glasgow from Edinburgh by car?
About 47 miles on the M8. Allow around an hour off-peak, but expect longer at rush hour, and budget for pricey Edinburgh parking.
What’s the fastest way from Glasgow to Edinburgh?
The train from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley. It’s the quickest door-to-door for most people because both stations are right in the centre.
Last updated June 2026. Times, fares and parking charges change. Check scotrail.co.uk, citylink.co.uk, megabus.co.uk and edinburgh.gov.uk for the latest before you travel.
