THOUSANDS of people were left stranded after more than a dozen trains were cancelled from Edinburgh.

On one of the busiest nights in the capital last night, with the last day of the Tattoo and Scotland facing France at Murrayfield, a train broke down Linlithgow, prompting the cancellations to the Glasgow services.

That led to other services being deluged, with reports of passengers being crowded into trains.

A statement from National Rail shortly after 10pm warned the service cancellation, which affected all trains between Edinburgh and Polmont, could last until the early hours.

Pictures posted on Twitter showed scores of frustrated commuters standing on the platforms

Journalist Kirsty Wark was among those to share her frustrations and Tweeted to Scotrail "Please get us some air now @ScotRail or people are going to be ill."

Another hit out at the fact that "nobody is around to take any decisions. Rail chaos is always much worse at night."

Brendan Waters was stuck on the 9.15pm service to Glasgow Queen Street and said the train had been stationary for 25 minutes.

Kirsty Davidson Tweeted: "It's chaos! Last weekend of Fringe & international rugby & trains are a joke!

"Trying to get back to Glasgow and there are no staff to be seen on platforms at Waverley - and trains sitting rammed full of people 45mins before they're leaving. No communication!"