Frequently asked questions

You can save 1/3 on fares across Britain for you and a companion with a Disabled Persons Railcard.

Find out more about the Disabled Persons Railcard here

Anytime tickets can be bought online, on the ScotRail app, and at any ScotRail ticket office. You can also buy tickets on the phone by calling 0344 811 0141.

Off-Peak tickets can be bought online, via the ScotRail app, from a ticket vending machine and at any ScotRail ticket office. You can also buy tickets on the phone by calling 0344 811 0141.

Joining Club 50 is quick and easy - all you need to complete the online application form is an email address and a recent (passport quality) photo. You can upload an existing photo or take a new one as part of the sign up process. Membership costs £15 per person for a year.

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Why can I only sign up to Club 50 online?

Club 50 requires online sign up because membership is only available on a Smartcard. Loading your Club 50 Off-Peak tickets onto your Smartcard keeps all your tickets in one handy place and saves you having to carry individual paper tickets. As a business we have committed to the Scottish Government that we will roll out Smartcard ticket options as quickly as possible.

My husband/wife and I share an email address - can we both sign up using one email address?

No, sorry. Because Club 50 requires an online account, we need an email address for each member. This also serves as the username for the account.

Can I sign up in writing or at a station?

Sorry, unfortunately not. To allow us to offer the best deals and discounts and to keep your personal information secure, Club 50 requires online registration and an email address. This cannot be supported at a station or by post.

Can I join Club 50 before my 50th birthday?

You can’t use your Club 50 membership before your 50th birthday so you should wait until you turn 50 to join so that you get the best value from it. You can access the benefits straight away and don’t need to wait until your membership Smartcard arrives. You’ll be required to carry proof of age (50 or over) when travelling on a Club 50 ticket.

With Flexipass you'll save 15% versus the cost of 5 Standard Anytime Day Returns.

Customers with a Highland Railcard will be able to use this along with their Flexipass, offering them a 50% discount on their new Flexipass price.

If you travel on the same route regularly you can enjoy unlimited travel on your chosen route, whether that’s for a week, a month or up to a full year.

Never queue to buy a ticket, and save money compared to buying Anytime single and return tickets. Plus, for even more convenience and added security you can add your Season Ticket to your Smartcard.

Find out more

Great value for money for travelling when trains are less busy. Get our cheapest fares and flexibility, whether you purchase in advance or on the day. Available on journeys to/from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen that have an Off-Peak Day Return.

Only on Smartcard. Find out more about Smartcard and register here

Where to buy

• Online

*You can apply for a refund online, on unused tickets surrendered before the date of outward travel. You can change your travel plans before the outward journey. Subject to admin fee.

As a Club 50 member you receive:

• 20% discount on selected Off-Peak and Advance fares when purchased via the ScotRail website

• 10% discount on selected Off-Peak and Advance fares when purchased via other channels

• Occasional additional rail offers which include flat fares and other promotions

• On-board catering offer

• Occasional additional offers from 3rd party partners

I have a Disabled Railcard/Senior Railcard so I’m not sure whether Club 50 is of any use to me?

Club 50 cannot be used in conjunction with Railcard discounts, and the permanent discounts on offer for Club 50 members are not always as good as those offered by Railcards.

However, you are welcome to join Club 50 as well as that membership does also provide you with exclusive access to regular flat fare ticket offers - usually three times per year.

Your mTicket can be loaded onto any modern Android or Apple Phone or tablet through the ScotRail app.

Be sure to read our summary pages on weekly, monthly, annual Season Tickets to determine which is the best option for you. It ultimately depends on how often you plan to travel on your chosen route.

Season Tickets can be renewed at the touch of a button using the ScotRail website or app.

If you're aged 16-25 or are studying full time, you can get 1/3 off all train travel for just £30 a year.

Find out more about the 16 – 25 Railcard here

The Veterans Railcard costs £30 for one year, and £70 for three years.

You'll need to upload a passport-style photo if you're applying for a photo Smartcard. Your photo will be printed on the card.

You can’t buy a Smart Season Ticket without a photo Smartcard, and other Smart products – such as Club 50 membership, Under 25 Advance Purchase and Highland Railcard – also need a photo Smartcard.

You won't be asked to upload a photo if you're applying for a non-photo Smartcard (a Smartcard that doesn't have your photo printed on it). You can buy Smart single, return and Flexipass tickets, and SPT Pay As You Go credit to put on a non-photo Smartcard.

What are the benefits of a photo Smartcard?

A photo Smartcard is our most flexible card. Because it has a photo of you printed on it, you can:

• Use for all tickets on ScotRail services:
  • Season Tickets
  • Anytime and Off-Peak singles and returns
  • Super Off-Peak Day Returns
  • Flexipass 10
• Use for all SPT Subway tickets including Season Tickets
• Add other products you may be eligible for at any time e.g. Highland Railcard

If you join Club 50 in the future, you’ll need to apply for a separate Club 50 Smartcard.

Which photos are appropriate and how do I upload one?

You’ll be shown how to upload a photo when you apply online. You can either upload a photograph or take a fresh one with your device's camera – simply follow the instructions on screen.

Photo rules

• The picture must be a photo of you and nothing else
• It must be of passport picture quality (light background, only head and shoulders visible, face not covered and in focus)
• Your face must be evenly and well lit
• Your face must not be obscured by hats or hair
• We prefer colour pictures but black and white images are acceptable too

Does the Smartcard replace my existing photocard?

If your Season Ticket is on your Smartcard, and your photo is printed on the card, you'll no longer need to carry a separate photocard.

You can't put a Smart Season Ticket on a non-photo Smartcard.

No, mTickets cannot be printed. They are held within, and used from, the ScotRail app on your device.

A Flexipass lets you make 10 journeys on the same route within one month, or 50 journeys over a year. Travel anytime and save money compared to buying single or return tickets. Great if you work part-time or from home some days, or need to make a regular journey in just one direction?

Find out more

When you join Club 50, you'll receive a Club 50 Smartcard with your membership loaded and ready to use - so you don't need to do anything.

If you're rejoining Club 50, you'll need to reactivate your membership. Or if you're adding a Club 50 membership to an existing Smartcard, you'll need to follow these steps -

At a station

You can do this by asking a member of our team, who will download your membership onto your Club 50 Smartcard using their smartphone.

Via the ScotRail App

With the latest version of the ScotRail App, you can load tickets (and memberships) you’ve bought online onto your Smartcard before you travel. You can also check what's already loaded, giving you peace of mind when you travel.

To load your Club 50 membership to your Club 50 Smartcard, just follow these two steps:

1. Open the ScotRail App and tap ‘My Tickets’ at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the round red button, and scan your Smartcard by simply hold your Smartcard against the back of your phone for a few seconds. Any tickets ready to be loaded, will appear on screen.

Your Club 50 membership will appear on screen and is now ready to use.