Train from York to Glasgow

Have you tried https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ ? Cheapest rate looks like it would be about 40 pounds for a mid-August trip.

Thank you! This is very, very helpful.

Will you be renting your car out of Glasgow airport? If so, be aware there are several roundabouts when you're leaving the airport campus. It can be confusing to try to get on the Motorway (or whatever road you want) in your intended direction. I recommend asking the rental agent which signs to follow at the roundabouts.

It's unlikely that Michele will be hiring from the airport if she is arriving by train.

You can buy train tickets from any train operator - it doesn't have to be the one running the train.

In addition there is a site/app called Trainline that is fully accredited - they have a great app and employ split fares if that is a factor. They do charge small fees (although are gradually phasing them out as they change their model). There are people that have an issue with Trainline but I have always found them to work very well, and that their interface is far superior to most of the train company ones.

Thanks all. I have to keep on researching, but initially I am only finding fares on National Rail a bit more expensive (114 for two). Gallerickson: where did you find the cheaper fare?
GT: Thanks for pointing out Trainline. Will research that as well.
Is it essential to purchase tickets now ... or can one wait until we arrive? I'm guessing that we should buy them now.
And, we will be picking up a rental car near Glasgow Central....near our airbnb. Then, we're onward to Glen Coe, etc. Any tips on that region (even though this is an England forum?!)

Be aware that trainline is a third party, you should have no problems but it's far better to book directly with a rail company. Issues such as refunds are easier to obtain by booking direct.
Using www.nationalrail.co.uk and picking a random mid August day of the 16th, I can see fares around £101 but there is an Advance ticket costing £60.40, so £30 each for the train leaving York at 1535, arriving at Edinburgh at 1816 then a Scotrail leaving the same station at 1830 arriving in Glasgow 45 minutes later. It's all one ticket. With advance tickets, you are restricted to that particular train although if one is cancelled I have caught the one before or after with no problems.

There are two other scenic ways to do this journey economically with advance tickets. Again I have chosen 16 August randomly-

ROUTE 1-
York to Carlisle via Hexham, the River Tyne and Hadrian's Wall Country (change at Newcastle)- all on one ticket- York depart 1035, Carlisle a 1327 £19.40, then a separate ticket Carlisle to Glasgow depart 1403 Glasgow 1517 £11.10 so a total of £30.50.

The £11.10 fare is available on most trains so you could have time visiting the Historic City of Carlisle.;

ROUTE 2 via the Settle-Carlisle Railway, needs to be booked as 3 separate tickets-

York to Leeds depart 0910 arrive 1022 £3.80
Leeds to Carlisle via Settle depart 1049 Carlisle arrive 1331 £12.50
Carlisle to Glasgow as above £11.10 TOTAL £27.40

This is done, not to save money as such, but to show that there are other, frankly more scenic, routes than just taking the same route as everyone else up the East Coast Main Line. But they are also economical.

All these tickets can be purchased on any train company website- LNER is best for overseas visitors but I also know that the Northern Rail website works for Canadians, so should for those in the USA.

Also note that there are currently so far as I know no through trains from York to Glasgow, you would have to change at Edinburgh.

There are 2 through trains a day from York to Glasgow-
at 1735, run by LNER, and at 1832 run by Cross Country.

The 1735 is always the cheaper- you should get that for between £23 and £30 on advance fares, depending on the day of the week.