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ScotRail is urging music fans travelling to BBC Radio 2 in the Park in Stirling this weekend to plan ahead, with engineering work, altered timetables and busy services expected to affect key routes into the city.
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Engineering work disrupts direct Edinburgh to Stirling trains
Publicly available travel guidance for BBC Radio 2 in the Park highlights a significant line closure on the Polmont to Carmuirs section during the festival weekend, affecting trains between Edinburgh and Stirling. Direct services on this route are not scheduled to run, with Edinburgh trains instead terminating at Linlithgow or Polmont.
Replacement bus services are expected to operate between these intermediate stations and Stirling, extending journey times for many passengers. Information currently available indicates that services from Glasgow, Dundee and Perth are due to run as normal, but rail users are being advised to check their journey on the day before setting out.
The disruption coincides with the festival dates at City Park in Stirling from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026, when tens of thousands of ticket holders are expected to travel to the city. The combination of planned engineering work and event-related demand means train capacity on alternative routes is likely to be under pressure.
ScotRail’s JourneyCheck service shows ongoing engineering activity on the network, and the operator is directing customers to use live online tools to confirm train times, platform information and any short-notice alterations.
ScotRail urges passengers to check routes and travel early
Reports on the event travel pages and local news coverage indicate that ScotRail is encouraging festival goers to plan journeys carefully, leave extra time, and be prepared for changes to normal timetables. With direct Edinburgh to Stirling trains suspended for the weekend, passengers may need to make additional connections or transfer to rail replacement buses.
Journey planners and live update platforms are being positioned as essential tools for those heading to City Park. Passengers are being advised to check departure and arrival boards shortly before travel and again when making connections, as crowding or operational issues can lead to last minute changes.
ScotRail has previously issued similar travel advice for major events in Scotland, recommending that customers travel earlier in the day where possible to avoid the busiest trains close to start times. That pattern is expected to be repeated for Radio 2 in the Park, when late afternoon and evening services into Stirling are likely to be particularly busy.
Festival attendees using discounted products such as advance fares or off-peak tickets are also being encouraged, via published guidance, to confirm any ticket restrictions and ensure their chosen trains are valid for travel at the times they plan to use them.
Shuttle links and road closures shape access to City Park
Travel information for the event shows that Stirling Station is the nearest rail stop to City Park, at roughly a one mile walk from the festival site. An accessible transport hub is planned close to the arena, providing a free shuttle link from Stirling Station and from designated coach and bus drop-off points.
Local guidance notes a series of road closures around the event perimeter, which will restrict car access from certain directions and prevent parking on residential streets near the park. No general public parking is indicated at the venue, and drivers are being asked to follow signed diversion routes and official park and ride facilities rather than attempting to park close to the site.
The shuttle network and accessible hub are designed to move large numbers of visitors from rail, coach and bus services to the arena entrance. However, with roadworks also reported on main routes such as the M9, journey times for road-based travel may be extended, particularly at peak arrival and departure times each day.
Organisers are recommending that visitors book any official event coach services and shuttle seats in advance where this option is offered, in order to secure space and help operators match vehicle capacity to demand across the three days.
Fans advised to consider alternative routes and return options
Given the combination of rail engineering work and road restrictions, multiple outlets are advising fans to build flexibility into their plans for both outward and return journeys. Those travelling from Edinburgh and the east are being encouraged to consider routes that connect via other central belt stations, or to make use of replacement buses where direct rail options are not available.
Passengers travelling late at night after headline sets are also being urged to pay close attention to last train times from Stirling. With revised timetables in place, final departures for some destinations may be earlier than usual, and services are expected to be busy immediately after the event closes.
Where rail connections are tight, travellers are being advised to identify backup options in advance, such as later trains on different routes, alternative nearby stations served by event coaches, or overnight accommodation in Stirling or Glasgow. Leaving the site promptly after performances finish may improve chances of securing space on preferred trains.
For those with accessibility requirements, the published accessibility guide notes that additional information and support will be provided in advance of the event. This includes detailed advice on arriving by train, using the accessible transport hub, and navigating between the station, shuttle points and the arena.
Planning tools and official channels for the latest updates
As the festival weekend approaches, rail users are being repeatedly directed in public information to live digital tools for the most accurate picture of service levels. ScotRail’s JourneyCheck pages, national journey planners and the operator’s official website are highlighted as primary sources for day-by-day updates on timetables, rail replacement buses and any new restrictions.
Event-specific travel pages, including those linked from Radio 2 in the Park’s official site, set out broad guidance on how to reach City Park by train, coach, shuttle and on foot. These pages are being updated with further detail as operational plans are finalised.
Transport and travel reports stress that conditions may change at short notice due to operational factors, weather or infrastructure issues, particularly with large crowds expected over three consecutive days. Passengers are therefore encouraged to re-check their journeys shortly before leaving home, and again on the return leg, to keep track of any emerging disruption.
For fans heading to Stirling to see the line up at BBC Radio 2 in the Park, careful pre-planning, allowing extra time, and staying close to official travel channels are being presented as the best ways to reduce the risk of missed connections and make journeys as smooth as possible.
BBC Radio 2 in the Park accessible travel information
ScotRail JourneyCheck live updates