HIBS and Hearts fans today accused train operators of a rip-off after they announced "soccer specials" for the cup semi-final will cost nearly £10 more than a day return to Glasgow.

And fears were raised that many heading for the match would ignore the highly-priced special trains and try to crowd on to just two scheduled services for that Sunday.

First ScotRail confirmed today that four extra trains will shuttle 1700 fans to the showcase semi-final on April 2.

They are putting on the trains in a bid to ease pressure on the M8, which is expected to be choked in the run-up to the early 12.15pm kick-off.

But the fare that supporters will need to pay will be £17.50 for a return, which is 20p less than at peak times during the week, but a massive hike on weekend prices.

On Sunday, April 2, a return on scheduled services from Waverley or Haymarket to Glasgow is £8.90. A scheduled train to Mount Florida or King's Park from Edinburgh will cost fans just £10.70.

Hibs fan Darryn Stenhouse, 41, from Leith, who has tickets for the game, said today: "It is a total rip-off. This is double the normal fare - are the trains going to be double the normal standard? Are we going to have a nice, licensed dinner car?

"They are treating football fans like fodder. It's an absolute farce. This is the premier cup trophy in Scotland but, because Celtic and Rangers are not in it, it feels as if Glasgow is trying to make it the biggest mockery ever."

The two trains for Hibs supporters will run from Waverley Station direct to King's Park in Glasgow. The Hearts trains will run from Slateford station to Glasgow Central, where fans will transfer on to services to Mount Florida.

The fares have outraged supporters of the two clubs, who have accused First ScotRail of trying to take advantage of the fans.

Trevor Hannant, editor of Hibs supporters' site hibs.net, said: "I think it is understandable that there will be extra costs so you would expect an increase on the normal fare, but that is a pretty big jump in prices.

"You have to feel that that type of mark-up is an example of them taking advantage of the situation. Most supporters' buses are doing the trip for much less than that so I don't see why First ScotRail couldn't too. The supporters' bus I'm with is only charging £7.50 for an adult return.

"Unfortunately seats are scarce on the buses and when they've tried to get additional coaches they've found the bus companies have been taking advantage too by charging much more."

Derek Watson, secretary of the Hearts' Supporters Trust, said: "It's an excessive mark-up on the normal fare. I travel to a lot of games at the weekend and it is significantly cheaper than that. Past football specials from Glasgow on to Mount Florida have actually usually worked out as cheaper than the normal train fares.

"It's up to individual people how they want to travel, though. If it's the most suitable way to go on the day I'm sure people will pay more, especially if they are desperate to avoid traffic jams.

"A lot of people wanting to get the train will try to save money and go on the normal services. That'll only make these services all the more cramped."

Tickets for the trains will only be available from the two clubs, who are selling them on First ScotRail's behalf. A First ScotRail spokesman stressed that supporters who buy tickets for travel on the extra trains will be guaranteed a seat. Each service will carry 432 passengers.

"These services have been specifically tailored for the fans, who made clear they wanted more trains on the day. The services have required substantial planning, and also involve extra staffing on the day at stations, let alone the costs of providing four extra trains."

A spokeswoman for Network Rail said: "We recognise that this is an important match for thousands of fans and have reached a solution to allow more trains to run on what would otherwise have been a difficult weekend to travel."

A spokesman for Hearts wouldn't be drawn on the cost of the football specials but said the club was laying on 30 official coaches to take fans to Hampden from Edinburgh. He said: "The fans will have other options than the trains but we are happy that First ScotRail have looked at putting on the extra services and we have no doubt that the Hearts' trains will be full."

Taken from the Scotsman