Train travellers are being warned to expect months of disruption as work begins on the electrification of rail routes in central Scotland.

ScotRail said customers should expect changes to services between Edinburgh, Perth, Dunblane and Stirling after 8.30pm on Sunday to Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. Buses will replace trains for parts of each route, the operator said.

Services between Glasgow, Alloa, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness will also be diverted before 11am on Sundays.

The works are expected to run from September 4 until March 31 with a break for the festive period.

David Dickson, infrastructure director at ScotRail Alliance, said: “Central belt electrification will allow us to run faster, longer, greener trains and cut journey times while increasing the number of seats available.

“The work we are delivering represents a huge investment in Scotland’s railway that will help transform travel on our network. We understand the inconvenience this work will cause our customers and every effort has been made to minimise disruption as much as we possibly can.”

Travellers are advised to check ScotRail timetables online before setting off on their journeys.