Scotland Rail Pass - Scotland Rail Passes

Scotland or Scottish Alba is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Mainland Scotland has a 96-mile (154-kilometre) border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast and the Irish Sea to the south. The country also contains more than 790 islands, principally in the archipelagos of the Hebrides and the Northern Isles. Most of the population, including the capital Edinburgh, is concentrated in the Central Belt – the plain between the Scottish Highlands and the Southern Uplands – in the Scottish Lowlands.

Scotland is divided into 32 administrative subdivisions or local authorities, known as council areas. Glasgow City is the largest council area in terms of population, with Highland being the largest in terms of area. Limited self-governing power, covering matters such as education, social services and roads and transportation, is devolved from the Scottish Government to each subdivision. Scotland is the second-largest country in the United Kingdom, and accounted for 8.3% of the population in 2012.

Scotland Railway Network

Network Rail owns and operates the fixed infrastructure assets of the railway system in Scotland, while the Scottish Government retains overall responsibility for rail strategy and funding in Scotland. Scotland's rail network has 359 railway stations and around 1,710 miles (2,760 km) of track. In 2018–19 there were 102 million passenger journeys on Scottish railways.

The East Coast and West Coast main railway lines connect the major cities and towns of Scotland with each other and with the rail network in England. London North Eastern Railway provides inter-city rail journeys between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness to London. Domestic rail services within Scotland are operated by Abellio ScotRail. During the time of British Rail, the West Coast Main Line from London Euston to Glasgow Central was electrified in the early 1970s, followed by the East Coast Main Line in the late 1980s.

British Rail created the ScotRail brand. When British Rail existed, many railway lines in Strathclyde were electrified. Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive was at the forefront with the acclaimed "largest electrified rail network outside London". Some parts of the network are electrified, but there are no electrified lines in the Highlands, Angus, Aberdeenshire, the cities of Dundee or Aberdeen, or Perth & Kinross, and none of the islands has a rail link (although the railheads at Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig principally serve the islands).

The East Coast Main Line crosses the Firth of Forth by the Forth Bridge. Completed in 1890, this cantilever bridge has been described as "the one internationally recognised Scottish landmark". Scotland's rail network is managed by Transport Scotland. Scotland also has a night train called the Caledonian Sleeper connecting London to Scotland at night.

Scotland International Airports

Scotland has five international airports operating scheduled services to Europe, North America and Asia, as well as domestic services to England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Edinburgh Airport is currently Scotland's busiest airport handling over 13 million passengers in 2017. It is also the UK's 6th busiest airport.

Aberdeen Airport
Edinburgh Airport
Glasgow Airport
Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Inverness Airport

Highlands and Islands Airports operates eleven airports across the Highlands, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, which are primarily used for short distance flights, public service operations, although Inverness Airport has a number of scheduled flights to destinations across the UK and mainland Europe.

Scotland Ferries, Canals and Lakes

Regular ferry services operate between the Scottish mainland and outlying islands. Ferries serving both the inner Hebrides and outer Hebrides are principally operated by the state-owned enterprise Caledonian MacBrayne.

Services to the Northern Isles are operated by Serco ferries. Other routes, served by multiple companies, connect southwest Scotland to Northern Ireland. DFDS Seaways operated a freight-only Rosyth – Zeebrugge ferry service, until a fire damaged the vessel DFDS were using. A passenger service was also operated between 2002 and 2010. Additional Scottish ferry routes are operated by local authorities.

BritRail Rail Pass

If you want to travel extensively by train throughout Scotland and Great Britain, then the BritRail pass can be the best value way to travel. These passes are not available to UK residents and you cannot buy them in the UK so it is best to organise this before leaving home (you can order online from us with your pass posted directly to you in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States).

The BritRail pass covers all of Great Britain’s rail network (including virtually all trains in England, Scotland and Wales) and is a cheaper alternative to the All Line Rover (which is a similar pass available to UK residents who are not eligible for a BritRail pass.

It is also a more flexible rail pass to the National Railcard and the All Line Rover as it is available in a wider number of passes with consecutive travel for three, four, eight, 15, 22 consecutive days or one month of consecutive travel or as a flexi-pass with three, four, eight or 15 travel days within a one month period. In contrast, the more expensive All Line Rover is only available for seven or 14 consecutive travel days.

There are Seven Main Varieties of BritRail Pass Available (for Tourists and Visitors to Scotland):

Select the Correct Railcard for Your Yearly Train Travel!

Get 1/3 off your train tickets with a Railcard!

From children to seniors, there is a Railcard to suit everyone – and you get at least 1/3 off your tickets.

About National Railcards

The average Railcard holder saves £140 a year, and there are now over 5.6 million Railcards in use. We offer 9 main National Railcards, which give you savings of 1/3 off train fares. Most are available to buy online or at stations. You must carry your Railcard with you on your journey to qualify for the discount.

16-17 Saver Railcard
For those aged 16-17.
Buy a 16-17 Saver Railcard and keep it with you when you travel (on your phone or wallet)
Save on most tickets including Advance tickets
The 16-17 Saver is valid for one year or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first and is not available to purchase at stations
Click for more information about the 16-17 Railcard from just £30 a year

16-25 Railcard
1/3 off rail travel
Average annual savings of up to £159!**
Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
For everyone aged 16-25
and mature students
People with a 16-25 Railcard save on average £159 per year**, or £4.56 per journey^.
Click for more information about the 16-25 Railcard from just £30 a year

26-30 Railcard
1/3 off rail travel
Average annual savings of up to £218!**
Just £30 for a year
For everyone aged 26-30
People with a 26-30 Railcard save on average £218 per year**, or £4.88 per journey^
Click for more information about the 26-30 Railcard from just £30 a year

Two Together Railcard
Get 1/3 off train travel with a Two Together Railcard
1/3 off rail travel
Average annual savings of up to £153!**
Just £30 for 1 year
For you and the person you travel with the most
Click for more information about the Two Together Railcard from just £30 a year

Family and Friends Railcard
Get 1/3 off train travel for adults and 60% off for kids
1/3 off rail travel for adults and 60% off for kids
Average annual savings of up to £150!**
Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
Up to 4 adults travelling together with up to 4 kids
People with a Family & Friends save on average £150 per year**, or £5.32 per journey^.
Click for more information about the Family and Friends Railcard from just £30 a year

Senior Railcard
Get 1/3 off train travel with a Senior Railcard
1/3 off rail travel
Average annual savings of up to £76!**
Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
For everyone aged 60 and over
People with a Senior Railcard save on average £76 per year**, or £5.34 per journey^.
Click for more information about the Senior Railcard from just £30 a year

Disabled Persons Railcard
Get 1/3 off adult train travel with a Disabled Persons Railcard
1/3 off rail travel for you and an adult companion
Average annual savings of up to £91!**
Just £20 for 1 year or £54 for 3 years
For people with a disability that meets the eligibility criteria
People with a Disabled Persons Railcard save on average £91 per year**, or £4.26 per journey^.
Click for more information about the Disabled Persons Railcard from just £20 a year

Network Railcard
Get 1/3 off rail fares in London and the South East with a Network Railcard.
1/3 off rail fares in London and the South East!
Average annual savings of up to £134!**
Network Railcards cost just £30 a year
For travel in the Network Railcard area
People with a Network Railcard save on average £134 per year**, or £4.65 per journey^.
Click for more information about the Network Railcard from just £30 a year

Veterans Railcard
1/3 off rail travel for Veterans.
1/3 off most rail travel
For UK Veterans
Get your Railcard on your phone
Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years
For Veterans who served at least one day in His Majesty’s UK Armed Forces or UK Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations
Click for more information about the Veterans Railcard from just £30 a year

see also:

HM Forces Railcard
For those in the serving in the HM Forces of Great Britain.
3-year Railcard available to buy online for £70.
Average annual saving of £118 plus special partner discounts on days out, holidays, theatre and more.
Click for more information about the HM Forces Railcard from just £30 a year

Please allow sufficient time to receive your Railcard before your departure.

You can get your Railcard in a digital format to be stored in the National Rail Railcard app on your phone or tablet, or as a physical card.

You can use your Railcard to buy tickets online from this website, at a ticket office, from a ticket machine, and over the phone.

When you enter a journey into our Journey Planner, you can add the number and type of Railcards you wish to use. It is possible to add multiple Railcards for different people who are travelling. When the fares are displayed, click on one of the prices to see how much money you have saved with your Railcard.

Your total journey cost will include the correct discounts for each of the passengers and Railcards entered.