Edinburgh to Glasgow Train Ticket Cost 2026
ScotRail advance from £5. Every 15 minutes. 50m city-to-city.
A Edinburgh to Glasgow train costs from £5 on a ScotRail advance single, £14.40 on a fully flexible anytime single. The fastest direct journey takes 50m.
Single fares, verified June 2026. Full breakdown and saving tips below.
Edinburgh-Glasgow is Scotland's busiest intercity corridor and the most frequent service in the UK at every 15 minutes peak. ScotRail runs the route from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High, 50m direct on the fastest service. The route is electrified end-to-end since 2017.
Fares are heavily subsidised relative to English equivalents - a £5 advance single and a £16.80 all-day return for a 47-mile intercity journey between two capital cities is exceptional value. ScotRail scrapped peak fares permanently on 1 September 2025, so the same Anytime fare now applies all day, every day, with no morning-peak premium.
Edinburgh to Glasgow Train Prices
| Ticket Type | Single | Return | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScotRail Advance Single | from £5 | 2x singles | Direct via Falkirk High, 50m |
| ScotRail Anytime (all-day) | £14.40 | £16.80 | 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.
Saving Tips for Edinburgh to Glasgow
- The £16.80 Anytime day return applies all day since ScotRail scrapped peak fares - one of the cheapest intercity returns in the UK, with no need to wait for an off-peak time.
- 16-25 Railcard, Senior Railcard or Disabled Persons Railcard saves a third - the £16.80 return becomes £11.20.
- Children under 5 free, 5-15 half price - family of four all-day return: £16.80 + £16.80 + £8.40 + £8.40 = £50.40.
- Old Firm match days (Celtic-Rangers, especially Saturday lunchtime fixtures) drive heavy demand - reserve a seat ahead or use the slower indirect route via Carstairs.
Best Days to Travel
Train vs Driving vs Coach
Driving: 47 miles, £10-14 fuel, plus £8-15 Glasgow parking. The train is decisively faster (50m vs 1h15m+ driving) and cheaper. Coach: Citylink from £5, 1h20m - competitive on cost.