We're having the same issues mentioned in the post below, which was from 2008 -- We'll be traveling at the end of August and were hoping to book our Glasgow-to-Arran (Ardrossan Harbour) R/T in advance, since it will be over a weekend.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...il-website.cfm

Has anyone had any luck with this or is it still not possible? (one of the replies in the 2008 post mentioned that Scotrail was "working on" enabling online bookings from outside the UK). If online is still a no-go, could we book by phone? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Only book if you get a discount otherwise there will be plenting of seats available once there - buy it at any Scottish rail station. Have you tried also www.nationalrail.co.uk and www.thetrainline.com the book - same fares but the latter has I think a 5 quid booking fee - that's booking but I do not think you get a reserved seat unless you pay extra for it - not sure but if you're worried about getting a seat it may matter.

You can use automatic ticketing machines at most Scottish stations.

I have no idea why the national rail site isn't working for you. I have recently booked 8 rail tickets with credit card, all are advance fares for pick up ( ticket machines) at London Kings Cross. I had no problems in booking.
I do think you can pick up tickets just prior to departing as I don't think you'll save with advanced purchase. Some routes are like this such as Edinburgh/ Glasgow.

Thanks so much - PalenQ, we did try thetrainline.com, but not the National Rail site, so we'll give the latter a go. We've purchased SNCF tickets from the States for numerous trips and have never had an issue, so this was a bit of a surprise. In reading through some of the many prior threads on Scotland travel, I'd gotten the impression that it's not a bad idea to book in advance for weekend trains in high season, just to make sure you get the times you want for touristy destinations like Arran?

FYI, the national rail site is for rail information only. They do not issue tickets but by selecting your dates and times will automatically connect you to the proper site for ticket purchase such as Scot Rail. BTW I have bought a number of tickets from Scot Rail via the national rail site with no problem. You do have the option of selecting tickets from a variety of issuers, but IME, the prices are always the same so usually no need to select a different distributor. I've not been charged a booking fee. If you have a specific time you want to travel then I'd probably purchase tickets in advance, otherwise you can get them before departure.

This train journey is only 45 minutes long (!) and there is no reason at all to book tickets in advance. Worse case scenario - though very unlikely at weekends - is that you might have to stand for some part of the journey.

If I had any concern at all about advance booking on this journey it would be directed more towards the CalMac ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick. Ferries on popular routes do fill up on summer weekends - especially if the weather is good or there is a special event on in Arran. As you will be a foot passenger, this is of lesser concern than if you had a vehicle but I might still contact CalMac for advice if I were you.

I agree with Gordon. For family reasons I travel Glasgow Central to Ardrossan Town Station (one stop before Harbour) every second Saturday throughout the year and I have never been unable to get a seat. Also, a good number of passengers get off at Paisley, the first stop out of Central (only 10 minutes of the journey time). There is no reserved seating on any of this route.

As Gordon suggests, most definately think about booking the ferry.

Thanks, all. Will do on the ferry booking.