THE famous Glasgow Subway will operate almost around the clock during the two weekends of the Commonwealth Games.

On Saturday August 26 and Sunday August 27, athletes will each day be competing in 13 different sports in venues across the city.

The following Saturday, medals in eight sports will be up for grabs while there will be contests in four sports on Sunday, August 3 along with the closing ceremony.

In an attempt to get hundreds of thousands of sports fans safely home, Subway bosses have agreed to run the underground system from early in the morning until late at night.

Eric Stewart, assistant chief executive of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, said: "It will be a very early start and a very late finish."

It is understood the Subway could remain operating until around 1.30am on the two weekends to ensure people are not stranded.

Under normal circumstances it opens to the public from Monday to Saturday between 6.30am and 11.30pm. Hours of operation on Sundays are from 10am until 6pm.

Mr Stewart said: "Week days, there will be a peak service running throughout the entire day and every train will be out.

"The trains are 35-years-old and need a bit of tender loving care so we are having to do a lot of preparatory work.

"We tend to carry 40,000 passengers a day but we will be looking at around 120,000 passengers.

"It will be busy but we will be staffed up for that and there will be a lot of people to provide assistance.

"For example, if someone turns up with a wheelchair unexpectedly, we will be there to help.

"We are looking at 170 extra staff for the duration of the event."

Mr Stewart pointed out that as well as people travelling to watch sporting events, many thousands will also travel to enjoy the cultural programme and live events on Glasgow Green, Kelvingrove bandstand and in the Merchant City.

And he said around 18,000 people working for the Games will also need to get to and from venues throughout the day.

Mr Stewart added: "The Games must be a success for Scotland and we are doing everything we can to help make sure it is a success."

vivienne.nicoll @eveningtimes.co.uk