Edinburgh to Aberdeen Train Ticket Cost 2026
ScotRail advance from £12. 2h30m via Kirkcaldy and Dundee. LNER extends from London.
A Edinburgh to Aberdeen train costs from £12 on a ScotRail advance single, around £30 on a fully flexible anytime single. The fastest direct journey takes 2h 30m.
Single fares, verified June 2026. Full breakdown and saving tips below.
Edinburgh-Aberdeen is the eastern Scottish intercity corridor, served by ScotRail (the main domestic operator), CrossCountry (through services from the south of England) and LNER (continuing from London King's Cross). Combined, around 20 to 28 direct trains run each day, roughly one to two an hour through the day. The fastest services reach Aberdeen in about 2h20m; most take around 2h30m, calling at Kirkcaldy, Dundee, Arbroath and Stonehaven on the way north.
Fares are subsidised by Scottish Government transport policy. £12 advance singles for a 130-mile journey between two major Scottish cities is one of the best cost-per-mile fares in the UK. ScotRail scrapped peak fares permanently on 1 September 2025, so its walk-up Anytime fare now applies all day, priced at the former off-peak level.
Edinburgh to Aberdeen Train Prices
| Ticket Type | Single | Return | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScotRail Advance Single | from £12 | 2x singles | Direct, 2h30m |
| LNER Advance Single | from £18 | 2x singles | London-Aberdeen through |
| ScotRail Anytime (all-day) | around £30 | around £42 | Same fare all day - peak fares scrapped Sept 2025 |
Prices indicative singles based on operator-published fares, verified June 2026. Always check the live price on National Rail or the operator's own site before booking.
Operator Comparison
Saving Tips for Edinburgh to Aberdeen
- ScotRail at £12 advance beats LNER at £18 for Edinburgh-Aberdeen-only travel - use LNER only if you have a through London-Aberdeen ticket.
- ScotRail's all-day Anytime return (around £42) applies at any time since peak fares were scrapped in September 2025 - no need to travel after the morning peak.
- Senior or 16-25 Railcard saves a third - a £42 return becomes around £28.
- Family of four all-day return (using under-5 free and 5-15 half price): £42 + £42 + £21 + £21 = £126.
Best Days to Travel
Train vs Driving vs Coach
Driving: 125 miles, £25-35 fuel, plus £8-15 Aberdeen parking. The A90 is the only direct road, often busy. The train is faster, cheaper for solo travellers, and avoids the long drive.