Get to QMU - By Public Transport
The campus is well served by public transport with Edinburgh City Centre a six minute train journey away.
Rail Travel
We have two train stations close to campus operating Scotrail services:
Musselburgh Station is directly outside the campus entrance and runs regular services into Edinburgh which takes around 6 minutes.
Newcraighall Park and Ride Station is a 15 minute walk away or a 20 minute journey on the number 30 bus.
The lines operating at these stations are:
- The North Berwick Line (calling at Musselburgh Station)
- The Newcraighall Line (calling at Newcraighall Park and Ride Station)
For times and tickets go to the Scotrail website. To access the cheapest tickets make sure you get a free Smartcard.
Download the Scotrail app to keep up to date with the latest train times.
Cycles on trains
If you don't live in walking distance of a train station then why not consider cycling? You can take your bike on the train with you and store it on campus. For long distance routes you need to reserve a space on the train for your bike. More information on cycling and train travel can be found here.
Current rail disruption
As we are currently experiencing train disruption due to strike action, be sure to keep up to date with Scotrail services here. Note that industrial action is planned for early January 2023.
Bus Travel
Lothian Buses
The QMU campus is well served by Lothian Buses with the number 30, N30, and 45 buses coming onto campus. Both the 30 and 45 travel through Edinburgh City Centre, while the 30 also travels through East Lothian. The N30 is a night bus service that connects Edinburgh City Centre, QMU, and East Lothian.
The number 30 runs approximately every 10 minutes throughout the day, and the 45 runs every 30 minutes. Bus services take approximately 40-50 minutes from the City Centre to campus.
There are different tickets and pricings available, including:
TapTapCap contactless payment on Lothian Buses gives you unlimited travel around the city for £4.40 a day
Prentice Buses
Prentice of Haddington 111 runs in close proximity to the campus and Prentice buses 108, 111, and 118 are free to QMU students! Just show your student card to the driver.
Using more than one public transport operator
If you need to use more than one public transport operator consider buying your ticket through One-Ticket. This lets you travel on multiple services with different operators. Similarly, the GoSEStrans app is available to download onto your mobile and can help you plan your journey and purchase tickets.
From Central Edinburgh
By train
The train is the fastest way to the campus, with the journey taking around 6 minutes from Edinburgh Waverley Station. Musselburgh train station is right next to our campus, a two minute walk from the main academic building. You should take the North Berwick train from Waverley Station. Musselburgh is the first stop. See the Scotrail website for train times.
By bus
Lothian Buses service 30 stops on campus and runs every ten minutes with an approximate journey time of 35 minutes from Edinburgh city centre. More information on the route of the number 30 is available on the Lothian Buses website.
For people who are not familiar with Edinburgh, you can catch the number 30 from several bus stops on Princes Street. You can buy a single or a day ticket. The day ticket will enable you to unlimited travel for that day on all Lothian Buses (except the ‘Airlink’ bus). The Lothian Buses service 45 (which serves Princes Street) also comes to campus Monday to Friday.
From Edinburgh Airport
From Edinburgh Airport, you can catch the 'Airlink 'bus into the city centre and alight at the Waverley station stop (just off Princes Street) and follow the directions for bus or train travel above.
From West Lothian and Stirlingshire
By train
Newcraighall Park and Ride Station is located 15/20 minutes walk to the north west of the QMU campus. Musselburgh station is served by trains from Edinburgh and East Lothian, whilst Newcraighall Park and Ride Station is served by trains from Edinburgh, West Lothian and Stirlingshire. Trains run from Haymarket and Waverley Station to both Musselburgh and Newcraighall. Detailed information can be found on the First Scotrail website at scotrail.co.uk/
From East, West, North and South of Edinburgh City Centre
By bus (then walking)
Musselburgh is served by the Lothian bus services 26, 44, 30 and 15. The 30 and 45 are the only services to go onto campus however. If it is more convenient for you to catch a 44,113, or a 26, the campus is a 15 minute walk from Musselburgh high street. Alternatively, you could catch a 30 from Musselburgh High Street (heading to Clovenstone).
To walk, we recommend that you get off the bus at the first stop after the Brunton Theatre. From here you will see the River Esk to your left. You should walk up Esk Side West (the road that runs parallel to the right of the river) towards Stoneybank. This continues onto Eskview Terrace. You will notice a few newsagents and take away on your right. Immediately after these shops, take the first right onto onto Whitehill Farm Road. Continue on up this road and you will arrive at QMU (it's just after the train station).
From East Lothian
You can get a train to Musselburgh Station from North Berwick, Drem, Longniddry, Prestonpans and Wallyford Stations. See the Scotrail website for train times.
The Prentice Coaches 111 service now serves the roundabout on Clayknowes Road next to Musselburgh Station at peak times, please refer to the timetable on their website for more information.
From Midlothian
Lothian Buses Service 40 operates through Penicuik, Roslin, Loanhead, Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith and Whitecraig to and from Musselburgh where an easy interchange is available at Musselburgh Police Station on to the frequent Service 30 for onward travel to the Campus.
The 40 operates every 30-mins during the day and hourly in the evenings. Alternatively, most Midlothian bus services operating to and from the City Centre will connect with Service 30 in Newington.
All local Prentice bus services are free to students, student cards should be presented to the driver.
Borders Rail link
Newcraighall Park and Ride Station is served by trains from Edinburgh and the new Borders Railway
line.
Staff Loan Scheme
University staff are able to apply for an interest free loan to cover the up-front cost of purchasing an annual season ticket for trains and buses. Repayments of this loan will be via salary deduction over a 12 month period (subject to rules for short term contracts) Contact the Payroll Office for further details.
