Virgin Trains (tel: 0845 722 2333; website: www.virgintrains.co.uk), National Express East Coast (tel: 0845 722 5111; website: www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com) and First Scotrail (tel: 0845 755 0033; website: www.firstscotrail.co.uk) operate the majority of services to Glasgow. National Rail Enquiries (tel: 0845 748 4950; website: www.nationalrail.co.uk) provides 24-hour information for all train companies in the UK. The rail service is not always completely reliable; delays and schedule changes occasionally occur. Rail service can also be pricey at peak times or if not booked in advance.

Glasgow is served by two main rail stations – Glasgow Central station, Argyle Street, has train services from London and other English cities, while Queen Street station, Queen Street, receives services from Edinburgh and the north of Scotland. Facilities at Glasgow Central include a travel centre, ATMs, bureau de change, left luggage, shops, cafes and bars. Taxis and car hire are also available nearby, while buses link the station with Queen Street station and Buchanan Street bus station. Facilities at Queen Street station are a little more basic. However, this station is adjacent to the main shopping precinct.

Rail services: Virgin Trains operates West Coast mainline services to London Euston, while National Express East Coast runs services on the East Coast mainline route to London Kings Cross via Edinburgh. There are up to 15 direct services a day and the journey takes between 4 hours 25 minutes and 6 hours. First ScotRail offers a night-train service on the ‘Caledonian Sleeper’ to Euston (journey time – approximately 7 hours). First ScotRail also offers services from Oban, Fort William, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness, as well as a regular service from Edinburgh (journey time – 50 minutes) to Queen Street station and from Carlisle, Largs, Lanark, Ayr, Kilmarnock, East Kilbride, Dumfries and Stranraer to Glasgow Central station.