ScotRail - New app / website booking engine from 30 July 2026

[snookertam]

Only ScotRail could introduce a £10 minimum fare to encourage the buying of tickets in advance, whilst at the same time create huge obstacles to people buying tickets in advance.

 

[trei2k]

Just a reminder for people in the Central Belt (in the area coloured below):




[Image above shows a network map of the Central Belt of Scotland with a number of lines highlighted in colour.]

PDF link to map: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/media/48457/download?inline

... the Tap & Pay app is available. The app generates a barcode and uses GPS to work out where you've been. Handy if you are doing lots of short trips around Glasgow, for example. (I know it isn't perfect, but another option for people in addition to using other retailers).

Further information on ScotRail's website: tap-pay

 

[davp]

Handy if you are doing lots of short trips around Glasgow

The Roundabout ticket is also good value for trips around Glasgow.

Not all of the app providers offer the Season Loyalty Discount as a railcard which gives 1/3 off if you have an active season on a Smartcard - which was the main reason I used the Scotrail app. Tap and Pay doesn't either.

 

[kkong]

I noticed the ScotRail app doesn't allow use of the 16-17 Saver, despite it being valid on other operators' services in Scotland.

They're not alone in that though: LNER don't show the Club 50 railcard in their app / website, despite it being valid on LNER services in Scotland.

 

[teaspoon]

... the Tap & Pay app is available. The app generates a barcode and uses GPS to work out where you've been. Handy if you are doing lots of short trips around Glasgow, for example. (I know it isn't perfect, but another option for people in addition to using other retailers).

worth mentioning that it can cap in ways you might not expect - last week I went to Paisley on three days, then made some shorter trips into town on some other days, and I ended up being charged for a 7 day season from my local station to Paisley (even including some journeys which I wouldn't have considered being on a valid route, eg out to Dalmarnock.)
On the other hand, it doesn't know about the Roundabout ticket, so in certain situations you're better buying one of those.)

 

[sannox]

worth mentioning that it can cap in ways you might not expect - last week I went to Paisley on three days, then made some shorter trips into town on some other days, and I ended up being charged for a 7 day season from my local station to Paisley (even including some journeys which I wouldn't have considered being on a valid route, eg out to Dalmarnock.)
On the other hand, it doesn't know about the Roundabout ticket, so in certain situations you're better buying one of those.)

It also can cap wrongly. It doesn't seem to know about Scotrail interavailable stations and on the Cathcart Circle going Glasgow to Kings Park and back from Cathcart is charged at 2 singles.

 

[kkong]

The pinned tweet from David Ross (Chief Operating Officer), which had been on ScotRail's X account since lunchtime on 30th July, has been replaced with another pinned tweet from the same hapless senior manager, which continues to downplay the severity of the situation.

Over 600,000 people have downloaded our new app, and it's working well for most of our customers.

We know some customers are still having issues, particularly with season tickets and Flexipasses. We're working to fix them as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.

David Ross says in the accompanying video:

It's working really well for the vast majority of people.

Under what criteria can the app be described as "working really well"?

Have they read the reviews on the app stores?

The replies to the tweet are as you might expect.

 

[alxndr]

Can the TrainSplit app be used for journeys wholly on ScotRail? I’d discounted it as it says e-ticket rather than m-ticket, but I’d like to suggest a way for my partner to avoid having to switch to the new app.

I’m not familiar with e/m-tickets as they’re not an option for me.

 

[megabusser]

Can the TrainSplit app be used for journeys wholly on ScotRail? I’d discounted it as it says e-ticket rather than m-ticket, but I’d like to suggest a way for my partner to avoid having to switch to the new app.

I’m not familiar with e/m-tickets as they’re not an option for me.

Some ScotRail tickets can be sold as e-tickets (eg Edinburgh to Glasgow works fine). Others aren’t e-ticket enabled and you’ll only get them as ToD (pick up at a ticket machine with a code) from TrainSplit. Trial and error with the tickets you need is the only way to find out as far as I know. I think more (all?) Scotrail tickets are to be enabled for e-ticket over time.

Alternatively, the Northern app will do m-tickets, but doesn’t do splits.

 

[superkopite]

Some ScotRail tickets can be sold as e-tickets (eg Edinburgh to Glasgow works fine). Others aren’t e-ticket enabled and you’ll only get them as ToD (pick up at a ticket machine with a code) from TrainSplit. Trial and error with the tickets you need is the only way to find out as far as I know. I think more (all?) Scotrail tickets are to be enabled for e-ticket over time.

Alternatively, the Northern app will do m-tickets, but doesn’t do splits.

I think only ScotRail advance tickets are fulfilable to eTicket.

 

[Glaswegian]

I think only ScotRail advance tickets are fulfilable to eTicket.

The old ScotRail app sold m-tickets (but not e-tickets) almost always. As far as I can see the only exceptions were for situations where they would not work, such as journeys across London involving the Underground.

 

[smsm1]

I think only ScotRail advance tickets are fulfilable to eTicket.

I can get e-tickets with day returns for example for Camelon-Dundee with 2 splits if going via Stirling and Perth, though haven't gone through the full buying process. I'm wondering if the e-tickets option has been enabled in more places with the app change, as I've been trying more places and haven't found one yet where the ticket on demand is required?

 

[megabusser]

I think only ScotRail advance tickets are fulfilable to eTicket.

I’ve bought e-tickets for a day return Glasgow to Edinburgh and for a suburban Glasgow station to Glasgow Central from Trainsplit without issue.

I’ve tried others and they aren’t sold as e-tickets for whatever reason.

 

[GLC]

Can the TrainSplit app be used for journeys wholly on ScotRail? I’d discounted it as it says e-ticket rather than m-ticket, but I’d like to suggest a way for my partner to avoid having to switch to the new app.

Yes, the TrainSplit app can be used for journeys wholly on ScotRail. (This also applies for any TOC in GB, such as TfW, MerseyRail etc)

TrainSplit (and therefore also the forum booking site), offers E-Tickets for as many ScotRail journeys as we are able to.

 

[OscarH]

Can the TrainSplit app be used for journeys wholly on ScotRail? I’d discounted it as it says e-ticket rather than m-ticket, but I’d like to suggest a way for my partner to avoid having to switch to the new app.

I’m not familiar with e/m-tickets as they’re not an option for me.

I'd suggest trying it - more than you'd think will be eTicketable

 

[shotts56]

I'd suggest trying it - more than you'd think will be eTicketable

Agreed. Since the ScotRail app blew up, the last week or so I’ve been trying other apps for my regular Wishaw to Glasgow commute.

Both Railboard and TrainSplit have given me e-tickets which have the ability to go into my Apple Wallet, which is just so much handier.

 

[jadmor]

I noticed this morning (10th August) that the app was not showing the morning LNER service from Pitlochry. Is it possible that this was because all LNER seats were booked?
I bought my ticket at the station as usual, and found plenty of unreserved seating in coach C.

 

[Adam Williams]

Is it possible that this was because all LNER seats were booked?

Well, 10 seats in Standard Class weren't booked, but had been blocked from being booked by the operator.

The rest had reservations, yes, which would have caused it to be shown as "Sold Out" and suppressed sales.

 

[Sealink]

Wick now appears first when you type it in.
Use the official code WCK and Warwick comes up first.

Although they sell seated sleeper tickets, avoid using their app for this (I'm sure I am preaching to the choir here):

Inverness - Euston comes up with a fare of £233.40. I checked a random date in September.

Other apps and CS direct is £90

 

[Adam Williams]

Wick now appears first when you type it in.
Use the official code WCK and Warwick comes up first.

Although they sell seated sleeper tickets, avoid using their app for this (I'm sure I am preaching to the choir here):

Inverness - Euston comes up with a fare of £233.40. I checked a random date in September.

Other apps and CS direct is £90

Which, of course, directly contradicts the "What can't we sell?" FAQ answer (which was suspiciously similar to the Raileasy website's content) and explicitly said they sell seated sleeper products....

I don't think SilverRail could've screwed this up any more badly than they have managed to if they tried. Though at least this time around they're not issuing free 1st class barcodes that allow travel to anyone who makes a reservation

 

[Sealink]

Screenshots from Northern, Rail Forums ticketing and ScotRail (mobile page, see pic 4, a suggestion from Google Play Store!)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Aug 2026 ==

Which, of course, directly contradicts the "What can't we sell?" FAQ answer (which was suspiciously similar to the Raileasy website's content) and explicitly said they sell seated sleeper products....

I don't think SilverRail could've screwed this up any more badly than they have managed to if they tried. Though at least this time around they're not issuing free 1st class barcodes that allow travel to anyone who makes a reservation

 

[aaronspence]

Have you put in a request for a refund? Let us know how that goes!

Hopefully you were able to buy the tickets using a functional website (such as the forum's!)

Update on this, put a refund request in the same day as the incident, told id get it within 5 working days - still nothing

They say there’s overwhelming demand for refunds right now so I’ve to be patient

Must be that app barely anyone is having issues with

 

[Durradan]

I need to renew my season ticket for Thursday. Is it worth trusting the new app to behave, or should I dig my smartcard out again and pop down the ticket office instead?

 

[davp]

I need to renew my season ticket for Thursday. Is it worth trusting the new app to behave, or should I dig my smartcard out again and pop down the ticket office instead?

If I needed one there is no way I would trust the app. My smartcard works fine and if there is a season on it I can use it for 1/3 off off peak fares too on Scotrail.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Aug 2026 ==

Both the new app and website are showing refunds available for same day ticket purchases and have been throughout.

 

[scosutsut]

Google Play Store reviews have rebounded slightly to 1.3* versus 4.4* for the old app. It also now shows "10k+ downloads" versus "1m+" for the old.

The next category I can see above 10k plus is 100k plus so I'd suggest it's not doing well, especially as despite not having the app I'll account for two of those installs according to Google Play documentation, on the account of installing and uninstalling it after trying it, and then having to install it again in order to delete my account, then removing it again.

Even if they fix everything, this will hang over it for years. Would love to FOI how much this has cost them in a years time, in terms of lost ticket sale commission, it's not going to be pretty.

But then again, we're told it's all going swimmingly, right?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think this may be the best thing that has happened to Trainline for some time

 

[kkong]

Even if they fix everything, this will hang over it for years. Would love to FOI how much this has cost them in a years time, in terms of lost ticket sale commission, it's not going to be pretty.

I am in touch with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport (via my MSP) to request they ask ScotRail for, inter alia, their cost estimate of the reputational damage and lost sales due to the defective app.

I have also written to the Transport Committee, requesting they invite ScotRail senior management along to explain themselves, once the new parliamentary session begins on 31st August.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2026 ==

The newer version of the Android app that they released a few days ago is still overcharging for the example journey I mentioned in this post.

I want to make a day return journey from Anniesland to Edinburgh.
Out: Fri 14 Aug 15:30
Rtn: Fri 14 Aug 17:00

The only fare offered is with split tickets - where is the (valid) £19.90 Anytime Day Return?
ANL-GLQ (SDS): £ 3.10
GLQ-EDB (SDS): £16.60
EDB-GLQ (SDS): £16.60
GLQ-ANL (SDS): £ 3.10
Total : £39.40



Now the same journey search, except with a return time of 18:00 instead of 17:00.
Out: Fri 14 Aug 15:30
Rtn: Fri 14 Aug 18:00

The correct through Anytime Day Return fare is offered:
ANL-EDB (SDR): £19.90

(Also note how on the second screenshot, the default option presented is a single, despite searching for a return journey.



I wonder how many ScotRail customers have been overcharged by a combination of these two bugs:

1. Not showing return through fares where they are available and the cheapest option.
2. Defaulting to selling single tickets when the customer has requested a return.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2026 ==

Google Play Store reviews have rebounded slightly to 1.3* versus 4.4* for the old app. It also now shows "10k+ downloads" versus "1m+" for the old.

That is probably due to the likes of the 5-star review highlighted below, by someone who will be recommending the ScotRail app to his extended family in Baghdad.

He is probably reviewing the wrong app.



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2026 ==

The ScotRail app and website both show a solitary train from Mount Florida to Glasgow Central on Sunday 16 August, departing at 06:33.

This train isn't returned by any other journey planner I've used.

There are no services on the Cathcart circle route all day Sunday - it's closed for engineering works.

Where is it hallucinating this service from?

Edit: There is no 06:33 departure on a normal Sunday, but there is on Monday-Saturday.
It's surely not showing a departure for Monday 17 August without saying it's not on the date searched for... is it?

 

[aaronspence]

If the new app has been overcharging, I would hope refunds are automatically sent? Think how much money they have stolen and people were none the wiser, then may not even know to put in a claim.

 

[kkong]

If the new app has been overcharging, I would hope refunds are automatically sent? Think how much money they have stolen and people were none the wiser, then may not even know to put in a claim.

Absolutely zero chance of that happening.

There are so many bugs, they won't even have them all on a list to fix.

Remember, back on 7th August (before the app update was released), ScotRail COO David Ross said:

It's working really well for the vast majority of people.

 

[alistairlees]

I am in touch with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport (via my MSP) to request they ask ScotRail for, inter alia, their cost estimate of the reputational damage and lost sales due to the defective app.

I have also written to the Transport Committee, requesting they invite ScotRail senior management along to explain themselves, once the new parliamentary session begins on 31st August.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2026 ==

The newer version of the Android app that they released a few days ago is still overcharging for the example journey I mentioned in this post.

I want to make a day return journey from Anniesland to Edinburgh.
Out: Fri 14 Aug 15:30
Rtn: Fri 14 Aug 17:00

The only fare offered is with split tickets - where is the (valid) £19.90 Anytime Day Return?
ANL-GLQ (SDS): £ 3.10
GLQ-EDB (SDS): £16.60
EDB-GLQ (SDS): £16.60
GLQ-ANL (SDS): £ 3.10
Total : £39.40

View attachment 209431View attachment 209432View attachment 209433

Now the same journey search, except with a return time of 18:00 instead of 17:00.
Out: Fri 14 Aug 15:30
Rtn: Fri 14 Aug 18:00

The correct through Anytime Day Return fare is offered:
ANL-EDB (SDR): £19.90

(Also note how on the second screenshot, the default option presented is a single, despite searching for a return journey.

View attachment 209434View attachment 209435View attachment 209436

I wonder how many ScotRail customers have been overcharged by a combination of these two bugs:

1. Not showing return through fares where they are available and the cheapest option.
2. Defaulting to selling single tickets when the customer has requested a return.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2026 ==



That is probably due to the likes of the 5-star review highlighted below, by someone who will be recommending the ScotRail app to his extended family in Baghdad.

He is probably reviewing the wrong app.

View attachment 209438

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2026 ==

The ScotRail app and website both show a solitary train from Mount Florida to Glasgow Central on Sunday 16 August, departing at 06:33.

This train isn't returned by any other journey planner I've used.

There are no services on the Cathcart circle route all day Sunday - it's closed for engineering works.

Where is it hallucinating this service from?

Edit: There is no 06:33 departure on a normal Sunday, but there is on Monday-Saturday.
It's surely not showing a departure for Monday 17 August without saying it's not on the date searched for... is it?

View attachment 209446

Using the same dates and times I get the same overpriced results for Partick, Hyndland and Jordanhill to Edinburgh too.