ScotRail has officially launched its new mobile app and website, with thousands of commuters urged to sign up. The old booking system is retired from July 30, meaning Scots must use the new app to purchase tickets. The new system promises a "simpler, faster, and more reliable" experience, but the launch has already caused chaos due to glitches and technical problems.
Customers faced issues recovering accounts from the previous Trainline-powered platform, and one user reported paying for a ticket that never appeared in the app. ScotRail apologised on social media, stating: "We're sorry for the delay to anyone switching their ScotRail app today. We are working with our technical teams to clear this as quickly as possible and we apologise for the inconvenience. Customers who are having issues can continue to use the old ScotRail app to purchase tickets until midday."
How to Sign Up for the New ScotRail App
From midday on July 30, customers can no longer buy tickets from the old ScotRail Train Times and Tickets app. Travellers need to download the ScotRail: New Official App, available on the App Store and Google Play with a distinctive white and blue logo. Alternatively, users can access the new app by clicking the message that appears on the previous app.
To sign in for the first time, customers must use the 'forgotten password' option to create a new password. Once set, they can access their existing account. The new app shows three months of booking history, though ScotRail warns this includes limited details.
What Happens to Existing Tickets?
Tickets purchased before July 30 will not transfer to the new app but remain valid on the old ScotRail Train Times and Tickets app, where they can be used as normal. Customers should not delete the previous app if they have existing tickets. Other functionalities of the old app are disabled from today, but ticket access – including barcode tickets – remains until October 21, 2026. If the old app is accidentally deleted, it can be redownloaded for a limited time via Google Play or the App Store.
Payments in the New ScotRail App
Due to legal reasons, saved payment cards cannot be transferred to the new app. Customers using saved cards must enter their details each time they purchase a ticket until the app is 'enhanced'. However, PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay can still be used if enabled on the user's smartphone.
