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Purchasing train tickets online

Hello!

I am attempting to purchase train tickets on ScotRail. First of all, is this the only website to purchase tickets? Which is the best website?

I need to book train tickets at the station closest to my hotel on west Princes Street. ScotRail gives 2 Edinburgh train stations and I cannot seem to figure out which one is closest to my hotel - "Edinburgh" or "Edinburgh Park"?

From my google searches, I believe Waverley is the station that I need. (although please advise if I am wrong). I don't know whether Waverly is "Edinburgh" or "Edinburgh Park".

Thank you to anyone who can solve my confusion!

Posted by
23177 posts

First step, Ask your hotel. Waverly could be neither.

Posted by
5678 posts

Edinburgh Park is out by the A720 and Waverly is the city centre station. Likely, you want Waverly. I am surprised that the Haymarket stop did not come up. It is in between. I find that Scotrail is the most useful site for travel on Scotland.

Posted by
2636 posts

waverly is you closest. Scotrail are the best if travelling within Scotland if travelling south let us know and we can advise ,the train operatores for the main eastcoast has now changed.i can't remember who has taken over but can find out.
To collect tickets you just put your card into on of the automated machines and then the reference number of the transaction and your tickets will be printed, if you have problems just go to a ticket desk and they will print them for you free of charge.

Posted by
2636 posts

Pam i find that when i am buying rail tickets haymarket never comes up. Why edinburgh Park comes up I have no idea as so few trains stop there.

Posted by
17 posts

Thank you all for your help! I figured out that "Edinburgh" meant Waverley, and thanks to my post I know that Waverley is closest to my hotel. I appreciate it!

By the way, I did email my hotel first to ask this question (twice)... and never got a response! Not too happy about that.

Erin

Posted by
1634 posts

From my experience with ScotRail and the other operators, Waverley and Haymarket are treated as the same station as far as tickets are concerned, pricing not timetabling. In the past tickets i have bought have been 'Edinburgh (All Stations)' meaning both Haymarket and Waverley. Edinburgh Park is mainly for the commuters out at the Gyle and enough of a distance it needs to be clearly signposted on the systems.

Posted by
1634 posts

Please note that as of today, 1st April 2015, the operator of ScotRail has changed.

The website is no longer scotrail.com, it is now scotrail.co.uk with the sleeper now at sleeper.scot following the transfer of the regular services from First Group to Abellio, and the Sleeper to Serco.

Posted by
2636 posts

Btw the new comapny are offering free day return tickets to scottish based residents.
https://www.freescotrailtickets.com/
managed to get a free day return from Edinburgh to Aberdeen to visit my nephew who is at Uni there.
See if you can get a free trip MC

Posted by
1634 posts

Unclegus, by the time I looked the nearest station I can leave from is Stirling!

I got a muffin and a latte off of First Group when they took over.

Posted by
2636 posts

I got an email from Scotrail this morning and just booked right away, guess i was lucky.

Posted by
1634 posts

I probably got the e-mail the same time, but could not check Abellio ScotRail until I got home, as usual the good stuff goes first. Ho hum, at least you got decent tickets so I know they existed!