Scotrail First Class upgrades

[WesternLancer]

Hi all

reposting here from my original post on trip planning (link for context)

Scotrail HSTs trip plan and ticketing

Hi all - not sure if this is best in trip reports or more of a specific question about ticketing - but here goes - all thoughts about varied aspects of it are welcome I'm planning a few days in Scotland and intend do use a Spirit of Scotland Rover / pass to travel on the HSTs that operate the...

www.railforums.co.uk

Its these Q's from this post that people here might know answers to:

Upgrading to 1st class

The Scotrail website says you can do this for £15. Presumably that is OK for a Spirit of Scotland ticket holder?

First Class Train Tickets​

When you next travel with us between Scotland's cities, make it a First Class train ticket and enjoy First Class rail travel in style. Whether you’re travelling for work or leisure, a seat in First Class gives you quieter surroundings, a comfier seat and more space to get on with your day, which...

www.scotrail.co.uk

A) I assume this is like a weekend first style upgrade that you pay on board - is that correct?

B) But an upgrade that is available on any train any day of the week - is that correct?

C) Is it per journey or per train (I mean if you were travelling Glasgow to Aberdeen, got on and paid £15, but then broke your journey for an hour in Perth say, rejoining a later HST, would you then pay another £15? (£30 total) But if you stayed on the same train all the way from Glasgow to Aberdeen you would only pay £15 total)

Thanks in advance

 

[kkong]

Upgrading to 1st class

The Scotrail website says you can do this for £15. Presumably that is OK for a Spirit of Scotland ticket holder?

It's unclear. You an ask and may receive a positive response from the guard.

It's also said to not be valid for Club 50 flat fares, but I have been given an upgrade on those when asking ("these aren't supposed to be valid for upgrading...").

A) I assume this is like a weekend first style upgrade that you pay on board - is that correct?

Yes. Take a seat in first class and ask for the upgrade when your ticket is checked.

B) But an upgrade that is available on any train any day of the week - is that correct?

Yes.

C) Is it per journey or per train (I mean if you were travelling Glasgow to Aberdeen, got on and paid £15, but then broke your journey for an hour in Perth say, rejoining a later HST, would you then pay another £15? (£30 total) But if you stayed on the same train all the way from Glasgow to Aberdeen you would only pay £15 total)

I understand the supplement is only valid on the train on which it is issued, but I have not tried this in practice.

It is quite common to have two, or even three, different guards work a service from Glasgow to Aberdeen (changes at Perth and Dundee).

 

[Haywain]

C) Is it per journey or per train (I mean if you were travelling Glasgow to Aberdeen, got on and paid £15, but then broke your journey for an hour in Perth say, rejoining a later HST, would you then pay another £15? (£30 total) But if you stayed on the same train all the way from Glasgow to Aberdeen you would only pay £15 total)

I am slightly surprised by this, but on the Scotrail website it says that break of journey is permitted.

 

[WesternLancer]

It's unclear. You an ask and may receive a positive response from the guard.

It's also said to not be valid for Club 50 flat fares, but I have been given an upgrade on those when asking ("these aren't supposed to be valid for upgrading...").


Yes. Take a seat in first class and ask for the upgrade when your ticket is checked.


Yes.


I understand the supplement is only valid on the train on which it is issued, but I have not tried this in practice.

It is quite common to have two, or even three, different guards work a service from Glasgow to Aberdeen (changes at Perth and Dundee).

Many thanks - helpful info and experience for me to note.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jun 2026 ==

I am slightly surprised by this, but on the Scotrail website it says that break of journey is permitted.

Thanks - I assumed that referred to a 'First Class ticket' as in booked a 1st class ticket to start with - not the payment on board (that being a 'supplement' in my mind, but maybe tat is also a 'ticket') - but the point is useful and I will bear it in mind.
I guess I could at least ask the guard I am seeking to buy it from what they say on the matter of breaking the journey.

 

[Haywain]

I assumed that referred to a 'First Class ticket' as in booked a 1st class ticket to start with

Clearly not, because it also says there are no child discounts, and there would be on a normal 1st class ticket.

 

[WesternLancer]

Clearly not, because it also says there are no child discounts, and there would be on a normal 1st class ticket.

Thanks - good point!

 

[reb0118]

Regarding break of journey. I would suspect that this is not valid for the supplement. I could ask for clarification but sometimes not having an official determination is best. I suspect that any mention that break of journey is permitted might be in error. However, I'm prepared to be corrected.

That said one caveat to heed, one of the reasons for not issuing supplements for other trains, especially for a passenger joining at an intermediate station, is that nobody knows how many first class seats are left - due to the fact that upgrades occur on the move after departure. Therefore, if you did get one issed there is no guarantee that there will be first class available on the next train. I doubt there would be any entitlement to a refund in those circumstances.

 

[kkong]

Just to follow up on this, here is an example of a supplement issued on board.

It says Valid Only With Ticket <ticket number> and Validity: WITH TKT NO.

Make of that what you will.

 

[Haywain]

Just to follow up on this, here is an example of a supplement issued on board.

It says Valid Only With Ticket <ticket number> and Validity: WITH TKT NO.

Make of that what you will.

View attachment 206447

Did you hold ticket number 00855?

 

[WesternLancer]

Just to follow up on this, here is an example of a supplement issued on board.

It says Valid Only With Ticket <ticket number> and Validity: WITH TKT NO.

Make of that what you will.

View attachment 206447

Helpful to see that.
I don’t suppose your ticket was a Rover ticket by any chance?

 

[kkong]

Did you hold ticket number 00855?

Yes, a Belfast to Aberdeen on CCST.

 

[Haywain]

Yes, a Belfast to Aberdeen on CCST.

So, no problem with what was on the excess coupon.

 

[kkong]

So, no problem with what was on the excess coupon.

I didn't suggest there was?

 

[AlterEgo]

I didn't suggest there was?

"Make of that what you will" suggests ambiguity. But there is none?

 

[kkong]

"Make of that what you will" suggests ambiguity. But there is none?

I was providing an example of what the supplement says (valid with the ticket number) and what it doesn't say (whether or not it's only valid on the train on which it was issued).

I've also received these supplements issued with ticket numbers '00000' and '12345' which of course didn't match the ticket number I held.

As explained by another poster (who it appears is ScotRail staff), it's not clear whether the supplement is valid for transfers.

 

[WesternLancer]

Update here.

When buying the Spirit of Scotland rover at Glasgow Queen street the ticket office staff member told me it was fine to pay for first class upgrades on board when desired.

On board the train manager was very happy to do this. And she booked it through to my destination. I asked if it would be valid to the destination if I broke my journey and she said yes it was fine to that. So long as I was not doubling back or using it for the return journey etc.

I didn’t break the journey in fact so not yet put this to the test.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jun 2026 ==

But the same principle was applied by another booked me through to a destination beyond the terminating point of my train on the single upgrade price.

 

[Sealink]

Here's a "how long is a piece of string" question - maybe some regular or local travellers can answer.

I am booked on the 1725 from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street which is normally an HST - does anyone think First Class will be busy on a Tuesday (18th August)?

The fare difference at the time of booking was £33.50 and I'd much rather pay £15.

I know it's a total shot in the dark...

 

[davp]

Here's a "how long is a piece of string" question - maybe some regular or local travellers can answer.

I am booked on the 1725 from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street which is normally an HST - does anyone think First Class will be busy on a Tuesday (18th August)?

The fare difference at the time of booking was £33.50 and I'd much rather pay £15.

I know it's a total shot in the dark...

I sometimes take the Edinburgh train an hour later during the week. It's never busy.

 

[WesternLancer]

Here's a "how long is a piece of string" question - maybe some regular or local travellers can answer.

I am booked on the 1725 from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street which is normally an HST - does anyone think First Class will be busy on a Tuesday (18th August)?

The fare difference at the time of booking was £33.50 and I'd much rather pay £15.

I know it's a total shot in the dark...

Hopefully not going to be a problem. Where are you boarding? If Inverness is hope less likely to be an issue.

 

[Sealink]

Inverness, yes. Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2026 ==

I sometimes take the Edinburgh train an hour later during the week. It's never busy.

Unfortunately I am booked on the Sleeper from Glasgow Central that evening. But a good tip for next time! Thanks.