Perth (Perth)

Perth is a station of contrasts, not only do the trains arrive and depart from two distinct parts of the station, it also has a mix of beautiful, but dilapidated, architecture and somewhat ugly more modern additions.

The beautiful part of the station is what’s left of its main building, which spans platforms (tracks) 3 – 7.
Until the 1960s the express trains on Scotland’s premiere route between Glasgow and Aberdeen used to leave from this part of Perth station and now it is reminiscent of a bygone era of rail travel, as it still looks pretty much as it did when the last of those steam trains departed.
It is now mainly used by the trains which take the Highland line to Inverness; the trains heading north on this route now leave from platform 7, which is located farthest from the station’s rather basic entrance hall.

Platforms 1 and 2, which are to one side of the main station roof, are where the trains to and from Aberdeen have arrived and departed for more than 50 years.
Most of the trains between Perth and Glasgow also now use this part of the station.

Perth station doesn’t have a left luggage office, but the splendid station hotel, which is right by the station, will allow travellers to deposit bags for a reasonable fee.
And if you have time to spare, its bar is a very pleasant location in which to wait for a train.

At Perth station, platforms 2 and 3 are adjacent to the station entrances, but the access to and from platforms 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 is by footbridge and the station now has three of them.

• The bridge closest to the ticket office is accessed by comparatively steep ramps and staircases.
• At the south end of the station, outside the roofed area, a new footbridge has been equipped with elevators, but as it's farther away from entrance and the parts of the station used by the trains, so it's only worth using if you don't want to used the ramps or stairs to access platforms 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7
• Within the main station building another footbridge, which only has staircases, links platform 3, to platforms, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Platforms 4 and 5 are accessed by the stairs, ramps and elevators on each of the respective bridges, but they are on the same level as platforms 6 and 7, so to access these two platforms from the bridges, you need to walk along platform 4.
The bridge equipped with elevators is farthest away from platforms 6 and 7.
So if you know you’ll want to use this bridge with the elevators aim to be at Perth station a minimum of 10 minutes before your train will be departing.

The quickest route to platform 1 is to use the ramp on platform 2 , which leads up to the older of the two footbridges which span the platforms at the south-end of the station, but if you want to use the elevators turn left on platform 3 and use the bridge at its far end.

The quickest route to platforms 6 and 7 from the entrance is to use the footbridge with the stairs in the main part of station, turn right when you’re on platform 3 and you’ll see this bridge ahead of you.

So when ARRIVING by train at platforms 4 - 7, use this closest footbridge if you'll be happy to use the stairs, or head along to the next bridge further along platform 4, if you want to use the ramps to reach the exit; OR head to the far end of platform 4 if you'll need to use lifts/elevators to access the exit.

Perth station is located in the south-eastern corner of the city centre, so the heart of the city is a 10 -20 min walk away, just follow the road, Leonard Street, which leads away from the station to the left.

However, many of Perth’s most popular attractions, including the concert hall are in the north-west corner of the city centre, so are on the opposite side of the city to the station.
Most of the local buses from the station (the closest stop is opposite the Queens Hotel, which is the cream coloured building, which can be seen in the middle distance when exiting the station), don’t head across to this part of the town, so a taxi can be the best option.

Perth bus station, which has connections to locations no longer served by trains, including Blairgowrie (route 34), Comrie (route 15) and Crieff (routes 15 and 15A), is a 3-5 min walk from the station, turn left on to Leonard Street.