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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 168 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Consumers often struggled with severe delays, unexpected cancellations, and freezing temperatures inside the carriages during long winter journeys. Passengers frequently mentioned overcrowded trains with insufficient seating, alongside excessively high ticket prices that feel completely unreasonable for the poor service provided. Some people were satisfied with the exceptionally helpful staff members who went above and beyond to assist travellers and ensure a truly pleasant journey. Travellers additionally noted that specific routes featured frequent daily connections, very friendly employees, and relatively competitive fares compared to alternative transport options.

What people talk about most

Service

Users describe negative interactions with service, highlighting widespread frustration and disappointment... See more

Staff

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about staff, reflecting deeply contrasting experiences across different... See more

Location

People report ambiguous experiences with location, noting various journeys between cities like Edinburgh,... See more

Price

Clients share negative opinions on price, consistently describing ticket costs as overpriced and... See more

Customer service

Customers had ambiguous experiences with customer_service. While many reviewers praised helpful helpline... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Capacity is atrocious. You know how many commuters are using your services yet consistently fail to provide sufficient carriages on main routes, whilst other times I practically get a carriage to my... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Arrived and boarded train at Waverley station in Edinburgh. After half an hour announcement to say to get off train as not going. No apology or explanation. Went back to concourse only to find an h... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

One week, two service cancellations. No apparent contingency plans when rail service is cancelled suddenly. This evening, 3/12/2025, all trains out of Glasgow heading to Ayrshire cancelled (signal fa... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Sunday service August Edinburgh festival there are shows going beyond 1030pm and the last train North of Inverkeithing is 1028hrs.Whats a disgrace.I think one of the worst rail networks i know.During... See more


2.0

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

1K reviews

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2.0

All reviews

(1,183)

157 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I bought a ticket on the app 10 minutes…

I bought a ticket on the app 10 minutes before my journey but didn't activate the ticket as I realised I needed a return. You cant get a refund through the app and if you phone the 'help' line it really is through the looking glass. I got through to someone who told me I can only get a refund if I'd claimed the day before ; so I would have to claim the refund before I bought to ticket!
Now 20 minutes into waiting to speak to someone and losing the will to live. So my advice is delete the app and get physical tickets as they are just not up to the job as others have said it seems designed to make you give up.

23 June 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Scotrail website poor

Scotrail website must have been designed in 1890 - not clear routes/ explanations - clunky, slow to repsond - really poor - even if I use nationalrail (preferred) it will then divert me to scotrail for payment - have been using italian train websites for last month - clear and easy - have your tried getting a refund from scotrail ? - everything is designed to make you give up -

18 June 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Pay your money and cross your fingers!

Purchased a Club 50 Railcard and paid the £15 on June 5th,told max 5 days delivery! 12 days later nothing,so I contact them and discover the card hasn't been processed but it's now been done! So you pay your money,you don't get what they offer and your only way of getting it is if you phone to complain! Absolute shambles!

17 June 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Rude staff

Rude staff, no customer service, they expect all passengers to be cheating and riding without a ticket. On a 22 minute train journey my ticket is checked 3 times. I've never ridden without a ticket, but they expect everyone to be cheating them.

9 June 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I forgot my keys

I forgot my keys, phone and friends. Police in the station found my phone, ended up finding a couple of friends. They where all so helpful❤️❤️❤️ thank you Scotrail

6 June 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I took last train from Glasgow Central…

I took last train from Glasgow Central to Gretna Green. Unfortunately the 9:10pm train from Glasgow only goes to Dumfries. I checked trainline and it shows the arrival of the Dumfries train was too late to catch a connecting train to Gretna. So i booked a taxi from Dumfries to Gretna which was going to cost me £50. The female conductor on my train informed me that a train waits in Dumfries for my train to arrive and that she will ring that trains female conductor to inform she had at that time 1 passenger for gretna. Hence i cancelled my taxi. I was so pleased. Conductors are so friendly and informative. It really helped me as i had, had a rough day. And they made my day end on a much nicer note. When i got on the Carlisle train i asked the conductor if the other lass had actually called her, and she said she had and it was something they do to help passengers as well as colleagues. For this i thank Scotrail for the training of their colleagues in excellent customer service.

4 June 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Edinburgh W to Newcastle

Was on the 20:06 hrs train from Edinburgh Waverly too Newcastle.

I boarded the train with my luggage and sat down in the completely empty First Class Carriage. Thinking this wouldnt be a problem.

After the inspector came around and scanned my ticket he instructed me to leave the first class lounge.

The way he looked at me was like i was absolutely not worth the time of day.

But i politey moved to the standard class. Immediately the heat hit me due to no air conditioning. I sat down and the inspector came past me again, i asked him if me and the other 3 passangers on the train could sit in the first class Carriage as it was soo warm he replyed " emm no your alright" and walked off shaking his head.
After he completed his run he went and sat in the first class lounge all to himself .

Very disappointing in the treatment.

1 June 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

We were getting ready to board the…

We were getting ready to board the train to Oban and all the passengers just flooded the platform and the doors weren't even open! We just had to stand there and wait for the driver to arrive which wasn't until the last couple of minutes which meant everyone pushing and shoving to get a seat. This is how accidents happen too. A health and safety nightmare! Coming back from Taynuilt, the train was packed. They never have enough carriages for the capacity needed. Noisy, cramped, stuffy and there seems to be no organisation or communication. The west highland line is the backbone of the Scottish tourist economy and you need to be doing a lot better. Pull your socks up ScotRail! This service needs a complete overhaul.

28 May 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Above and beyond

Travelling to dundee from stirling and returning 2 days later I required passenger assistance. Overall the service i recieve from all staff members was excellent and made it so much easier for me preventing stress. But I particularly want to commend the ticket operator on the 1307 to aberdeen from stirling on 26th may. A young woman got on with very young child in buggy. When ticket inspected she had got on wrong train having meant to be travelling to Dunblane but the 1st stop our train was Perth. The conductor seeing her panic reassured her and checked trains from Perth. He then saw a train left Perth for Dunblane 2 minutes after we arrived with the next train an hour later. He made a call and asked train to wait for this young woman. Although we arrived a couple of minutes late the young girl was able to run with pram cheered on by passengers and the other train was waiting for her. This was brilliant scotrail. Very well done .

26 May 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Train to nowhere.

Waiting for a refund for a cancelled train. After ignoring me for approx. 5 weeks, informed me today I could wait up to 14 days for my refund.
This train company is becoming an absolute joke, no wonder people will not give up their cars if this is the garbage service they are to expect.

24 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

First class rip off

They’re happy to charge first class prices without providing the same service that LNER provide at the same price. Absolute rip off. Shame on you Scotfail

16 May 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful and kind conductors Paula and Jason

My partner and I had a really wonderful experience with two conductors. The first conductor, Paula, on the train 9:30 AM train to Perth from Waverly on May 15, 2026. I had a ticket situation and she went above and beyond to help. Maybe she saw how nervous I looked, but I think she’s just a genuinely nice person. She sat with me and talked me through possible solutions and also spoke in a manner that was so kind. She’s fantastic. Thank you for speaking to me like a human being!

The second conductor was Jason on our change train to Inverness that departed from Perth at 11:16 AM on the same day. He understood my situation and without hesitation, kindly helped me too.

I’m very grateful to them both.

15 May 2026
Unprompted review

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