How early to arrive for Train transportation?

That will be fine.
There are two stations in Edinburgh, so be sure to confirm where your ticket starts from.
The big main one is Waverley, the other is Haymarket.
You will most likely leave from Waverley.

The Waverley station layout is confusing. Definitely get there early. Better to be early than late and miss your train.

I do agree that Waverly is a bit confusing but it's also not that big, so you should be fine with 30 minutes, especially with pre-purchased tickets.

I don't agree that Waverly is confusing. But it's not a bad idea to get familiar with the station. This map is a good start: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Edinburgh-Waverley-Map.pdf

I think it really depends on what entrance you use.

The first time I was coming from the tram stop on Princess Street and entered from there. I walked through the shopping area and made my way to where the bathrooms and grocery store are. From where I was, there were no signs that I saw, indicating where the platforms were. I remember thinking, where the heck are the trains. 😊 I finally found them, but it was not clear.

My hotel was on Market Street and that entrance was a little easier as the platforms are just down some stairs. But the layout is not what I was used to with all the platforms sort of all in the same place # 1 – whatever. There were some platforms here, some platforms there. Sort of all over the place.

And there are no ramps like some stations have. So, it’s either stairs or wait for a small elevator with a bunch of others if you have luggage.

If you are entering the station at 30 minutes before your train and you have checked for what platform on the app ahead of time, you should be fine. But this is one station that I’d definitely want some time to figure things out.

Everyone is super nice so don’t hesitate to ask for help if you’re not sure where to go.

Have a great trip!!

Carrie, I agree - I had the same issue. But like you said, everyone was extremely friendly and the first person I talked to directed me where to go.

Badger, I think it's relative. But I have been many other train stations throughout Europe, and Waverly was the first one that really threw me a bit. And as Carrie said, it depends on where you enter, too.

Often the trains do not show on the departure board until 30 min mark or later. So 30 mins should be more than adequate. The exception would be international trains when you go through immigration prior to boarding.

One of the things to be really aware of is that several of the platforms have different numbers at their opposite ends.

And yes the numbering is not logical starting at 20 by Princes Street (a recently re-opened platform) and ending with 8 and 9 on the far side (Market Street) of the station.

Note that the only LNER train of the day to Inverness, at 1633, is scheduled to leave from Platform 8. So the best entrance to use is that from the Royal Mile, on Market Street.
Sometimes things change but that is the booked platform.
Please be careful, as 8 and 9 are an island platform. Platform 8 is the Market Street side of the island. On Platform 9 at the same time there is an Avanti train to London Euston.

These two platforms are numbered 8E and 8W and 9E and 9W (for East and West) at their opposite ends to further confuse, although the Inverness and Euston trains use the whole platform.
But two local trains can and often do use the opposite ends at the same time.

OMG I can see after looking at that map why it could be confusing. I have a hard time with long and short track stations. It will be helpful to really look at the map Badger provided in case your track is difficult to locate at the end of a platform.

Thank you all for the information. We will be coming on the tram from the airport, grabbing some groceries and then getting on our train. The map is really helpful.

We will be coming on the tram from the airport

I did this exact same thing in May. One suggestion I have is to buy your tram ticket ahead of time. If you’ll also be taking the tram back to the airport at the end of your trip, I recommend the adult airport open return ticket. Details here:

https://edinburghtrams.com/tickets/ticket-options

and you can purchase here:

https://tickets.edinburghtrams.com/tickets/adult-airport-open-return

You will have to take the tram on the day specified on the ticket for the trip from the airport. On the ride back to the airport, the ticket is good for any time and any day.

You can also just buy a one-way ticket (adult airport single) if you won’t be returning by tram.

A couple reasons for buying ahead of time: 1) There was a long line at the tram ticket machines that I was able to just walk right by and hop on the tram; and 2) One less thing to worry about.

Also, there are clear signs when exiting the airport to get to the tram. Basically, you’ll exit and head left. I was a little worried how it would be getting to and from the airport, but it was super easy. There are luggage racks on the trams. Be sure to use them. 😊 I tried to keep my suitcase with me next to my seat and was asked by the conductor to use the luggage rack.

Thanks Carrie. I'm going to check out purchasing our tickets ahead of time, we will be doing the return trip about 10 days later.

There is another option.....

Instead of going to Waverly, you can get the train at Haymarket. Haymarket is a much smaller station than Waverly and the tram from the airport stops right in front of it. (The tram from the airport stops a couple of blocks from Waverly.)

Your train departs from Haymarket five minutes after it's scheduled departure from Waverly.

You pass Haymarket on the tram on your way to Waverly.

Thanks Frank. I didn't know that when I booked the ticket. Not sure if I can change now. We do have a few hours to burn after our flight lands and we need to grab some groceries so I was thinking Waverley would give us some access to shops.

If it is an advanced ticket it is technically not valid to start from a station further down the line, and the gates may refuse it. The barrier staff are also entitled to refuse it. Fairly unlikely unless revenue protection staff are also on duty, but they might, then you would have to buy a new ticket.
If it is a full priced ticket then it's fine.
There are reasons for not mentioning possibilities.

Close to Haymarket there are 2 food stores- a Co-op and a LIDL (a discount store- look for them on Google maps).

There is a foodstore actually within Waverley station, and several other stalls to buy a picnic for your journey.

Arriving on the tram you will enter from the Princes Street side unfortunately, then have to cross the entire station, but there is now a high level bridge within the station between the various platforms so you don't have to go down to concourse level then back up again to reach 8 and 9 unless you want to go shopping.

"The exception would be international trains when you go through immigration prior to boarding."

Actually the only train that does that is Eurostar. No other international trains require you to go through immigration before boarding.

Once you know how train stations work you will quickly find out that 10 minutes is always enough.

If you want to board at Waverly in stead just do so. There is no need to change the ticket. This isn't air travel...