Tram to Haymarket in 20–25 minutes, then ScotRail out
If you’re heading from EDI to Glasgow, Stirling, Perth or Inverness, doing the tram to Haymarket (about 20–25 minutes, every 7–10 minutes, around £7–8) then ScotRail is usually faster and calmer than riding an airport bus into town and back out again. Many intercity trains that skip Edinburgh Gateway still call at Haymarket, so you get more mainline options without dealing with the sprawl of Waverley.
The tram stop at Edinburgh Airport sits right outside the terminal, and you tap in for the Airport–Haymarket leg before boarding; daytime trams typically run every 7–10 minutes and take roughly 20–25 minutes to Haymarket. From there, fast trains to Glasgow Queen Street take around 45–50 minutes and run about every 15–30 minutes in the daytime, with off-peak singles reported around £14–17 depending on the operator and timing.
At Haymarket, the tram stop is directly outside the station, but there’s usually a short wait at the pedestrian lights and a quick walk to the ticket gates, so build in a 5–10 minute buffer for the transfer. Rail regulars say Haymarket is easier with luggage than Edinburgh Waverley because the station is smaller and platform changes usually involve shorter walks, which matters if you’re hauling a 23 kg case to a Glasgow or Inverness train.
Platforms at Haymarket can get crowded in the peaks, especially for Glasgow and Fife services around typical commute hours (roughly 07:30–09:30 and 16:30–18:30), and it can be awkward to board with big suitcases. Some travellers stand near the front of the tram from the airport so they’re closer to the station entrance when they step off, then head straight for the departure boards to check which platform their ScotRail train is using.
Signage from the tram into the rail side isn’t terrible, but Reddit users still complain it’s easy to get turned around the first time, especially when hunting for specific platforms like 0 or 4. Ticket gates at the main entrance can bottleneck when a train arrives, so regulars sometimes use a side gate or quieter entrance to slip through faster with bags; keep an eye out for staff by the gates if your paper ticket or QR code misreads.
Weekend and late-evening engineering works can disrupt Haymarket services, swapping your nice 45–50 minute fast train to Glasgow for a slower route or a rail-replacement bus, so always check the ScotRail app or National Rail Enquiries the day before. If times line up, many people buy off-peak returns that let them come back via either Haymarket or Waverley, then decide on the day which station suits their hotel or meeting.
Quick tip: Aim for a tram that lands you at Haymarket at least 20–30 minutes before your intended ScotRail departure; that covers the crossing, ticket gates, finding the right platform and a coffee stop if everything runs on time.