Tartan Army faces rail disruption

Fans travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow could face longer journeys

Football fans travelling to Hampden for Scotland's crucial World Cup qualifier against Norway could face travel disruption due to rail works.

Trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street will be reduced to two every hour because of work being done on the new Aidrie-Bathgate rail link.

A replacement bus service will run between Edinburgh and Bathgate.

The Newbridge Junction works were planned several months before the World Cup fixtures were announced.

Passengers were also warned that the journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh would take 20 minutes longer than normal.

Additional services will operate from Linlithgow to Glasgow Queen Street from mid-morning until lunchtime, and there will be an hourly service between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central.

'Allow more time'

Steve Montgomery, operations and safety director at First ScotRail, said: "We are running as many services as possible to keep inconvenience to a minimum on 11 October.

"Journeys will take longer than normal and passengers should allow more time for travel."

Passengers have been advised to check the First ScotRail website for updates.

The works by Network Rail are part of a £300m scheme to reopen the railway line between Airdrie to Bathgate, which has been closed for 50 years.

It will include an upgrade of the links between North Lanarkshire and West Lothian and the construction of two stations by 2010.

The qualifying match has been described as a "must win" game for Scotland.

The team go into the game following a defeat in Macedonia and a victory away to Iceland.