ScotRail 1A45 Train from Perth to Dundee

Following my short visit to Perth, it was now time to move on to Dundee to visit my second new Scottish city in a day. Trains travelling from Perth to Dundee are usually operating from Glasgow to Dundee or Aberdeen, utilising this short branch to connect the Highlands Main Line to Dundee, with around 2 trains per hour. I headed back to the station to catch the next departing train.

Perth Railway Station

The façade of Perth Railway Station.

Heading through the gate line with my ScotRail app mTicket. I had purchased a Super Off-Peak Day Return Ticket for this weekday day trip which is only available as a ScotRail app mTicket, which was cheaper than the usual Off-Peak Day Return Tickets.

Trains to Dundee usually always depart from Platform 2 due to the track layout, so I headed straight there.

Just an 11 m,inutes wait for the next train to Dundee.

ScotRail 1A45

To my surprise, the ScotRail 1A45 train, which full route is from Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen, was formed of a single 2-car Class 158 Express Sprinter set.

Crossing with an opposing train from Dundee at Perth.

The interior of the Class 158 Express Sprinter. To my surprise, the train was not busy, even with a 2-car set for an almost 3-hour full journey. The hopper windows were opened for ventilation as it was getting warm in the afternoon.

Paintings of trains at Perth were hung on the opposite Platform 1.

My Super Off-Peak Day Return Ticket ScotRail app mTicket for this day trip. To further save money on the day trip, I also took the opportunity to split my ticket at Perth for Dundee.

While the Super Off-Peak Day Return Ticket allows for a break of journey, it was cheaper to buy 2 separate tickets for Edinburgh-Perth return and Perth-Dundee return than a Edinburgh-Dundee return. I also used another National Rail rule later in the day which is when multiple tickets can be used in succession on a single train, as long as the train stops at the station which the ticket break is done, so that I could travel through on a single train with 2 cheaper tickets without the need to change trains, as compared if I had just bought a normal Dundee-Edinburgh ticket.

Just another day of playing the National Rail ticketing rules game.

My ScotRail 1A45 train departed from Perth on time at 2.45pm.

Crossing the King’s Place Bridge and heading onto the short single-track sector.

Passing by St Leonard’s-in-the-Fields Church of Scotland Church.

Crossing the River Tay which is bifurcated around Moncrieffe Island.

Crossing the River Tay again after passing on Moncrieffe Island.

Splitting back out to a double-track.

This line still uses semaphore signals.

Passing by Barnhill signal box.

Heading alongside the River Tay to Dundee.

The scenery along the way was mostly fields.

Passing non-stop through Invergowrie Railway Station.

Skirting alongside the River Tay.

Passing by Dundee Airport.

Approaching the Edinburgh-Dundee Line from the Tay Bridge.

Passing under the Seabraes Footbridge.

Passing through Dundee Central Junction.

Dundee Railway Station

Arriving in Dundee Railway Station.

My ScotRail 1A45 train arrived at Dundee Railway Station at 3.05pm – 4 minutes early.

With the early arrival, there will be a 9-minute stop at Dundee for the ScotRail 1A45 train before it continues on to Aberdeen.

Heading into the covered concourse after the platforms.

There is a coffee house in the platform concourse.

Heading out of the open gate line.

 

Heading up the escalator to the exit.

Heading out of Dundee Railway Station.

The façade of Dundee Railway Station, which is also shared with Sleeperz Hotel Dundee.

The old station façade and entrance is not in use any more.