Smartcard FAQs

You're ready to become the boss of your commute, now it's time to get smarter about Smartcard. We've got all the answers you'll need to make sure you enjoy travel that's easier than ever.

Normally you only need one.

If you want to join Club 50 you’ll need a Club 50 Smartcard. If you want to buy Smart Season Tickets, you'll need a photo Smartcard (a Smartcard with a photo of you printed on it).

Is there a family Smartcard?

No, but every member of your family can have their own Smartcard.

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If your details have changed since you signed up for your My ScotRail account, you can update your name, address, email and phone number online:

  • Log into My ScotRail
  • Enter your email address and password and click 'Log in' to go to your account dashboard
  • Click on 'Edit account details' to update your name, address and phone number
  • To update your email address and/or password, follow the link at the bottom of the 'Edit account details' form
    (You'll be taken to My Account - update your details and tick the box to accept the T&Cs or the changes won't be saved)

If you've signed up with the wrong date of birth or want to cancel your Smartcard, please call our Smartcard team on 0344 811 0141.

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Log into My ScotRail to see details of your ScotRail tickets on your ScotRail Smartcard. Details are updated overnight so tickets you buy today will be shown in your online account tomorrow.

You can also check details of your ScotRail tickets at our ticket machines, and using the 'My Tickets' section of the app - see here for details.

If your ScotRail ticket is on another Smartcard, contact the card issuer.

Product/Card issuer ScotRail Smartcard SPT Personalised Smartcard GrassHOPPER Smartcard
ScotRail ticket Log into My ScotRail
ScotRail ticket machine
SPT Smartcard team

GrassHOPPER team on 01467 533080 or [email protected]

Will tickets I purchase at a ticket machine be visible in my online account?

ScotRail tickets

You can buy certain ScotRail tickets for your ScotRail Smartcard at our ticket machines. They’ll be loaded onto your card immediately and will appear in your My ScotRail account the next day.

Non-ScotRail tickets

ScotRail Smartcards can be used to store tickets for travel across multiple modes of transport and multiple transport operators, but these won’t appear in your My ScotRail account.

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Anyone from the age of 5 can get a Smartcard. You must be 16 years old or over to sign up or buy tickets online.

Ordering a Smartcard for a child? Download the application form below.

You may be asked to provide proof of age if you're travelling with a Child card or Club 50 card.

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The Under 25 Advance Purchase discount entitles you to 10% off Advance fares on ScotRail services, for Standard Class travel on a range of longer distance routes.

It is available to anyone under the age of 25, exclusively on Smartcard.

How to apply

  • Visit My ScotRail to sign up for a Smartcard or log into your existing Smartcard account
  • You'll be asked to provide your date of birth and, if you qualify, the Under 25 Advance Purchase entitlement will automatically be added to your Smartcard
  • ​Follow the instructions online to complete your order

​Buying tickets

  • Buy tickets online
  • Enter your journey details and select UNDER 25 ADVANCE from the Railcard drop down list
  • If an Advance fare is available for your selected journey, the prices shown will include the Under 25 Advance discount
  • Follow the instructions to purchase the ticket and put on your Smartcard​

Note: Normal conditions of Advance fares apply. Reservations are compulsory and will be made at the time of purchase - you'll need to present your booking confirmation along with your Smartcard when you travel.

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There are two ways to get a ScotRail Smartcard:

You can choose a photo or non-photo Smartcard when you apply:

  • Photo Smartcard: Choose for Season Tickets, single, return or Flexipass tickets, any SPT Subway ticket, and for optional extras such as Club 50 membership, Highland Railcard or Under 25 Advance
  • Non-photo Smartcard: Choose if you only buy single, return or Flexipass tickets, or SPT Pay As You Go credit

You should receive your Smartcard within five working days.

Do I have to pay for a ScotRail Smartcard?

No. Your first ScotRail Smartcard is free – but we may charge a replacement fee in some circumstances.

Why do I need to provide my date of birth?

Some of our Smartcard products are age-dependent. We need your date of birth so we can offer you the relevant range of products.

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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.

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1. Buy tickets
Buy Smart tickets online, via the ScotRail App, at our ticket vending machines and booking offices.

2. Load tickets onto your Smartcard

Bought online? You have two options –

  1. We recommend loading your ticket to your Smartcard using our free ScotRail App
  2. Collect at your chosen station

Bought at a ticket vending machine? When your payment’s complete, the machine will prompt you to tap your Smartcard to instantly load your ticket.

Bought at a booking office? Your ticket’s already loaded – you’re ready to go.

3. Tap to travel​
Once your ticket is loaded, tap your Smartcard at the ticket gates or platform validator and wait for the beep. You’re tapped in and ready to roll!

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Tickets on Smartcard can be used on the services of any operator, subject to the conditions of the specific type of ticket you purchase.

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Your Smartcard can be used on any ScotRail route. You can buy Season, Anytime and Off-Peak tickets for a Smartcard.

Super Off-Peak and Flexipass tickets can also be loaded onto a Smartcard on some routes. It will show on the booking page online whether this is an option for your chosen journey.

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ScotRail tickets and products

You can buy:

  • Smart Season Tickets, Anytime and Off-Peak singles and returns on all ScotRail routes
  • Smart Super Off-Peak Day Return tickets on certain routes
  • Smart Flexipass 10 tickets on over 1,350 journey options across 28 routes in Scotland
  • Club 50 membership, Highland Railcard and Under 25 Advance

ScotRail Smartcards are currently accepted on ScotRail trains, the SPT Subway and participating GrassHOPPER bus services. You can also use ScotRail Smart Season Tickets on LNER services.

SPT Subway tickets and credit

You can buy SPT Subway tickets and SPT Pay As You Go credit to put onto your Smartcard.

Buy at SPT Subway ticket machines and Subway station ticket offices.

GrassHOPPER products

You can now load GrassHOPPER products onto your ScotRail Smartcard.

Buy from the driver on board participating bus services.

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1. Buy tickets
Buy Smart tickets online, via the ScotRail App, at our ticket vending machines and booking offices.

2. Load tickets onto your Smartcard

Bought online? You have two options –

  1. We recommend loading your ticket to your Smartcard using our free ScotRail App
  2. Collect at your chosen station

Bought at a ticket vending machine? When your payment’s complete, the machine will prompt you to tap your Smartcard to instantly load your ticket.

Bought at a booking office? Your ticket’s already loaded – you’re ready to go.

You can load ScotRail Smart tickets onto ScotRail Smartcards, and the full range of Scottish ITSO Smartcards .

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You can buy Anytime and Off-Peak singles and returns, and Super Off-Peak day return tickets for Smartcard on the ScotRail app.

Click ‘Plan & Buy’ and enter your journey details. You’ll see the Smartcard delivery option if you’re buying tickets at least four hours before you travel.

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To load tickets to your Smartcard with the ScotRail App -

  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.

What is NFC?

NFC (Near-Field Communication) lets two electronic devices communicate when they are close to each other – in this instance your phone and your Smartcard. Most new Android smartphones have the technology built in.

Which Smart tickets can I load onto my Smartcard using my phone?

You can collect all ScotRail Smart tickets, plus new and renewed Club 50 membership, Highland and Under 25 Advance Railcards.

Can I load Smart tickets onto any type of Smartcard using my phone?

You can currently load Smart tickets onto ScotRail and SPT Subway Smartcards using the ScotRail app.

We plan to extend the functionality to other card types in the future.

NFC-enabled Android phones only.

I can’t load my Smart tickets using the ScotRail App

Here are a few things to check:

  • Have you got an NFC-enabled phone?
    Most new smartphones have NFC technology built in. The Smartcard functionality doesn’t work on phones without NFC
  • Do you have the latest version of the ScotRail App?
    Open your App Store and check for updates
  • Is NFC switched on?
    You should be prompted to switch on NFC when you hold your Smartcard against the phone – or check in the phone settings
  • Are you holding your Smartcard to the NFC zone on your phone?
    The NFC zone is the part of your phone where the NFC chip is located. It’s usually the back cover of your phone, but it could also be the screen. Try holding your Smartcard flat against the back of your phone first
  • Is your phone in a case?
    Remove the case and try again
  • It's still not working, what else can you do?
    NFC technology is relatively new and quality can vary depending upon the manufacturer and even the device type

How do I report an issue or bug?

Contact our Smartcard team on 0344 811 0141.

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ScotRail Smartcards

Call our Smartcard team on 0344 811 0141. They'll send you a new card, and cancel your old one to make sure no one else uses it. There might be an admin charge for replacement cards.

Once you receive your new Smartcard, you'll be able to get your remaining tickets by tapping your card on one of the following:

  • Ticket gate
  • Platform validator
  • Ticket vending machine
  • ScotRail App

SPT Subway Smartcards

If you’ve lost your Subway Smartcard with ScotRail ticket/s on it, contact the SPT Smartcard team

They’ll cancel your card and arrange a new one. They’ll also manage the process to get your ScotRail ticket/s transferred onto your new card.

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You can load ScotRail Smart tickets onto ScotRail Smartcards, and the full range of Scottish ITSO Smartcards .

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