Yes, you can use your Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC for train travel, offering discounts or free travel depending on your circumstances. It provides reduced fares on ScotRail for disabled passengers, 1/3 off for 16-18 year olds, and free travel for blind cardholders.
Does the National Entitlement Card work on trains?
Your National Entitlement Card (NEC) can be used to store tickets for travel across multiple modes of transport and multiple transport operators. This means you can travel on rail and subway using your NEC smartcard rather than needing a separate smartcard or ticket for each operator.
Your card will give you free bus travel across Scotland, and also trams if your card was issued by the City of Edinburgh Council. If your card has a C+ symbol it allows a companion to travel free with you. People with visual impairments can get free train and cheaper ferry travel.
You can also pay as you go with contactless devices such as phones, watches, key fobs, stickers and wristbands that have been linked to a valid debit or credit card.
The card also entitles you to cheaper fares on First ScotRail trains and the Glasgow Subway. The disabled persons National Entitlement Card can be used at any time on the train/subway for travel within the Strathclyde region.
Using your National Entitlement Card (NEC) on the bus
Is a saltire card the same as a NEC card?
Yes, the Saltire Card is Scotland's National Entitlement Card (NEC), a smartcard that provides access to various national and local public services, most notably free bus travel for those over 60, people with disabilities, and under-22s, along with library and leisure access and discounts. It serves as a single card for different entitlements across Scotland, integrating travel, local services, and rewards.
Do you hold a Scottish National Entitlement Card valid for travel? Did the City of Edinburgh Council issue it? If the answer to both questions is yes, you can travel for free on Edinburgh Trams.
Generally, tapping in (contactless/Oyster) is cheaper than buying a single paper ticket because of daily/weekly price caps and being similar to an off-peak fare, but buying advance tickets or using railcards on paper tickets can sometimes be cheaper, especially for longer journeys or with discounts not applied to tap-to-pay. For regular commutes, a season ticket is usually best, while tap-in is easiest for occasional travel.
Weekly, Monthly and Annual Railpass season tickets are available from all staffed Merseyrail stations. Railpass tickets are now issued on a MetroCard. Using contactless validation technology you can then tap your MetroCard to go through the station ticket gates.
If you don't touch in and out, we can't tell where you've travelled from or to. This means your journey will be incomplete and you will be charged the maximum fare.
Remember that the NEC can be used as proof of age as well as proof of entitlement for many services and the card application verification is critical to many services.
If you are aged between 16 and 21 and have an active NEC, you can download your free bus travel using the Transport Scot Pass Collect app. Please note, any NECs that are dedicated matriculation cards aren't compatible with the app.
Your National Entitlement Card gives you free travel throughout Scotland on nearly all local registered and long-distance scheduled bus services. Only a few services such as premium-fare night buses, tours/excursions and group hire services do not accept the card.
When travelling on the train or subway you can simply show your concessionary National Entitlement Card to the conductor in order to get your discounted travel.
Yes, you can book train tickets with a free travel pass, but you must select the "Free Travel Pass" or "Concession" option during booking online or get a free ticket from the conductor/station, as the pass itself often requires a zero-fare ticket to validate your journey, especially on National Rail, buses, and local services in places like Ireland, UK, and Wales. The process involves choosing the correct passenger type on the booking site and may have time restrictions (like after 9:30 AM on weekdays).
A 33.3% discount is given on selected ticket types. A minimum fare of £1.00 single and £1.50 return applies. Fares are capped at £2.50 single and £4.00 return between stations within designated rural zones.
You can use a contactless card or device to pay as you go on National Rail, London Underground, DLR, London Buses and London tram services within London and at an increasing number of National Rail stations across the South East. Just turn up, touch in and go.
Built on EMV Chip Technology: Contactless cards use the same underlying security as chip cards, which are extremely difficult to counterfeit. The “tap” feature simply makes it faster and more convenient.
Please note if you are a concessionary bus pass or Saltire card (National Entitlement Card) holder, this does not grant you free travel on coach services, like National Express.
What happens if I ride the Edinburgh tram without a ticket?
If you have not tapped on, you will not be considered to have a valid ticket, and will automatically be charged the onboard fare of £10. This does not count towards your daily or weekly cap.
