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ScotRail

Rèile na h-Alba
Two ScotRail Class 43 (HST) Inter7City trains at Pitlochry
Overview
Franchise(s)	ScotRail
Main region(s)	Scotland
Parent company	Scottish Rail Holdings
Reporting mark	SR
Dates of operation	1 April 2022–present
Predecessor	Abellio ScotRail
Other
Website	www.scotrail.co.uk
Route map

ScotRail Trains Limited, trading as ScotRail (Scottish Gaelic: Rèile na h-Alba), is a Scottish train operating company that is publicly owned by Scottish Rail Holdings on behalf of the Scottish Government. It has been operating the ScotRail franchise as an operator of last resort since 1 April 2022.

History

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (December 2024)

The ScotRail network had since 2015 been operated by the private-sector franchisee Abellio ScotRail. In December 2019, Transport Scotland announced Abellio had not met the performance criteria necessary to have its seven-year franchise extended for a further three years, and the franchise would conclude on 31 March 2022.

In March 2021, Transport Scotland announced that the franchise would not be re-tendered for another private-sector operator to run, but would be operated by an operator of last resort owned by the Scottish Government. The move was welcomed by the ASLEF, RMT and TSSA unions.

The then Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth, confirmed in February 2022 that ScotRail services would return to public ownership. She invited key stakeholders to take part in a discussion on the future of the service, saying "I can confirm that the transition of ScotRail into Scottish Government control will take place on 1 April 2022. Whilst that’s good news, it’s clear that much work still needs to be done... I want to kick-start a National Conversation about what our new beginning for ScotRail should look like - an affordable, sustainable, customer focused rail passenger service in Scotland in a post pandemic world."

The Scottish Conservatives Transport Spokesman, Graham Simpson, criticised the planned consultation, saying that it "should be about lower fares, restoring services and stopping cuts to ticket offices - measures that will encourage people to use public transport." The Scottish Liberal Democrats added that discussions should have started two years earlier, when nationalisation was decided.

On 4 April 2022, on-board catering started to be reintroduced on ScotRail services. It had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May 2022, ASLEF balloted its members for strike action, with drivers refusing to work overtime. In May 2022, many Sunday services were cancelled due to driver shortages. ScotRail stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had prevented them from training an estimated 130 drivers. On 1 June 2022, ASLEF announced that it had rejected an improved pay offer from ScotRail.

A temporary timetable was brought in on 23 May 2022. The number of daily services was cut by around one-third, from approximately 2,150 to 1,456. Many early morning and late night services were cancelled. In June 2022, ASLEF recommended its members accept a revised offer. Services between Wick and Inverness on the Far North Line were cut from four trains each way per day to two. Stagecoach Highlands are expected to introduce an additional bus service on the route starting 6 June 2022.

Services

ScotRail Trains took over all of the services operated by Abellio. As of June 2024, off-peak services delivered by ScotRail Monday to Friday are as follows:

Central Belt

Scotland National

1. ^ Request stop

Fleet

ScotRail operates a number of different electric and diesel train types in its fleet.

In 2021, ScotRail's predecessor introduced five newly refurbished Class 153 carriages, which are attached to two-car Class 156 units. These new carriages, named "Highland Explorer" feature a 50:50 split between seating and bicycle racks. The new carriage, which carries a £10 supplement to the regular ticket price, includes complimentary refreshments, cycling-themed interior decorations and external vinyl wrap, and maps for cyclists planning to explore Western Scotland by bicycle.

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes operated	Built	Notes
				mph	km/h
Inter7City
High Speed Train	43		Diesel locomotive	125	200	52	4/5	Aberdeen-Inverness Line Glasgow/Edinburgh to Aberdeen Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness	1975–1982	Operates under the brand Inter7City. Fleet consists of 9 four-coach and 17 five-coach trains. 1 four coach train damaged in the Stonehaven derailment.
	Mark 3		Passenger carriage			120
Diesel multiple units
Sprinter	153 Super Sprinter		DMU	75	120	5	1	West Highland Line (Attached to 156s)	1987–1988
	156 Super Sprinter					42	2	Glasgow South Western Line Maryhill Line Shotts Line West Highland Line	1987–1989
	158 Express Sprinter			90	145	40		Aberdeen-Inverness Line Borders Railway Far North Line Fife Circle Line Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness Kyle of Lochalsh line Maryhill Line Levenmouth rail link	1989–1992
Bombardier Turbostar	170			100	161	34	3	Aberdeen-Inverness Line Borders Railway Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line Fife Circle Line Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness Maryhill Line Levenmouth rail link	1999–2001 2003-05
Electric multiple units
BR Second Generation (Mark 3)	318		EMU	90	145	21	3	North Clyde Line Whifflet Line Cumbernauld Line Inverclyde Line Paisley Canal Line Argyle Line Cathcart Circle Lines Glasgow to Lanark via Motherwell	1985–1986
	320/3					22			1990
	320/4			100	161	12			1989–1990	Converted from Class 321/4.
Alstom Coradia Juniper	334			90	145	40		North Clyde Line Argyle Line	1999–2002
Siemens Desiro	380			100	161	22	3	Ayrshire Coast Line Paisley Canal Line Inverclyde Line Cathcart Circle Lines North Berwick Line Glasgow to Edinburgh via Shotts	2009–2011
						16	4
Hitachi AT200	385					46	3	Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line Glasgow/Edinburgh to North Berwick/Dunbar Glasgow/Edinburgh to Dunblane and Alloa Glasgow-Cathcart Circle/Neilston/Newton Cumbernauld Line Glasgow to Edinburgh via Motherwell and Carstairs Glasgow to Lanark via Motherwell Glasgow to Edinburgh via Shotts Inverclyde Line Argyle Line	2015–2019	Operates under the brand eXpress.
						24	4

Electrification

Transport Scotland has a plan to implement the Scottish Government's policy to "decarbonise domestic passenger rail services", part of which involves replacing all diesel trains by 2035. The £55 million first phase, to electrify 104 km (65 mi) of Fife Circle track, between Haymarket and Dalmeny, for use by battery electric multiple units, was begun by Scottish Powerlines in June 2022 and is due to be completed by December 2024. Further phases will electrify the lines between Kinghorn, Thornton, Ladybank and Lochgelly.

Stations

As of March 2022, ScotRail operates 355 stations in Scotland. Not included are Prestwick International Airport station, owned and operated by the airport, as well as both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central, which are managed by Network Rail. ScotRail operates Lockerbie and Reston even though no ScotRail services currently call at either station.

Depots

ScotRail's fleet is maintained at Edinburgh Haymarket, Glasgow Eastfield, Glasgow Shields Road, Corkerhill Glasgow, Yoker, Ayr Townhead, Bathgate, and Inverness, as well as a newly built EMU stabling depot at Millerhill in Midlothian and a rebuilt depot at Cadder Yard.

Notes

1. In precise terms only the high-level portion of Glasgow Central is managed by Network Rail, with ScotRail operating the low-level portion, but the distinction is not commonly noted.

References

1. "Who we are". Glasgow: Scottish Rail Holdings. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
2. "Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years early". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019.
3. "Abellio's ScotRail franchise to end early in 2022". The Railway Magazine. No. 1426. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. January 2020. p. 9. ISSN 0033-8923.
4. "ScotRail franchise to end early". Rail Express. No. 285. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. February 2020. p. 8. ISSN 1362-234X.
5. "ScotRail to move to Scottish Government ownership". Transport Scotland. 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021.
6. "Operator of Last Resort to take over ScotRail franchise". Rail Magazine. No. 927. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 24 March 2021. p. 11. ISSN 0953-4563.
7. ^ "ScotRail to be Nationalised". Rail Express. No. 300. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. May 2021. p. 6. ISSN 1362-234X.
8. Hewitt, S. (18 March 2021). "ScotRail: Rail Services to be Nationalised when Abellio Contract Ends". Rail Express. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022.
9. "Scottish Government will take over ScotRail services on 1 April 2022". Transport Scotland. 9 February 2022. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022.
10. ^ "Scotland's train services nationalised from 1 April". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 February 2022. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022.
11. Smith, R. (6 April 2022). "ScotRail launches recruitment drive for on-train hospitality stewards". RailAdvent. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022.
12. "ScotRail train driver shortage triggers wave of cancellations". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022.
13. Bussey, K. (11 May 2022). "ScotRail strike threat: Train drivers to be balloted on industrial action". The Scotsman. National World Publishing. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022.
14. Williams, Martin (18 May 2022). "Summer of Scots rail strikes loom as 800 services are cancelled in a week in driver work-to-rule". The Herald. Newsquest Media Group. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022.
15. "ScotRail: Why have hundreds of trains been cancelled?". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022.
16. Dalton, Alastair (1 June 2022). "ScotRail drivers union Aslef rejects improved pay offer and threatens strike ballot unless talks resume". The Scotsman. National World Publishing. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022.
17. "Anger over 'devastating' cuts to ScotRail services". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022.
18. "ScotRail agrees 5% pay deal with train drivers' union". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022.
19. MacAllister, Donna (27 May 2022). "Just two train services a day to cover 5,705 sq miles: Stagecoach puts on lifeline bus service after ScotRail cuts". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022.
20. "Timetables". ScotRail. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
21. "Bike bonanza for ScotRail Customers". ScotRail. 13 April 2022. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022.
22. ^ "Highland Explorer takes to the rails". Modern Railways. Stamford: Key Publishing. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
23. "Travelling with a bike on our Highland Explorer (Class 153) trains". ScotRail. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via YouTube.
24. "Abellio awarded ScotRail franchise". Railway Gazette. Sutton: DVV Media International. 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016.
25. "Quality and more trains key to Abellio's SR franchise". Rail Magazine. No. 760. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 29 October 2014. p. 10.
26. "Cycle carriages for Scotland's scenic railway". ScotRail. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
27. "Abellio takes over ScotRail". Today's Railways UK. No. 162. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. June 2015. p. 12. ISSN 1475-9713.
28. "Class 318 - Features and Facts". Eversholt Rail Group. London. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
29. Fox, P. (1991). Locomotives & Coaching Stock 1991. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. p. 250. ISBN 978-1-872524-26-9.
30. "Scotrail unveils £475m improvement plan". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
31. "Welcome £8M contract boost for Kilmarnock rail firm and ScotRail passengers". Transport Scotland. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
32. "Class 334 - Features and Facts". London: Eversholt Rail Group. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
33. "Scotland orders Desiro Fleet". Railway Gazette International. Sutton: DVV Media International. 11 July 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012.
34. "Desiros unveiled ready for ScotRail services". Rail Magazine. No. 648. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 14 July 2010.
35. Shirres, D. (3 April 2020). "Maintaining the 385s". Rail Engineer. Coalville: Rail Media Group. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
36. Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan (PDF). Glasgow: Transport Scotland. July 2020. ISBN 978-1-911582-92-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 September 2021.
37. "Green light for £55m Scottish Government investment in decarbonisation". Transport Scotland. 2 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022.
38. "Piling work to get underway to electrify line to Fife". Network Rail. 2 June 2022. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022.
39. "Four phases of Fife Electrification". Network Rail. 1 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022.
40. Leese, D. (November 2022). "Table 1410: Passenger entries, exits and interchanges by station (annual), Great Britain, April 2021 to March 2022" (ODS). London: Office of Rail and Road. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023.
41. "Form 17s: Application to the Office of Rail Regulation for a Station Access Contract under Section 17 of the Railways Act 1993" (PDF). London: Office of Rail Regulation. April 2006. Document 235824.01. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014.
42. ^ "ScotRail Franchise – Invitation to Tender" (PDF). Transport Scotland. February 2014. p. 48 (in work p. 52). B/4855286/45. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2014.
43. "Our stations". Network Rail. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014.
44. "Scotland's Railway opens £33million servicing depot". ScotRail. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021.

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