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booking a train trip

I have tried and tried to book a trip from Glasgow to Edinburgh. I got into a German site (via Rick Steves' website) and found a suitable ticket but I was informed that it is not possible to buy online. Rick advises to buy before going for best rate. My attempts to phone nationalrail go nowhere as they cannot take calls now!!! Any ideas?? Frustrated, I am Susan

Posted by
19653 posts

The German website is only good for buying tickets within, from, or to Germany. Did you try https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
If that does not work, you should be able to buy from https://www.thetrainline.com/ for a small commission.
PS. the nationalrail site will direct you to the train operator's website to complete the purchase, in this case ScotRail.

Posted by
1840 posts

You don't need to book ahead. Go to the Queen Street Station, just off W. George St. just below Sauchiell St. and buy your ticket. People there can help you. Buy a ticket to Waverley Station in Edinburgh. There is about one train an hour. P.S. Buy a copy of The Rough Guide to Scotland. It will help you.

Posted by
19653 posts

The anytime fare is 15.50 GBP. Most advance tickets are 13.50 GBP, saving you a whole 2 GBP. There are a few 10.10 GBP advance tickets at odd hours and running a bit slower, but not many.

Posted by
24 posts

Thanks to all for your help! I have finally managed to book via Scotrail. I switched to Google (from Firefox) which gave me a better result. Done!!!

Posted by
32519 posts

Susan, did you buy the Anytime £15.50 ticket or the Advance £13.50 ticket?

If you bought the Advance you are restricted to exactly the train time you are ticketed for. If you want to change it the change fee will be £10 and you must do it before you get on the train, and before the time on the ticket....

The advice to get it in the station was good....

Posted by
2483 posts

Pretty sure there are no Advance tickets on that route - it's just a commuter journey.

Anytime are £15.50; Off-Peak £13.50; and the infrequent Cross Country trains are £10.10

Posted by
32519 posts

thx for the clarification ramblin' on.