YOUR VISIT

FAQs (at 25 January 2022)

The following information ONLY applies to standard days, these are at present Sat 12, Sun 13, Tue 15, Wed 16, Sat 19 & Sun 20 February 2022.

Is the railway open?
Yes, we will be running steam trains on dates in February and tickets are available here.

Following a short break in March we will be open again in April until October with special events in December. Steam and heritage diesel trains will run on weekends, Tuesdays and other days in school holidays during this period and will be available to book in due course. We will also have a variety of special events through the year, all things being well.

Will it be a Steam Train or a Heritage Diesel Train?

In February all trains are steam hauled.

April-October details will be published here shortly.

*Note: Whilst every effort is made to run to the published timetable, SRPS reserves the right to vary it and to use steam or diesel power without notice.

How much are tickets?
Special Fares apply for February and tickets can be booked here.

• First Class Private Compartment for up to 6 people @£50 per compartment
• Standard Class Private Compartment for up to 6 people @£45 per compartment
• Reserved seating for 3 or 4 people @ £32
• Reserved seating for 1 or 2 people @ £20
• Reserved seating and wheelchair space for 3 or 4 people @ £32 or 1 or 2 people £20

Do I need to pre-book tickets online?
You can pre-book your date and train departure time up to half an hour before departure subject to availability. The link to our booking system is here. Your ticket will only be valid for the train you book.
Some tickets may be available at the station on the day, but if the train you wish to travel on is fully booked, you will not be able to board. So it’s best to pre-book if you can.

What safety measures will there be in place?

We will maintain mitigation measures, including managing capacities and visitor flow, use of hand sanitation stations and enhanced cleaning protocols, until otherwise announced, in accordance with industry best practice and guidance endorsed by the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions.

Face coverings must be worn indoors, unless exempt or eating and drinking. This includes on trains and at Bo’ness Station. It is also recommended they are worn in areas likely to be crowded, including queues.

Please be mindful of other visitors and use the space we have provided kindly.

To help with NHS Test & Protect Scan the code on our Check In Scotland posters that you will see on site.

Do follow Government advice and local mitigations at all times, see here for the latest information.

When booking a table or compartment, how many households can sit together?

The tables seat up to four people and compartments seat up to 6. Please follow the guidance from the Scottish Government at the time. You kind find helpful information here.

Do infants count in the numbers for booking a table/compartment?

There is no actual ticket especially for infants. As far as our seating is concerned, a child under 5 would be able to sit on an adults knee and not need a seat.

How long will I be on the train?
Your return train journey to Manuel takes around 70 minutes.
Our staff will be there if you need help finding your seat. We ask that you remain in your allocated seat for the journey except if visiting the On Train Buffet car if available and at Manuel when the train will stop for just over ten minutes* to allow the crew to move the locomotive from one end of the train to the other to pull it back to Bo’ness. At Manuel you are welcome to alight and enjoy the fresh air on our platform whilst this takes place. When it is time to get back on the Guard will blow their whistle and our staff will let you know it’s time to get back on. Please remember to follow social distancing guidelines whilst on our platform and trains as well as wearing a face covering. (*Please note this may change due to operational needs)

What time should we get to Bo’ness Station to catch our train?
Please arrive around 30 minutes before your train departure to allow time for parking, waiting to board your train and visiting our toilet facilities.

Can I just come for a wander round the site and visit the café and Gift Shop?

Visitors can come to the Station to visit our shop and Station Buffet when we are running trains.

Access to the platform is for passengers who have bought or wish to buy tickets for travel on our trains only.
We ask that all passengers and visitors continue to wear a face covering, unless exempt in line with our mitigation measures whilst at the Station, Station Buffet, the train platforms, on trains (unless eating or drinking) and keep a safe distance from other visitors and follow marked routes.

Are there toilets on the train?

Yes there are as well as in Bo’ness Station.

Where are you?

Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
Bo’ness Station
Union St
Bo’ness
EH51 9AQ

By car – Bo’ness Station is in the town centre and has lots of free parking. M9 J5 or J3 then follow the brown tourist signs to Bo’ness & the railway. SATNAV ref EH51 9AQ .

If you are travelling by an electric vehicle, there are 5 electric car charging points (connectors) available at Union Street Car Park, less than 5 minutes walk from the station. Click here for more info.

By bus from Edinburgh – Scottish Citylink

By train and bus – Linlithgow is the nearest mainline station. Visitors should alight here and make their way to opposite Linlithgow Cross and to the bus stop outside The Four Mary’s pub. Please see www.travelinescotland.com or call 0871 200 2233 for up to date information about bus services.

What else can I do?
Right now you can use our free car park, pick up a souvenir in our Gift Shop, take a pre-booked train journey, enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the golden age of train travel, bring a picnic to eat in our picnic area, buy a hot or cold drink and a snack to eat in the Station Buffet or takeaway on the train, use our toilet facilities and be looked after by our friendly staff and volunteers whilst you are with us.
Our Visitor Trail and Museum are closed until mid-March and we are working to make them safe for you to enjoy then.

Can I change my train time if I can no longer make it?
Unfortunately we can only make transfers or offer refunds if we are unable to run your booked train service. Please find further terms and conditions see our booking page here.

Can I get something to eat and drink?

Yes our Station Buffet will be open for hot and cold food, drinks and snacks.
You are also welcome to bring your own picnic to eat in our picnic areas or on the train but please dispose of your litter wisely.

Is the Museum of Scottish Railways open?

No, we are building a new entrance to our museum and unfortunately this has taken longer than expected. The new entrance will catch the eye of visitors on the platform at Bo’ness Station so you really can’t miss it. It will be accessed from the new visitor trail that takes in the new Engineering facility next door which is being built by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Whilst the construction work is going on, visitor access is not permitted. The Museum will be open in mid-March though and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone back.

Are the station and trains accessible?
Please see our accessibility statement here. You can book for a wheelchair space and up to three seats with it on our booking site subject to availability.

Is there parking?
Yes we have a large free car park with accessible parking spaces less than 10 metres from Bo’ness Station

Can I bring my dog ?
Assistance dogs are allowed on site at any time. All dogs are welcome except on special event days such as Day Out With Thomas and Santa Steam Trains which are extremely busy and not the best experience for our four legged friends!
On standard days well behaved dogs are welcome on the trains but only in the standard class open carriages ie Tables of up to four (except in the On Train Buffet Car) and platform and must be kept on a lead at all times. We do not allow dogs in our compartment or first class coaches.

We also ask that dogs are kept off the seats too please.

Dogs are not allowed in the Station Buffet at Bo’ness but food and drinks from their menu can be taken away and enjoyed at picnic benches around the site.