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An Edinburgh and Lothian Festive Bus and Tram Travel Guide from Christmas 2025 to New Year 2026

Posted on December 14, 2025

Reading time: 16 minutes.

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Here is a guide that navigates the intricate changes to Edinburgh and Lothian’s public transport network during the festive period from Christmas 2025 through to early January 2026. The bus and tram services operate under a series of distinct arrangements rather than following a single pattern, with variations across different operators, special provisions for key dates such as Christmas Day and Hogmanay, and the introduction of dedicated overnight services for New Year celebrations. What follows below breaks down the specific arrangements for Lothian Buses, East Coast Buses, Lothian Country and Edinburgh Trams, providing date-by-date clarity on what to expect and how to plan journeys effectively during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Different Networks

The bus and tram network changes substantially over the festive period. There is no single timetable that covers everything. Instead, different operators run separate arrangements and there are special ones for Hogmanay itself too:

• Lothian Buses covers city services, Airlink 100 and city NightBuses
• East Coast Buses serves routes to East Lothian (Musselburgh, Tranent, Haddington, North Berwick, Dunbar)
• Lothian Country covers West Lothian (Livingston, Bathgate, Queensferry, Broxburn, Fauldhouse)
• Edinburgh Trams operates between the airport, city centre and Newhaven
• Hogmanay H services (buses) operate separately on New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day

What Changes

The familiar pattern of daytime routes and NightBus services shifts between 24^th December and 5^th January:

• Service levels vary by date - Saturday, Sunday, Special or Normal
• Earlier finishing times on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay for buses (typically around 21:30)
• Limited routes on public holidays - Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day for buses
• Trams don’t run on Christmas Day but maintain normal service most other days
• NightBus runs intermittently - not available after every day
• Hogmanay overnight uses special H bus services - different routes, different tickets
• Trams are free after midnight on Hogmanay - buses require Hogmanay Ticket

Key Dates at a Glance

🎄 Christmas Eve - Wednesday 24^th December

• Buses: Saturday timetable, finish early (last buses around 21:30)
• Trams: Normal weekday service, every 7 minutes
• NightBuses: Run in early morning only

🎄 Christmas Day - Thursday 25^th December

• Buses: Special timetables, limited routes only
• Trams: No service operates
• NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Boxing Day

🎁 Boxing Day - Friday 26^th December

• Buses: Special timetables, expanded from Christmas Day
• Trams: Normal weekday service resumes, every 7 minutes
• NightBus: Does not operate overnight into 27^th December

📅 Weekend Return - 27^th-28^th December

• Saturday 27^th: Buses on Saturday timetable, no NightBus; Trams normal service
• Sunday 28^th: Buses on Sunday timetable, NightBus resumes Sunday morning; Trams normal service

📅 Pre-Hogmanay - 29^th-30^th December

• Monday 29^th: Buses on Saturday timetable, NightBus operates normally; Trams normal service
• Tuesday 30^th: Buses on Saturday timetable, NightBus operates normally; Trams normal service until 17:50, then split operation (Princes Street closes for Hogmanay preparations)

🎉 Hogmanay - Wednesday 31^st December

• Buses: Saturday timetable, finish early (last buses around 21:30), NightBuses in early morning only
• Trams: 10-minute service on split operation (Airport-West End AND Picardy Place-Newhaven)
• After midnight (buses): Special H services run midnight to 04:00 (£6/£12 Hogmanay Ticket required)
• After midnight (trams): FREE service, every 10 minutes until 02:00, then frequent until early hours

🎊 New Year’s Day - Thursday 1^st January

• Buses: Special timetables, limited routes only; HogmanayBus H services in early morning
• Trams: Split operation until Princes Street reopens, then normal service resumes
• NightBus: Does not operate overnight into 2^nd January

📅 Early January - 2^nd-4^th January

• Friday 2^nd: Buses on Sunday timetable, no NightBus; Trams normal service
• Saturday 3^rd: Buses on Saturday timetable, no NightBus; Trams normal service
• Sunday 4^th: Buses on Sunday timetable, NightBus resumes; Trams normal service

✅ Back to Normal - Monday 5^th January

• Service level: Normal weekday services resume for all operators
• Schools return

Lothian Buses (City Network)

22^nd - 23^rd December

Timetables are as per normal weekdays across all Lothian services, including Airlink and NightBus.

Christmas Eve: Wednesday 24^th December

Daytime: Saturday timetable operates, but services finish earlier than a normal Saturday. Last buses through the city centre typically depart around 21:30, though precise times vary by route.

NightBus: Operates in the early morning only (for travel after midnight at the start of the day).

Airlink 100: Reduced service.

Christmas Day: Thursday 25^th December

Daytime: Special timetable on selected routes only. Check the dedicated Christmas Day leaflet for which routes operate.

Airlink 100: Limited daytime service only.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Boxing Day.

Boxing Day: Friday 26^th December

Daytime: Special timetable with core routes running at reduced frequencies.

Airlink 100: Daytime only.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Saturday 27^th December.

Weekend Return: 27^th-28^th December

Saturday 27^th December: Saturday timetable returns. Airlink early morning journeys operate. NightBus does not operate overnight.

Sunday 28^th December: Sunday timetable. NightBus runs on Sunday morning only.

Pre-Hogmanay: 29^th-30^th December

Monday 29^th and Tuesday 30^th December: Both days operate to Saturday daytime timetables.

NightBus: Returns to normal operation in the early mornings.

Hogmanay: Wednesday 31^st December

Daytime: Saturday timetable operates.

Evening: Services finish early, typically with last buses through the city centre around 21:30.

NightBus: Operates in the early morning only (at the start of the day).

After midnight: Normal NightBus does not run. Instead, special H services replace normal overnight provision (see Hogmanay Services section for full details).

New Year’s Day: Thursday 1^st January

Daytime: Special timetable on selected routes only.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Friday 2^nd January.

Early January: 2^nd-4^th January

Friday 2^nd January: Sunday timetable. No NightBus services.

Saturday 3^rd January: Saturday timetable. No NightBus services.

Sunday 4^th January: Sunday timetable. NightBus resumes in the early hours.

Return to Normal: Monday 5^th January

Normal weekday services resume across the network. Schools return on this date.

East Coast Buses (East Lothian Routes)

Coverage: Edinburgh, Musselburgh, Tranent, Haddington, North Berwick, Dunbar and intermediate communities.

Christmas Eve: Wednesday 24^th December

Daytime: Saturday timetable with earlier last departures from Edinburgh city centre.

NightBus: Routes N107, N113 and N124 operate in the early morning only (helpful for travel after midnight at the start of the day, but not late on Christmas Eve night once services have finished).

Christmas Day: Thursday 25^th December

A tightly focused service operates on three core corridors only:

Route 107: Edinburgh - Musselburgh - Tranent - Haddington - Dunbar

Route 113: Edinburgh - Musselburgh - Tranent - Ormiston - Pencaitland

Route 124: Edinburgh - Musselburgh - Prestonpans - Longniddry - Gullane - North Berwick

Special operational note: On 25^th December only, East Coast Buses serve all stops between Brunstane and Abbeyhill.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Boxing Day.

Boxing Day: Friday 26^th December

Special timetable continues with a wider daytime spread across the key network.

Routes operating: X7 (Dunbar - Haddington - Edinburgh via A1), 106, 107, 113, 124

Frequencies: Generally hourly on most routes.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Saturday 27^th December.

Weekend Return: 27^th-28^th December

Saturday 27^th and Sunday 28^th December: Normal weekend timetables return.

NightBus: Resumes on the morning of Sunday 28^th December.

Pre-Hogmanay: 29^th-30^th December

Monday 29^th and Tuesday 30^th December: Operate broadly to Saturday daytime timetables.

NightBus N107: Runs to a normal weekday timetable in the early morning hours. This reinforces that the overnight offer is not a uniform on-or-off switch across all festive dates.

Hogmanay: Wednesday 31^st December

Daytime: Saturday timetable with earlier last departures from the city centre.

NightBus N107: Runs as normal in the early hours (at the start of the day).

After midnight: Hogmanay services are separated out into the special H network rather than being part of the ordinary NightBus arrangements.

New Year’s Day: Thursday 1^st January

Daytime: Special timetable operates on routes 106, 107, 113, 124 and X7, generally at hourly frequencies.

Early morning: HogmanayBus services H107 and H124 operate.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Friday 2^nd January.

Early January: 2^nd-4^th January

Friday 2^nd and Saturday 3^rd January: No NightBus services in the mornings.

Sunday 4^th January: Returns to a Sunday timetable with overnight services resuming in the early hours.

Return to Normal: Monday 5^th January

Normal weekday services return.

Lothian Country (West Lothian Routes)

Coverage: South Queensferry, Livingston, Bathgate, Whitburn, Broxburn, Fauldhouse, Winchburgh and connections into Edinburgh.

The festive pattern is similar in shape to other operators but different in the details of which corridors are maintained.

Christmas Eve: Wednesday 24^th December

Daytime: Saturday timetable with earlier last buses, especially towards Edinburgh.

NightBus: Routes N18, N28 and N43 operate in the early morning only.

Christmas Day: Thursday 25^th December

Very limited special service with only a defined set of routes operating:

Route X18: Whitburn - Bathgate - Broxburn - Edinburgh

Routes X27 and X28: Bathgate - Livingston - Edinburgh

Route 43: Queensferry - Dalmeny - Edinburgh

Route X40: St John’s Hospital - Livingston - Royal Infirmary

Route 72: Fauldhouse - Livingston - Winchburgh

Route 74: Fauldhouse - West Calder - Livingston - Bathgate

Frequencies: Reduced, generally hourly or less.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Boxing Day.

Boxing Day: Friday 26^th December

Special timetable continues with the same core routes, typically with improved frequencies compared with Christmas Day.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Saturday 27^th December.

Weekend Return: 27^th-28^th December

Saturday 27^th December: Saturday timetable returns, although NightBus does not operate in the early hours.

Sunday 28^th December: Sunday timetable. NightBus routes operate on Sunday morning only.

Pre-Hogmanay: 29^th-30^th December

Monday 29^th and Tuesday 30^th December: Both use Saturday daytime timetables.

NightBus: Returns to normal operation in the early morning.

Hogmanay: Wednesday 31^st December

Daytime: Saturday timetable with earlier last journeys in the evening.

NightBus: Operates in the early hours only (at the start of the day).

After midnight: Handled through the Hogmanay H network rather than the standard NightBus.

New Year’s Day: Thursday 1^st January

Daytime: Special timetable on the same core routes that operated on Christmas Day.

Early morning: HogmanayBus services H18, H28 and H43 operate.

NightBus: Does not operate overnight into Friday 2^nd January.

Early January: 2^nd-4^th January

Friday 2^nd January: Sunday timetable, no NightBus.

Saturday 3^rd January: Saturday timetable, no NightBus.

Sunday 4^th January: Sunday timetable with NightBus resuming in the early hours.

Return to Normal: Monday 5^th January

Normal weekday services return. Schools restart on this date.

Edinburgh Trams

Edinburgh Trams operate a simpler festive pattern than the bus network, maintaining normal weekday service on most days with just a few key changes.

Normal route: Edinburgh Airport - York Place (city centre) - Newhaven

Christmas Eve: Wednesday 24^th December

Service level: Normal weekday service throughout the day.

Frequency: Trams every 7 minutes.

No early finish - trams run to normal hours unlike buses.

Christmas Day: Thursday 25^th December

Service level: No trams operate on Christmas Day.

Staff have the day off to spend with their families.

Boxing Day to Monday 29^th December (26^th-29^th December)

Service level: Normal weekday service resumes immediately on Boxing Day.

Frequency: Trams every 7 minutes.

This is notably different from buses, which run special reduced timetables on Boxing Day.

Tuesday 30^th December

Until 17:50: Normal weekday service operates on the full route.

From 17:50 onwards: Princes Street closes to prepare for the Hogmanay Street Party.

Split operation begins:

• Service A: Edinburgh Airport - West End
• Service B: Picardy Place - Newhaven

Passengers cannot travel through the city centre section. Change at West End or use alternative transport through the closure zone.

Hogmanay: Wednesday 31^st December

Service level: 10-minute frequency on split operation.

Split operation continues:

• Service A: Edinburgh Airport - West End
• Service B: Picardy Place - Newhaven

After midnight: All trams are FREE to help people get home safely.

Midnight to 02:00: Trams run every 10 minutes.

02:00 onwards: Frequent service continues into the early hours of New Year’s Day.

This is a major difference from buses, which require a £6.00 or £12.00 Hogmanay Ticket for overnight travel.

New Year’s Day: Thursday 1^st January

Split operation continues until Princes Street reopens.

Once Princes Street reopens: Normal weekday service resumes on the full route.

Friday 2^nd January onwards

Service level: Normal weekday service resumes.

Frequency: Trams every 7 minutes.

Trams vs Buses: Key Differences

Understanding how trams differ from buses during the festive period can help with journey planning:

Aspect	Buses	Trams
Christmas Eve	Finish early (~21:30)	Normal hours
Christmas Day	Limited special services	No service at all
Boxing Day	Special reduced timetables	Normal service immediately
Most other days	Variable (Saturday/Sunday patterns)	Normal weekday service
Hogmanay night	H services, £6/£12 ticket	FREE after midnight
Frequency on special days	Often hourly	Every 7 to 10 minutes
Princes Street closure	Routes diverted or terminated	Split operation (30 Dec-1 Jan)

Travel Tips for Tram Users

Park & Ride: If driving from beyond Edinburgh, use Ingliston Park & Ride (over 1,000 free spaces, just off A8 Airport Junction). Trams depart every 7 minutes.

Shopping access: For city centre shopping, use Princes Street, St Andrew Square or Picardy Place stops - but note the Princes Street closure from 17:50 on 30^th December through New Year’s Day.

Hogmanay travel: Take advantage of free tram travel after midnight on 31^st December. Frequent service runs until the early hours to help you get home safely.

During Princes Street closure: Plan for the split operation. If you need to travel through the city centre between 30^th December evening and 1^st January, consider:

• Walking between West End and Picardy Place (approximately 15 to 20 minutes)
• Using Lothian Buses routes that aren’t affected by the closure
• Using the free Hogmanay trams for part of your journey after midnight on 31^st December

Hogmanay Overnight Bus Services

The H Network: Midnight to 04:00, Thursday 1^st January 2026

The most distinctive part of the festive network operates on Hogmanay night. Special buses branded as H services run from midnight to 04:00 on Thursday 1^st January 2026. These are designed specifically for late night travel after New Year celebrations and replace normal NightBus operations for Hogmanay night.

Anyone relying on the usual NightBus routes needs to treat Hogmanay as its own separate arrangement, with its own routes, fares and ticket validity.

Ticketing: A Central Difference

You cannot use normal tickets or passes on H bus services.

A Hogmanay Ticket is required for travel on H bus services.

Pricing:

• £6.00 for travel within one fare zone
• £12.00 for travel across two fare zones

What the ticket covers:

• Unlimited travel on day buses after 18:00 on Wednesday 31^st December
• Unlimited travel on H bus services after midnight on 1^st January

How to pay:

• Cash on board (exact cash fare only)
• Contactless on board
• Ridacard is accepted

Not valid on H bus services:

• Concessionary passes
• Season tickets
• Other passes or tickets

This is a significant departure from normal expectations for people who might otherwise use concessionary passes or other season tickets.

Where the Hogmanay Ticket is valid:

• Lothian, Lothian Country and East Coast Buses services
• Excludes: Airlink and the airport tram stop
• Normal zone restrictions apply

Remember: Edinburgh Trams are FREE after midnight on Hogmanay - no ticket required.

Geographic Coverage

The H network is structured to provide radial coverage from Edinburgh city centre out to suburbs and surrounding towns.

West and North West: Silverknowes, Queensferry, Kirkliston, South Queensferry

North and North East: Granton, Newhaven, Leith, Portobello, Musselburgh

South and South East: Liberton, Hyvots Bank, Dalkeith, Gorebridge, Newtongrange

South West and West: Balerno, Colinton, Clovenstone, Wester Hailes

Longer Distance Routes: Some services extend to Bathgate, Penicuik, Dunbar and North Berwick, although not every journey necessarily runs end to end. Late night operation can include city-only journeys or partial routing to outer termini.

Service Frequency

Operations are designed around manageable frequencies overnight, with services generally running every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the route.

Departure Points

Departures are organised from key city centre termini:

• Haymarket
• Princes Street
• Nicholson Street
• Elm Row
• Leopold Place

This reflects how the network is intended to distribute passengers after events in the centre.

HogmanayBus Morning Services

In addition to the overnight H network, special HogmanayBus services operate in the early morning of 1^st January:

East Coast Buses: H107, H124

Lothian Country: H18, H28, H43

Important Notes

As with many special timetables, notes about directionality and partial operation matter more than usual. A service might run to an outer area on one journey but operate only within the city on another.

Planning Your Festive Travel

Treat Each Date as a Separate Scenario

The festive period does not follow a single pattern. Rather than assuming weekend or weekday patterns, check the service level for your specific travel date.

Watch for Earlier Finishing Times

Christmas Eve (24^th December) and Hogmanay (31^st December) - buses finish early.

Last buses typically depart around 21:30 from the city centre. The daytime frequency can look fairly normal right up until services begin to wind down, which tends to catch people out.

Trams run to normal hours on Christmas Eve but operate on split service from 17:50 on 30^th December through New Year’s Day.

Check your specific route’s last departure time if the final journey of the day matters.

Understand NightBus Availability

NightBus availability is intermittent across the period, with notable gaps on the mornings after major public holidays.

NightBus does NOT operate overnight into:

• Friday 26^th December (Boxing Day)
• Saturday 27^th December
• Friday 2^nd January
• Saturday 3^rd January

NightBus DOES operate in early mornings of:

• Wednesday 24^th December
• Sunday 28^th December
• Monday 29^th December
• Tuesday 30^th December
• Wednesday 31^st December
• Resumes from Sunday 4^th January onwards

Expect Limited Networks on Special Days

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day operate on special timetables with reduced bus networks.

What this means for buses:

• Only selected routes run
• Frequencies are typically hourly at most
• There are fewer early morning and late evening journeys
• Not all areas are served

What this means for trams:

• No service at all on Christmas Day
• Normal service on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day (once Princes Street reopens)

Hogmanay Requires Different Planning

Wednesday 31^st December into Thursday 1^st January stands apart:

For buses:

• Normal NightBus routes do not operate after midnight
• H services use different routes
• H services require a Hogmanay Ticket (£6.00 or £12.00)
• Concessionary passes and other tickets are not valid
• Service operates midnight to 04:00 only

For trams:

• FREE travel after midnight
• 10-minute frequency until 02:00
• Frequent service continues into early hours
• Split operation continues (Airport-West End AND Picardy Place-Newhaven)

Service Level Summary

Date	Day	Lothian Buses	East Coast	Lothian Country	Trams	NightBus Next Morning
22nd Dec	Mon	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
23rd Dec	Tue	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
24th Dec	Wed	Saturday, early finish	Saturday, early finish	Saturday, early finish	Normal	Morning only
25th Dec	Thu	Special (limited routes)	Special (3 routes)	Special (6 routes)	No service	None
26th Dec	Fri	Special	Special	Special	Normal	None
27th Dec	Sat	Saturday	Saturday	Saturday	Normal	None
28th Dec	Sun	Sunday	Sunday	Sunday	Normal	Sunday morning
29th Dec	Mon	Saturday	Saturday	Saturday	Normal	Normal
30th Dec	Tue	Saturday	Saturday	Saturday	Normal until 17:50, then split	Normal
31st Dec	Wed	Saturday, early finish	Saturday, early finish	Saturday, early finish	Split, FREE after midnight	Morning only, then H services after midnight
1st Jan	Thu	Special (limited routes)	Special + HogmanayBus	Special + HogmanayBus	Split until reopening, then normal	None
2nd Jan	Fri	Sunday	Sunday	Sunday	Normal	None
3rd Jan	Sat	Saturday	Saturday	Saturday	Normal	None
4th Jan	Sun	Sunday	Sunday	Sunday	Normal	Resumes
5th Jan	Mon	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal

Download Timetables & Further Information

Lothian Buses (City Network)

Download: Lothian Buses Festive Timetable (PDF)

East Coast Buses (East Lothian)

Download: East Coast Buses Festive Timetable (PDF)

Lothian Country (West Lothian)

Download: Lothian Country Festive Timetable (PDF)

Hogmanay Services

Download: Hogmanay Services Information (PDF)

Edinburgh Trams

Read more: Edinburgh Trams Festive Information