Platforms 2 and 3 were closed on June 30 to enable construction of the 26m extensions, which are part of the £120m redevelopment of Queen Street station and a component of the Edinburgh - Glasgow Improvement Programme.

ScotRail launched its new Hitachi class 385 EMUs on the route on July 23 2018, but the trains were initially limited to a seven-car (3+4) formation due to the short platforms at Queen Street.

The launch of eight-car operation has increased maximum seating capacity from 479 to 546 in time for the Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival, which starts on August 2.

ScotRail says the class 385 fleet covered 7.48 million kilometres in its first year of operation.