Scotrail HST First Class Unavailable

[JaguarLover101]

I'm looking to try out a Scotrail HST before they go on my next trip to Scotland.

I'll travelling from Inverness to Aberdeen and from what I can see on the Scotrail website, the 12:39 is scheduled to be a HST, which RTT over the last few weeks seems to agree with. But no ticket engine will sell me a 1st class ticket for this service, only the later 17:20.

Looking on todays RTT as an example: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L89884/2025-05-09#allox_id=0 it says there is a first class carriage, but the description states "Standard class only seating" is first declassified on this service, or is it an onboard upgrade only?

 

[Watershed]

First class tickets are only sold for a given train if the schedule marks it as having first class accommodation.

The schedule for the 12:39 Inverness to Aberdeen is marked as having standard class accommodation only, hence why booking sites won't sell first class tickets for it. However, as you say, it's usually operated with an HST (which thus has a first class carriage).

I'm not sure what ScotRail's policy is when this happens; they should really allow standard class ticket holders to sit anywhere but you may find that some guards try and charge an upgrade.

 

[kkong]

I'm not sure what ScotRail's policy is when this happens; they should really allow standard class ticket holders to sit anywhere but you may find that some guards try and charge an upgrade.

If they do insist on charging, it will be £15 for the single journey and therefore cheaper than purchasing a first class ticket.

Generally it makes little sense to purchase first class on ScotRail for any significant distance - just pay the upgrade on the day.

 

[stephens]

The plot thickens!

Looking at today for example, RTT shows 1A16 1239 Inverness-Aberdeen is formed of HST 43028 and 43149 with Standard only, but it’s next working 1T54 1632 Aberdeen-Glasgow shows First and Standard available. How very odd!