Dancers herald the launch of the new festival services

First ScotRail is providing new services at 0001 and 0030 from Edinburgh to Glasgow with various stops on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

There will also be a new service to Stirling.

Tourism and Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said the new services would benefit Scottish tourism and communities across central Scotland.

"The Edinburgh festivals provide a unique opportunity for Scottish audiences to experience cultural excellence of the highest order," she said.

"I am delighted that through the expansion of these train services, communities across central Scotland will have increased access to such world-class experiences.

With so many shows going on late into the night we know this will be a very popular initiative Paul Gudgin Edinburgh Fringe Festival

"The expansion of the late night service is great news for festival goers and great news for Scotland's tourism industry.

"As the festival service expands over this and next year it will provide many potential economic benefits, giving the areas surrounding the new late night service routes the opportunity to benefit from tourists who will be able to travel to and from Edinburgh more easily."

First ScotRail managing director Mary Dickson said: "We will be increasing the number of additional trains, running extra trains on new routes and providing more capacity on many services, with a view to providing even more next year."

Paul Gudgin, director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe said: "This is great news for the Fringe. With so many shows going on late into the night we know this will be a very popular initiative.