RAIL enthusiasts are being given the chance to step back in time and cross the Forth Bridge by steam train this summer.

Hundreds of passengers will have the opportunity to travel on a train hauled by a Black Five steam locomotive when it travels for the first time every Sunday in August on a route that takes in two of Scotland's great scenic rail routes.

Operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, passengers can begin their journey in Linlithgow before crossing the bridge and traveliing around the Fife coast, before heading south on the Borders Railway to Tweedbank.

Passengers from Linlithgow will be able to enjoy the unforgettable experience of crossing by steam the Forth Bridge - designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 - before taking in the spectacular views from Aberdour, Burntisland and Kinghorn along the Kingdom's coastline.

After crossing the bridge once more, the train steams through Princes Street Gardens to Edinburgh Waverley, where it continues along the 31-mile route of the Borders Railway, stopping at Galashiels and Tweedbank.

VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead said: "We are absolutely delighted that steam railway experiences are returning to the Scottish Borders, Lothians and Fife once again this summer. As well as providing another unique opportunity to showcase the recently opened Borders Railway, passengers on board the train will be able to enjoy the picturesque beauty of the Fife coast and the breathtaking experience of crossing the Forth Bridge by steam engine."

Passengers can be picked up in Dunfermline, Dalgety Bay, Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh Waverley, and for more information, visit www.visitscotland.com/see-do/tours/railway/great-rail-journeys.