YOUR VISIT

FAQs (at 23 November 2021)

The following information ONLY applies to standard days, Diesel Running Day on 29 December and Black Bun Special Trains on 30 & 31 December 2021 and 2 & 3 January 2022.

For information on our Santa Steam Trains please visit our website here.

Is the railway open?
Yes, we are finalising the details for our Diesel Running Day on Wednesday 29 December and our Black Bun Special Trains are on are running on 30 & 31 December 2021 and 2 & 3 January 2022.

Information about when we are open further in 2022 will be published in due course.

Will it be a Steam Train or a Heritage Diesel Train?
Black Bun Special Trains will be steam hauled and there will be a variety of diesel hauled trains at the Diesel Running Day.
*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?
Event Fares apply so please see the relevant information pages here for details Black Bun Special Trains and Diesel Running Day

Tickets can be booked here when available.

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, except for Day Rover tickets at the Diesel Running Day when available .
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?     

As we move beyond level zero in Scotland 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, in the museum 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 the time at Manuel may change on days with more frequent trains, such as a Diesel Running Day. )

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, Station Buffet and model railway 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

Bo’ness Community Bus runs from the centre of Edinburgh to Bo’ness with stops in between and then back.

It is recommended you book your seat in advance on the bus. Please see their website here for more information.

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 remain closed but we are working to make them safe for you to enjoy in future.

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 next year (2022) and we are looking at extending our opening season to welcome everyone back.

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

Winter Diesel Running Day – Special Note

Unfortunately, our accessible coach will not be available on these services as it is incompatible with the braking systems used by some of the diesel locomotives in use during the Winter Diesel Running Day.

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.

Are you running Santa Steam Trains this year?

Yes – see here for all the information.

Will there be a Day Out With Thomas event next year?
We are looking in to this at present, more information will be on our website here if there are any updates.

What about other events?
We are looking and some special events for December and in 2022. Please check our website here for updates.

Are you doing Afternoon Tea on a Steam Train?
We are working with our caterer to bring this back but still need a bit more time to work things through, we appreciate your patience while we do so.

Can I use my Afternoon Tea Gift Vouchers?
We are working towards a way of doing this and will give an update about this soon. As you can appreciate reopening after such a long time and in a very different world has not been easy for anyone and are grateful of your understanding in these more challenging times.