Train ticket and passes – options for your Scotland rail itinerary
There are a number of options open to you when it comes to buying tickets for the Scotland by rail itinerary detailed above. The most cost-effective option for train tickets may be to compare the cost of a train pass or ticket discounts with a railcard.
Train Passes
The two passes available are the BritRail Pass or the Global Eurail Pass (or Global Interail pass if you live in Europe).
Note – Unfortunately, the Scottish Highlands BritRail Pass and the Spirit of Scotland BritRail Pass are unavailable at the moment due to Covid – hopefully, they will be available again soon.
This means that you would need to buy a regular BritRail Pass for travel by trail in Scotland. The following types are available:
Flexible – 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, 8 Day (valid within 1 month) and 15 Day (valid within 2 months)
Consecutive – 2 Day, 3 Day, 4 Day, 8 Day, 15 Day, 22 Day, 1 Month
The other alternative is a Global Eurail Pass. It offers consecutive travel for 15 or 22 consecutive days, or buy a pass valid for 1, 2 or 3 months. Or a flexible pass for 4, 5 or 7 non-consecutive days spread over a month; or for 10 or 15 days during a two month period.
With 6 days of train travel (excluding the Jacobite which is not covered by either pass) a 7 day Global Eurail flexipass may be the most cost-effective for this itinerary.
Read – Global Eurail Pass versus BritRail Pass
Railcards
Another option would be to purchase a digital railcard and compare the cost of tickets with discounts from the railcard applied.
Examples of railcards include:
- Two Together Railcard – Costs £30 for the year. Two travellers are named on the same card and you must always travel together to get one-third off the normal ticket price.
- Senior Railcard – For the over 60s. Costs £30 for the year and offers one-third off rail fares.
