Glasgow is to have an annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe box office after sales soared in the city last year thanks to an experimental ticket booth.
For years the world's biggest arts festival, The Fringe, has struggled to attract Glaswegians to Edinburgh during its August festival month.
However, the first operation of a box office at one of the city's busiest transport hubs, Queen Street station, last year led to a 19% rise in ticket sales from greater Glasgow postcodes.
Sales from Glasgow have tended to stay at around 5% of the Fringe ticket total, but the Fringe Society, the company that runs the festival's central box office, noted a major increase in 2012.
Now the Fringe, which today launches its 2013 programme, is working with ScotRail to make the box office permanent, starting this year.
Fringe organisers have been keen to tap into the audience potential of Scotland's biggest city and have been privately thrilled with the large increase in ticket sales from the western end of the M8.
The box office at Queen Street station will open on July 26 and remain open for the run of the Fringe, until August 26.
Audiences for the Fringe's annual mix of comedy, cabaret, theatre, music, dance and art exhibitions will be able to buy tickets in person or book in advance before catching a train to the capital.
A Fringe spokesman said that the Glasgow box office is an exciting development for the Fringe and they are exploring "long-term stability for the initiative".
Kath Mainland, chief executive of the Fringe, said she was delighted to bring back the box office in Glasgow.
"This will make it much easier for advance ticket collection and for last-minute bookers to travel to Edinburgh, tickets in hand and minds at ease.
"We are grateful for ScotRail providing us with the space in Queen Street station to provide this service."
Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, added: "The Fringe is a big draw for Scottish residents and visitors, and we're very happy to host a box office in the station to spread the word and sell tickets.
"This is just one of a number of initiatives we are putting in place to encourage people in Scotland to get out and about in their own country."
The box office will be located on the main concourse of Queen Street station.
Last year it was placed under the main information board.
It will be open from 10am to 7pm, and at weekends from 10am to 6pm.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from August 2 to 26.
ScotRail said it is "finalising plans" for additional services to and from Edinburgh during the August festival month, which will include extended trains for each evening's last service.
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