http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: Scotrail - Recent Posts en Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:10:03 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21990#post-385297 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:56:45 +0000 LaidBack 385297@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>The latest figures from 2023‑24 show total public transport journeys in Scotland (bus, rail, air, ferry) increased by 15% compared with 2022‑23. Driving frequency is edging down with 2024 figures telling us 71% of people aged 17 and older held a full driving licence and 64% drove at least once a week, with 35% driving every day – well below the 43% who drove daily in 2019.<br /> ..........</p> <p>Professor Adrian Davis, an expert in transport and health, believes the answer to a fluid and reliable public transport system in Scotland’s cities is creating road space for buses to run on time without being hindered by traffic.</p> <p>“Who has access to the [road] space? We’ve given it to private cars increasingly,” Davis told The National.</p> <p>“If you want urban areas to work, it’s not going to work by allowing people to just drive around in private cars and cause more and more congestion and slowing bus services down because it then creates a spiral of more people choosing to use a car because the bus service isn’t good enough.”</p> <p>The Edinburgh Napier University academic said making space for buses to operate fluidly as part of an integrated ticket system would be his biggest priority in improving Scotland’s public transport, having seen how well other European cities function like this.</p> <p>He said: “You only have to think about when you go abroad to a European city and it’s just socially normal to get on a bus or take the tram. I often point people to Freiburg which has got one of the most extensive tram systems in Europe.<br /> </blockquote></p> <p>From National link above.</p> <p>Meanwhile the ScotRail app still has problems.</p> <p><blockquote>SCOTRAIL have confirmed that commuters temporarily cannot buy Smartcard tickets via its website or mobile app, deepening frustration amid ongoing problems with the operator’s new app.</blockquote> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21990#post-385289 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:48:00 +0000 LaidBack 385289@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot</p> <p>This one has transport professor from Napier. Trying to get stuff on e-bus delayed in traffic on M90 (!)</p> <p><a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/transport/26429744.improve-scotlands-public-transport/" rel="nofollow">https://www.thenational.scot/news/transport/26429744.improve-scotlands-public-transport/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21990#post-385287 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:41:27 +0000 chdot 385287@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From above</p> <p>“</p> <p>Consultancies are using models that “consider rail in isolation”, Dennis explained, adding that to create a truly efficient, sustainable and accessible transport network that works for all of Scotland, policymakers need to look beyond individual proposals and passenger estimates.</p> <p>“Induced demand goes both ways” he explained. Expanding road networks while playing down opportunities for rail revival – often using pessimistic feasibility reports – is, in his view, producing missed opportunities while leading to spiralling expenditure which could have instead been used on infrastructure.</p> <p>“ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21990#post-385286 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:57:19 +0000 LaidBack 385286@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>National is doing a transport theme today. Links to follow. Even if you're not persuaded on self government, few other publications are going to look at it in any detail.<br /> <a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/26427715.scotlands-lost-rail-routes-key-future/" rel="nofollow">https://www.thenational.scot/news/26427715.scotlands-lost-rail-routes-key-future/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21990#post-385233 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:01:35 +0000 chdot 385233@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>ScotRail apology as passengers unable to book tickets in app launch chaos</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddjzgv3zl1o" rel="nofollow">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cddjzgv3zl1o</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21990#post-385227 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:47:31 +0000 Yodhrin 385227@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another little nugget of annoyance hidden right at the bottom of the last FAQ question: the new app doesn't save payment information unless you use Apple/Google Pay or Paypal, you have to manually enter your full card details every time you buy a ticket. They are planning to "enhance" this at some unspecified future time.</p> <p>Great work "improving the customer experience" there lads. I wonder which Scotrail execs' nephew's app company is getting funneled public money for this boondoggle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21990#post-385220 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:44:31 +0000 chdot 385220@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.scotrail.co.uk/digital-train-tickets/important-information-about-buying-tickets" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotrail.co.uk/digital-train-tickets/important-information-about-buying-tickets</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21990#post-385219 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:55:53 +0000 vladimpala 385219@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Now I have managed to reset my password I see bike reservations can be added once you have selected your journey and ticket type. Not as good as the old app, but better than the likes of the LNER app that don't offer the feature at all. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21990#post-385217 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:40:49 +0000 vladimpala 385217@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's a new ScotRail app in town. Had a play around with it this morning and, sadly it looks like a step backwards in it's current form.<br /> The search results no longer show which train have cycle spaces available, and they have also lost the "show earlier/later trains" facility.<br /> There might be a way to add a bike at a later stage, but I haven't been able to do the mandatory password reset yet. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250387 Wed, 17 May 2017 13:02:21 +0000 Ed1 250387@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When I went to Dundee last year, I avoided virgin as did not want to book, gladly in my opinion scot rail did not require any booking, not a fan of booking as encourages tourists frivolous trips at expense of commuters ( my trip was frivolous) , virgin a couple of pound less but seemed a lot more agro. I found no issue going to Dundee and avoided the bookable trains even though I think marginally cheaper and quicker.</p> <p>The price on scotrail was standard fixed prices its only on the long distance trains that use demand management pricing that really need to book on as have to take a set train on those so need to book or lose ticket. Last year the Dundee open return lasted a month I think and could use on any off peak train. The single and return fair had standard fixed journey prices not the variable prices that limit to one train. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250384 Wed, 17 May 2017 12:59:25 +0000 c30c60 250384@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh dear, there's more. Here's what Scotrail customer service has emailed:</p> <p>"I can confirm that we only require cycle reservations to be made on longer and infrequent routes. As the train between Edinburgh and Dundee is a frequent train service, it is therefore not possible to reserve a cycle space."</p> <p>Of course, when I book online I only know that the train goes to Dundee. I don't know whether it's an Ed-Abdn service and therefore is bike-bookable. This is where all the confusion arises, I think. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250379 Wed, 17 May 2017 12:31:59 +0000 chdot 250379@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Scotrail replied on Twitter that for Ed-Dundee it's "always best to book when possible"</p> <p>They do know that means 'but not on ScotRail'?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250365 Wed, 17 May 2017 11:45:08 +0000 c30c60 250365@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks to everybody who's contributed to this thread so far.</p> <p>For what it's worth - Scotrail replied on Twitter that for Ed-Dundee it's "always best to book when possible. Give our reservations team a call on 0344 811 0141". So booking not obligatory, but places not guaranteed when I need them.</p> <p>For those I know who habitually use a car, this won't convince them to put their bike on a train. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250353 Wed, 17 May 2017 10:56:13 +0000 chdot 250353@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"This might not appear if there aren't any spaces left."</p> <p>Ah... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250352 Wed, 17 May 2017 10:54:53 +0000 chdot 250352@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Used to have an option of bicycles under number of passengers."</p> <p>That's ridiculous, I mean progress. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250351 Wed, 17 May 2017 10:54:07 +0000 steveo 250351@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> I may have been missing something.</em></p> <p>No you're not. Used to have an option of bicycles under number of passengers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250348 Wed, 17 May 2017 10:52:08 +0000 Frenchy 250348@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I may have been missing something.</em></p> <p>When you select your ticket price and train, click "Buy Now". On the next page, you can click a tiny little button saying "bicycle space", which brings up the bike reservation option. This might not appear if there aren't any spaces left. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250346 Wed, 17 May 2017 10:44:52 +0000 chdot 250346@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I meant on trains with reservable spaces"</p> <p>I know you did, I'm not so sure about the person on the ScotRail phone.</p> <p>I had a look last night at the East Coast site and couldn't get a bike booking without logging in and paying for a ticket but I may have been missing something. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250344 Wed, 17 May 2017 10:39:06 +0000 steveo 250344@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Problem is, I don't think that is true - or possible.</em></p> <p>I meant on trains with reservable spaces, on the old platform you could book on VTWC from the old EC site or Scotrail trains but it looks like its changed. Sadly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250341 Wed, 17 May 2017 10:23:10 +0000 chdot 250341@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"But there's no way to get an overview of which services have bike spaces, every journey has to be checked individually."</p> <p>That would be nice/useful, but never happened before and seems more unlikely now -</p> <p>"East Coast used to use an older one which let you book bikes on any route but it apparently been upgraded."</p> <p>"Spoke to a friendly chap who says that Ed-Dundee bike spaces *should* be booked."</p> <p>Problem is, I don't think that is true - or possible.</p> <p>I hope to be corrected. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250333 Wed, 17 May 2017 09:37:54 +0000 steveo 250333@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looks like all the web operators have standardised on the same booking system. East Coast used to use an older one which let you book bikes on any route but it apparently been upgraded. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250332 Wed, 17 May 2017 09:31:30 +0000 c30c60 250332@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I called Scotrail. Spoke to a friendly chap who says that Ed-Dundee bike spaces *should* be booked. But there's no way to get an overview of which services have bike spaces, every journey has to be checked individually. </p> <p>He advises phoning Scotrail and asking them to help make bike bookings: 0344 811 0141 then press *2 then *1.</p> <p>UtrechtCyclist: your advice matches my previous experience. As I can't make a bike booking for the cheaper services anyway, I might as well buy the cheaper tickets and hope I can get the bike on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250321 Tue, 16 May 2017 23:08:50 +0000 chdot 250321@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Basically you can't book on ScotRail trains between EDB and DEE.</p> <p>You <em>should</em> be able to get on (see above).</p> <p>IF you want a guaranteed place, hope there is an East Coast train at a time you want. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250319 Tue, 16 May 2017 22:45:49 +0000 UtrechtCyclist 250319@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Also, once when I had advance tickets and I missed my train because I was late, I just got on the next one and told the guy that I couldn't get on my original train because the bike spaces were full. He was fine with this. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250317 Tue, 16 May 2017 22:41:17 +0000 UtrechtCyclist 250317@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Booking is possible, if a bit of a hassle. I did return this journey (well, I did Edinburgh - Leuchars) about 500 times between 2014 and 2016, always at the busiest times of day, and didn't ever book. I failed to get a space twice, both times on the way home. Once was when the forth road bridge was closed. If you are getting on at Dundee it really should be fine. I occasionally saw other people fail to get on, but it's extremely rare.</p> <p>If you are getting on at Waverley and arrive more than five minutes early you will get on for sure. If you are worried then arrive ten minutes early for each train, this will be less hassle than trying to deal with the scotrail people on the phone.</p> <p>Most conductors are very nice and will allow six bikes per train rather than four. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250315 Tue, 16 May 2017 22:12:59 +0000 Greenroofer 250315@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@DrAfternoon. I booked a bike space on the Scotrail website a couple of weeks ago. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250314 Tue, 16 May 2017 22:11:27 +0000 Frenchy 250314@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When you managed this previously, was it perhaps on an East Coast train? Fairly sure there are no bike reservations on "local" services. At least, this is what I was told when I asked about a bike reservation to Glasgow. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250313 Tue, 16 May 2017 22:03:09 +0000 c30c60 250313@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hi, thanks very much for your replies. </p> <p>I should have said that I have recently managed to book a bike on this route for another trip. But this time I've had no success at all - I've tried the seat booking thing, I've chosen some fairly unsociable hours to travel, and I even tried a different browser. </p> <p>For the past decade or so I've just turned up and assumed I'd get on, but now I'm trying to be organised and book tickets in advance. I'm concerned that if I can't get the bike on, I'll then have to pay the full ticket price for a later journey, which is pretty steep. </p> <p>Going to the station is a good idea. Or I'll try to phone Scotrail. Life was so much simpler in the old fare-dodging days! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250312 Tue, 16 May 2017 21:47:08 +0000 DrAfternoon 250312@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm fairly sure the Edinburgh to Dundee line doesn't do bookings. Most trains have four bike spaces and I've never had trouble just turning up and getting on, so long as it's a Scotrail train. </p> <p>For the Scotrail trains that do book (definitely includes Edinburgh to Inverness, and the west highland line from Glasgow to Oban, Fort William, Mallaig etc) you can book bikes from the Virgin East Coast (and possibly others) website. Scotrail annoyingly did away with online bike booking on their own site when Abelio took over. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17747#post-250310 Tue, 16 May 2017 21:44:12 +0000 Rosie 250310@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And it was round about 5:15pm when I asked the info chap... </p>