Edinburgh to Inverness Train Ticket Cost 2026
ScotRail advance from £18. 3h20m via the Highland Main Line through Perth and Aviemore.
A Edinburgh to Inverness train costs from £18 on a ScotRail advance single, around £40 on a fully flexible anytime single. The fastest direct journey takes 3h 20m.
Single fares, verified June 2026. Full breakdown and saving tips below.
Edinburgh-Inverness is one of the most scenic intercity rail routes in the UK, running 3h20m via the Highland Main Line through Perth, Pitlochry and Aviemore. ScotRail runs the main domestic service; LNER continues services from London King's Cross to Inverness.
The journey is a tourism draw in its own right - the Highland Main Line passes through the Cairngorms National Park. Advance fares from £18 for the 145-mile direct journey is good value, particularly given the scenic premium most operators charge. ScotRail scrapped peak fares permanently on 1 September 2025, so its walk-up Anytime fare now applies all day at the former off-peak level.
Edinburgh to Inverness Train Prices
| Ticket Type | Single | Return | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScotRail Advance Single | from £18 | 2x singles | Direct via Perth, 3h20m |
| LNER Advance Single | from £25 | 2x singles | London-Inverness through |
| ScotRail Anytime (all-day) | around £40 | around £56 | 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 Inverness
- ScotRail beats LNER on cost for Edinburgh-Inverness-only travel.
- ScotRail's all-day Anytime return (around £56) applies at any time since peak fares were scrapped in September 2025 - good value for the 145-mile scenic journey through the Cairngorms.
- The Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Inverness is an alternative for those continuing from London - around £55 seated, £200+ cabin.
- 16-25 or Senior Railcard saves a third - a £56 return becomes around £37.35.
Best Days to Travel
Train vs Driving vs Coach
Driving: 160 miles via A9, £35-45 fuel, plus parking. The A9 is single-carriageway for long stretches and journey time can exceed 4h. The train is faster and decisively safer.