Rugby fans heading to watch Scotland in the viagogo Autumn Tests 2014 this weekend are being advised to take note of traffic and travel information.
Scotland are playing host to Argentina today, kick-off at 5.30pm and tens of thousands of spectators are expected to flock to Murrayfield Stadium for the match.
To ensure pedestrian safety and to minimise traffic disruption, pedestrian diversions will be implemented around the Haymarket Station area following the match.
The City of Edinburgh Council is working closely with Police Scotland to keep road and pedestrian traffic moving smoothly before and after the game.
Scottish Rugby have also been consulted on traffic arrangements so that they can ensure the competing teams arrive at Murrayfield Stadium safely and on time.
Meanwhile Edinburgh Trams will be running services every five minutes, with extra staff on hand to help customers.
A number of temporary road closures and parking restrictions will be in place in the Haymarket area for a number of hours on Saturday afternoon and evening.
Police and stewards will be on hand to help direct members of the public from the Stadium to the city centre.
Those heading back into the city centre on foot will be diverted left off the main road up Magdala Crescent to continue back into town.
Pedestrians travelling by rail from Haymarket Station will be guided along the main road towards Haymarket and stewards will be on hand to provide further assistance and advice as they approach the Station.
Russell Road will also be available for those pedestrians making their way back towards the Dalry area and as an alternative route to the city centre.
Identical arrangements are planned for the following weekend, Saturday 15 November, when Scotland will face the All Blacks, kick-off 5.30pm.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “These plans and diversions were trialled during the Six Nations earlier this year and we were pleased at how smoothly the arrangements were managed. After their success at handling the large crowds from the One Direction concert and Celtic’s Champions League game this summer, Edinburgh Trams are well placed to cater to significant numbers of rugby fans who might opt to get to and from the match by tram. We would remind all fans to check travel advice before they set out and we wish Scotland the very best of luck for their Autumn Tests!”
Edinburgh Trams Director and General Manager Tom Norris said:
“We’re looking forward to this next big event for the team at Edinburgh Trams. We’ll be ready with 14 trams in service running every five mins for rugby fans who want to use our service to get to and from the game. We’ll also have additional staff on duty to help customers and to keep things moving as smoothly as possible.”
Information about getting to and from Murrayfield Stadium by bus, tram or rail can be found on the Scottish Rugby website.
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