2012

In a nutshell:

- Club 55 is available from Scotrail for anyone over 55. If you are not over 55 don't worry you will get there one day.

- It gives return travel, anywhere on the Scotrail network for £18.

- They open it for about 6 weeks at a time at what appears to be random times; but in fact are just outside peak times of year, summer holidays, christmas, easter etc.

- there is never notice that it is going to open except on their website- so before booking any rail travel check on Scotrail.co.uk

- You dont need to prebook, just go to a station and get a ticket. Standard class tickets are not subject to availability.

- You can prebook on the website and pick up the ticket at a manned station or at a ticket machine at a station. If you prebook then you have to say what the outward day of travel is.

- Returns are valid for one month from outward travel even if club 55 is closed when you return.

There is an option of first class travel for £5 extra but then the ticket has to be prebooked and is subject to availability. On busy trains it does make for a quieter journey and free coffee and biscuits are avaible from the trolley.

They change the detail regularly so check on the website 

To help understand when it is open here are previous times:

January 16th to end Feb 2011

May 22 to end June 2011

September 19th to November 30th 2011

Booking on the website is a bit difficult to navigate to so here is a get going guide:

 - the page is http://www.scotrail.co.uk/club55 

- browse the page but when you want tickets go to the very bottom of the page and click 'buy club 55 tickets'.

- you will get asked how you would have travelled if club 55 was not available- so you know you are on the right track.

- After this page don't be suckered into the 'plan your journey' box but choose the 'buy your club 55 tickets' link.

Everything else is very smooth after that.