Transport Connectivity
Stirling is strategically located in the heart of Scotland. Excellent road and rail links mean we are within an hour’s travel time of over half of Scotland’s population as well as two international airports offering flights to more than 120 markets. Our train station is one of Scotland’s busiest – reaching Edinburgh or Glasgow in just over 30 minutes and with a new, regular train service announced to London.
Making Connections
Stirling’s central location and excellent travel connections make it the ideal base for businesses – within easy reach for clients, supply chains and recruitment.
Rail
With 3 million passengers per annum, Stirling is one of Scotland’s busiest railway stations. As a key station on the national rail network, Stirling provides fast and direct connections the length and breadth of the country. Three trains per hour connect Stirling to Edinburgh and four per hour to Glasgow.
Regular trains operate to London King’s Cross, including direct trains and the famous Caledonian Sleeper, with travel links from Stirling to the UK’s key cities and destinations. From 2026, First Group’s Lumo service will operate four return trains daily between Stirling and London Euston.
Road network
With two key junctions leading directly to the M9 and M80, Stirling is in easy reach of Glasgow and Edinburgh in less than 40 minutes These pivotal intersections in Scotland’s roads network give direct, fast and efficient access to and from the city, directly linking Stirling to national and international markets, customers and talent.
Electric Vehicles
With one of the UK’s largest EV charging points at Castleview Park and Ride, Stirling is leading the “charge” towards net zero.
Supporting Scotland’s ambitious low emissions targets, this Low Carbon Transport Hub has solar panels covering 132 car parking spaces. The chargers make up part of the Charge Place Scotland Network that provides drivers access to over 1000 charge points across Scotland. Stirling and Dunblane are on the Electric A9, Scotland’s longest Electric Vehicle-ready route, reaching ferry ports in the North East of Scotland.
Bus network
Together with an extensive local bus network, feeding into a city centre coach and bus station there are coach services from Stirling to Edinburgh, Glasgow and London, as well as other major cities. These provide reliable and convenient commuter routes into Stirling as well as alternatives for visitors and tourists.
Active Travel
Investment of over £26 million pounds in active travel has been made to the area through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal. The strategic vision for the Active Travel Routes Programme will see the area lead the way to a booming active travel culture. Addressing the global climate emergency this Programme will deliver a step change in active travel, making travel by walking, cycling, and wheeling for people of all ages and abilities easier in Stirling, and beyond.
The first of the Active Travel projects is Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling. Construction on this £9.5 million project funded by the Scottish Government and Sustrans commenced in early 2022. By investing in new infrastructure and regeneration of currently disconnected routes see two new, fully connected, travel corridors will be created. Route 1 will link Stirling’s Railway Station and the University of Stirling, Route 2 will bridge the gaps between Forth Valley College and the city centre. While making the most of Stirling’s iconic landscape and features, the routes will make active travel safe and accessible.
Read more about the project through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal here.
Air
Edinburgh Airport
Accessible from Stirling in just half an hour, Edinburgh is Scotland’s busiest airport with access to 37 airlines flying 221 routes to 158 national and international destinations.
Glasgow Airport
Glasgow International Airport is 40 minute’s drive from Stirling. It is Scotland’s principal long-haul airport with direct flights to over 100 national and international destinations.
Sea
Grangemouth
Within 15 minutes of Stirling, Scotland’s largest container port at Grangemouth gives access to the country’s industrial heartland. Approximately 9 million tonnes of cargo are handled through the dock each year. Of this, 2.5 million tonnes is ‘dry cargo’, which represents incoming raw materials for Scottish Industry and outgoing finished products.
The port handles approximately 150,000 containers per year. As much as 30% of Scotland’s gross domestic product (GDP) goes through the port. It is the UK’s largest feeder port and the only one that exports more than it imports. (Source: ScottishPorts.org.uk)
