Discounted rail travel
The Scottish Government provides funding to enable ScotRail to provide a range of discounted rail travel within Scotland for families, job seekers, young people and volunteers. Further information, including how to purchase, is available below.
Kids for a Quid
Kids for a Quid allows up to four children to travel for just £1 return each when accompanied by a paying adult.
With Kids for a Quid one adult can travel with up to four children aged between 5-15 years old anywhere in Scotland on ScotRail services. The offer is valid all day, all year-round.
Children under age five travel for free on all ScotRail services.
Passengers can also access Kids Visit Free Deals, where one free child entry to selected attractions is provided with a Kids for a Quid ticket. Check out ScotRail’s Inspiration Hub for ideas for family days out by train.
Kids for a Quid tickets can be bought before boarding from a ticket office or on-board from a member of staff. They cannot be bought online, via the ScotRail app or from a ticket vending machine.
It is not available on CrossCountry services, on services to and from Lockerbie or Reston, and between Edinburgh and Dunbar or with LNER Advance single tickets.
Free train travel for jobseekers
The Scottish Government understands that the cost of public transport can be difficult for job seekers and for hard-pressed families. That is why ScotRail works with Jobcentre Plus centres across Scotland to ensure that every person looking for work, or for better work, can get to interviews and can enjoy their first month in their new role without having to worry about the cost of travel.
If you’re the holder of a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card, you can get: up to two free tickets a month for travel to interviews and a free Monthly Season Ticket when you secure work. For further details on how to claim please see ScotRail’s website.
Young People, Students and Volunteers
Young Scot National Entitlement Card provides 16, 17 or 18 (or up to 25 years old and a full-time volunteer), discounts on your train travel in Scotland. This includes 1/3 off most rail fares and 50% off weekly, monthly and annual tickets.
A minimum £12 fare applies before the discount is applicable for weekday journeys before 10:00 with the exception of public holidays and July – August.
For students aged 16 to 25 years old (or Mature students of any age in full-time education) The 16-25 National Railcard provides savings, it costs £35 for one year or £80 for three years and can be renewed before the cardholder’s 24th birthday. For more information on National Railcards and how to apply please visit their website.
Railcards
A number of National Railcards offer UK-wide discounts for rail travel. Find out more about the terms and conditions of each below:
16-25 Railcard (this also available for Mature Students of any age)
National Railcards are managed and administered by the Rail Delivery Group under UK Government rail industry rules, and the terms and conditions are set at a UK level. Transport Scotland and Scottish Ministers do not have any role in their administration.
Highland Railcard
The Highland Railcard is available to people who live permanently within the North and West Highland regions of Scotland. For more information on applicable postcodes, please visit ScotRail’s website.
A Highland Railcard costs £15 for the year and can save you 50% on the following routes:
- Mallaig/Fort William/Oban to/from Glasgow (direct services only)
- Wick/Thurso to/from Inverness (including Inverness Airport)
- Kyle of Lochalsh to/from Inverness (including Inverness Airport)
There are no time restrictions with the Highland Railcard. The railcard can be purchased from the following stations: Inverness, Dingwall, Thurso, Wick, Mallaig, Fort William, Oban, and Kyle of Lochalsh booking offices or can be bought online via a ScotRail Smartcard.
Concessionary Travel
In Scotland, all people with a disability, and those aged 60 and over are entitled to a National Entitlement Card. Depending on the person’s circumstances, and the region in which they live, this Entitlement Card can give access to a concessionary fare, or free train travel.
The Scottish Government provides funding for the National Concessionary Bus Travel Schemes for Older and Disabled People (NCTS) and for Young People (YPS) which provide free bus travel throughout Scotland for eligible National Entitlement Card holders.
However, concessionary travel on other modes of transport, such as trains and trams, are the responsibility of local authorities who have discretionary powers under the Transport Act 1985 to provide and fund local concessionary travel schemes for their residents.
The extent and terms of any such scheme are for the individual local authorities to decide and the availability of rail discounts depends on the area and type of concession. These are the decisions that the Scottish Government is not involved in, please contact the relevant local authority.
For people living in Strathclyde region - Concessions | SPT | Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
For people living in Fife - Additional travel options | Fife Council
For people living within Highland Council area - Bus and rail travel - Benefits - Highland Council
Blind Persons, or Blind Person Companion National Entitlement Card
Cardholders who are visually impaired or blind are entitled to free rail travel in standard class within Scotland. There are no timing restrictions and the NEC is valid on all rail services within Scotland, not just those operated by ScotRail.
Blind Persons, or Blind Person Companion National Entitlement Cardholders do not need a separate ticket to travel. If you are travelling from a station with ticket barriers, a member of station staff will assist. Those with the eye+1 symbol may have a companion travel with them free of charge on any ScotRail service.
Combined Tickets and Travel Passes
Rail & Bus tickets allow passengers to book train and bus travel together. There are two main options for travel across Scotland: PlusBus, a bus pass to go along with your train ticket; and RailBus, which gives passengers a single ticket to a specific destination. Passengers can also discover the Scottish Borders via rail and bus with the Borders Explorer.
Rail & Sail combined tickets allow for travel to Orkney, Shetland, Mull, The Outer Hebrides, Clyde coast and Belfast.
Multi-day Rovers allow for unlimited travel within Scotland on a set number of days and are valid across train, coach and bus. Find out more about the different options available on ScotRail’s website.
Leisure Travel
The Club 50 product is designed to support leisure travel and offers generous additional savings to eligible passengers aged 50 or older to encourage travel on quieter services. A Club 50 membership allows members to pay an upfront fee of £15 to access a 20% discount if bought online or a 10% discount if bought in person, when travelling after 09:15 on weekdays and all-day at the weekends, they can also enjoy further benefits from additional time limited flat fare promotions.
ScotRail also run seasonal promotional offers. Find out more on their website or your local booking office.
Group Travel for groups of 10 people or more, ScotRail offer between 10% and 30% off ScotRail services on selected routes after 09:15 Monday to Friday, or anytime at the weekend.