ScotRail explained

ScotRail
Other Name:Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Rèile na h-Alba
Image Filename:File:43134 and 43148 at Pitlochry.jpg
Nameforarea:region
Regions:Scotland
Franchise:ScotRail
Parent Company:Scottish Rail Holdings
Start Year:1 April 2022
End Year:present
Predecessor:Abellio ScotRail
Abbr:SR

ScotRail Trains Limited, trading as ScotRail (Gaelic; 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.[1] It has been operating the ScotRail franchise as an operator of last resort since 1 April 2022.

History

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.[2] [3] [4]

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.[5] [6] [7] The move was welcomed by the ASLEF, RMT and TSSA unions.[8]

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."[9]

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."[10] 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.[11]

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.[12] [13] [14] ScotRail stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had prevented them from training an estimated 130 drivers.[15] On 1 June 2022, ASLEF announced that it had rejected an improved pay offer from ScotRail.[16]

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.[17] In June 2022, ASLEF recommended its members accept a revised offer.[18] 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.[19]

Services

ScotRail Trains took over all of the services operated by Abellio.[7], off-peak services delivered by ScotRail Monday to Friday are as follows:[20]

Central Belt

Argyle Line
Route Calling at
to 2
Dalmuir to 1
Dalmuir to Motherwell 1
1
Dalmuir to 1
Glasgow Central to 2
North Clyde Line
Route Calling at
to 2
to Airdrie 2
to 2
Cumbernauld, Falkirk, and Maryhill Lines
Route Calling at
to 1
Glasgow Queen Street to 1
Glasgow Queen Street to 2
Glasgow Queen Street to 2
Cathcart Circle Lines
Route Calling at
to 1
1
Glasgow Central to 2
Glasgow Central to Glasgow Central via Cathcart v.v.1
Paisley Canal Line
Route Calling at
to 2
Shotts Line
Route Calling at
to via 1
1 Bellshill, Shotts, West Calder, Livingston South, Haymarket
Inverclyde Line
Route Calling at
to 2
Glasgow Central to 2
Ayrshire Coast Line
Route Calling at
to 2
Glasgow Central to 1
Glasgow Central to 1
Glasgow South Western Line
Route Calling at
to 2
Glasgow Central to 1
Glasgow Central to 1
  • 1 train per day continues to (see below)
  • 1 train per day continues to (see below)
Glasgow Central to
Dumfries to Carlisle
Kilmarnock to Ayr 7
  • 2 trains per day begin at Glasgow Central (see above)
  • 3 trains per day extend to Girvan (see below)
  • 2 trains per day extend to (see below)
Ayr to Girvan
Ayr to Stranraer
Carstairs and North Berwick Lines
Route Calling at
to via
Edinburgh Waverley to ,,
Edinburgh Waverley to 1
Borders Railway
Route Calling at
to 2

Scotland National

West Highland Line
Route Calling at
to 6
  • Falls of Cruachan is only served between March and October.
  • 3 trains per day run linked to a Mallaig portion between Glasgow and Crianlarich, see below
Glasgow Queen Street to 3
  • Trains run linked to an Oban portion between Glasgow and Crianlarich, see above
Fort William to Mallaig 1
Dalmally to Oban 1
Croy & Dunblane Lines
Route Calling at
to 2
to 2
Fife Circle Line
Route Calling at
to 1
Edinburgh Waverley to 1
Edinburgh Waverley to 1
Edinburgh Waverley to 1
1
Glasgow - / Edinburgh - Aberdeen Lines
Route Calling at
to 1
to Aberdeen 1
Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee 1
Dundee to Arbroath 1
Highland Main Line
Route Calling at
to 5
to Inverness 5
Aberdeen–Inverness Line
Route Calling at
to 1
Aberdeen to Inverurie
Aberdeen to
Elgin to Inverness
Far North & Kyle of Lochalsh Lines
Route Calling at
Inverness to 1
Inverness to 1
Inverness to 1
Inverness to 1
Inverness to 4
  • Dunrobin Castle is only served between March and October.
Inverness to 4

Fleet

ScotRail operates a number of different electric and diesel train types in its fleet.[21]

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.[22] 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.[23]

FamilyClassImageTypeTop speedNumberCarriagesRoutes operatedBuiltNotes
mphkm/h
Inter7City
High Speed Train[24] [25] 43Diesel locomotive125200524/5Aberdeen-Inverness Line
Glasgow/Edinburgh to Aberdeen
Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness
  • 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 3Passenger carriage120
Diesel multiple units
Sprinter153 Super Sprinter[26] DMU7512051West Highland Line (Attached to 156s)19871988
156 Super Sprinter[27] 422Glasgow South Western Line
Maryhill Line
Shotts Line
West Highland Line		19871989
158 Express Sprinter9014540Aberdeen-Inverness Line
Borders Railway
Far North Line
Fife Circle Line
Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness
Kyle of Lochalsh line
Maryhill Line
Levenmouth rail link		19891992
Bombardier Turbostar170100161343Aberdeen-Inverness Line
Borders Railway
Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
Fife Circle Line
Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness
Maryhill Line
Levenmouth rail link		19992001
2003-05
Electric multiple units
BR Second Generation (Mark 3)318[28] EMU90145213North Clyde Line
Whifflet Line
Cumbernauld Line
Inverclyde Line
Paisley Canal Line
Argyle Line
Cathcart Circle Lines
Glasgow to Lanark via Motherwell		19851986
320/3[29] 221990
320/4[30] [31] 1001611219891990Converted from Class 321/4.
Alstom Coradia Juniper[32] 3349014540North Clyde Line
Argyle Line		19992002
Siemens Desiro[33] [34] 380100161223Ayrshire Coast Line
Paisley Canal Line
Inverclyde Line
Cathcart Circle Lines
North Berwick Line
Glasgow to Edinburgh via Shotts		20092011
164

Hitachi AT200[35] 385463Glasgow 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		20152019Operates under the brand eXpress.
244

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.[36] The £55million first phase, to electrify 104km (65miles) 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.[37] [38] Further phases will electrify the lines between Kinghorn, Thornton, Ladybank and Lochgelly.[39]

Stations

, ScotRail operates 355 stations in Scotland.[40] Not included are Prestwick International Airport station, owned and operated by the airport,[41] as well as both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central, which are managed by Network Rail. [42] ScotRail operates Lockerbie and 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.[43]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Who we are . Scottish Rail Holdings . Glasgow . 26 August 2022.
  2. News: 18 December 2019 . Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years early . https://web.archive.org/web/20191218202540/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-50841814 . 18 December 2019 . BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation . live.
  3. Abellio's ScotRail franchise to end early in 2022 . The Railway Magazine . Mortons Media Group . Horncastle . 1426 . January 2020 . 9 . 0033-8923.
  4. ScotRail franchise to end early . Rail Express . Mortons Media Group . Horncastle . 285 . February 2020 . 8 . 1362-234X.
  5. Web site: 2021-04-04 . ScotRail to move to Scottish Government ownership . https://web.archive.org/web/20210404182044/https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/scotrail-to-move-to-scottish-government-ownership/ . 4 April 2021 . Transport Scotland . live.
  6. Operator of Last Resort to take over ScotRail franchise . Rail Magazine . Bauer Consumer Media . Peterborough . 927 . 24 March 2021 . 11 . 0953-4563.
  7. ScotRail to be Nationalised . Rail Express . Mortons Media Group . Horncastle . 300 . May 2021 . 6 . 1362-234X.
  8. News: ScotRail: Rail Services to be Nationalised when Abellio Contract Ends . 18 March 2021 . S. . Hewitt . Rail Express . Mortons Media Group . Horncastle . 24 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220124105659/https://www.railexpress.co.uk/7692/scotrail-rail-services-to-be-nationalised-when-abellio-contract-ends/ . live.
  9. Web site: Scottish Government will take over ScotRail services on 1 April 2022 . Transport Scotland . 9 February 2022 . 9 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220209154657/https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/scottish-government-will-take-over-scotrail-services-on-1st-april/ . live.
  10. News: Scotland's train services nationalised from 1 April . 9 February 2022 . 9 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220209195058/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-60319922 . live . BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation.
  11. News: Smith . R. . 6 April 2022 . ScotRail launches recruitment drive for on-train hospitality stewards . RailAdvent . 5 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220705182007/https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2022/04/scotrail-launches-recruitment-drive-for-on-train-hospitality-stewards.html . live.
  12. News: 16 May 2022 . ScotRail train driver shortage triggers wave of cancellations . BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603192653/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-61457827 . 3 June 2022.
  13. News: Bussey . K. . 11 May 2022 . ScotRail strike threat: Train drivers to be balloted on industrial action . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517070959/https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/scotrail-strike-threat-drivers-to-be-balloted-on-industrial-action-3690260 . 17 May 2022 . The Scotsman . National World Publishing.
  14. News: Williams . Martin . 18 May 2022 . Summer of Scots rail strikes loom as 800 services are cancelled in a week in driver work-to-rule . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220530234152/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/20146248.summer-scots-rail-strikes-loom-800-scotrail-services-cancelled-week-driver-work-to-rule/ . 30 May 2022 . The Herald . Newsquest Media Group.
  15. News: 23 May 2022 . ScotRail: Why have hundreds of trains been cancelled? . BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220606082854/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-61553938 . 6 June 2022.
  16. Web site: ScotRail drivers union Aslef rejects improved pay offer and threatens strike ballot unless talks resume . Dalton . Alastair . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220602031217/https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/scotrail-drivers-union-aslef-rejects-improved-pay-offer-and-threatens-strike-ballot-3717700 . 2 June 2022 . The Scotsman . National World Publishing . 1 June 2022 . en.
  17. News: 19 May 2022 . Anger over 'devastating' cuts to ScotRail services . BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531123545/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-61504782 . 31 May 2022.
  18. News: 8 June 2022 . ScotRail agrees 5% pay deal with train drivers' union . BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation . https://web.archive.org/web/20220614045546/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-61737750 . 14 June 2022 . live.
  19. News: 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 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220603035222/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/transport/4335552/scotrail-cuts-stagecoach-highland-to-plug-scotrail-gap-on-far-north-line/ . 3 June 2022 . The Press and Journal . Aberdeen Journals.
  20. Web site: Timetables . ScotRail . 31 December 2023.
  21. Web site: Bike bonanza for ScotRail Customers . ScotRail . 13 April 2022 . 16 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220416102402/https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/news/bike-bonanza-scotrail-customers . live.
  22. News: Highland Explorer takes to the rails . Modern Railways . Key Publishing . Stamford . 26 July 2021 . 19 December 2022 . subscription.
  23. Web site: Travelling with a bike on our Highland Explorer (Class 153) trains . 22 September 2022 . ScotRail . 19 December 2022 . YouTube.
  24. News: 8 October 2014 . Abellio awarded ScotRail franchise . https://web.archive.org/web/20160405230829/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/abellio-awarded-scotrail-franchise.html . 5 April 2016 . Railway Gazette . DVV Media International . Sutton.
  25. Quality and more trains key to Abellio's SR franchise . Rail Magazine . Bauer Consumer Media . Peterborough . 760 . 29 October 2014 . 10.
  26. Web site: 23 October 2019 . Cycle carriages for Scotland's scenic railway . 18 December 2022 . ScotRail.
  27. Abellio takes over ScotRail . Today's Railways UK . Sheffield . Platform 5 Publishing . 162 . June 2015 . 12 . 1475-9713.
  28. Web site: Class 318 - Features and Facts . 18 December 2022 . Eversholt Rail Group . London.
  29. Book: Fox, P. . 1991 . Locomotives & Coaching Stock 1991 . Platform 5 Publishing . Sheffield . 250 . 978-1-872524-26-9.
  30. News: 21 December 2015 . Scotrail unveils £475m improvement plan . 18 December 2022 . BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation.
  31. Web site: 6 November 2017 . Welcome £8M contract boost for Kilmarnock rail firm and ScotRail passengers . 18 December 2022 . Transport Scotland.
  32. Web site: Class 334 - Features and Facts . 18 December 2022 . Eversholt Rail Group . London.
  33. News: 11 July 2008 . Scotland orders Desiro Fleet . https://web.archive.org/web/20120610004909/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/scotland-orders-desiro-fleet.html . 10 June 2012 . Railway Gazette International . DVV Media International . Sutton.
  34. Desiros unveiled ready for ScotRail services . Rail Magazine . Bauer Consumer Media . Peterborough . 648 . 14 July 2010.
  35. News: Shirres . D. . 3 April 2020 . Maintaining the 385s . 18 December 2022 . Rail Engineer . Rail Media Group . Coalville.
  36. Book: Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan . Transport Scotland . Glasgow . July 2020 . 19 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210919133307/https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/47906/rail-services-decarbonisation-action-plan.pdf . live . 978-1-911582-92-2.
  37. Web site: 2 Jun 2022 . Green light for £55m Scottish Government investment in decarbonisation . Transport Scotland . 2 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220602142549/https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/green-light-for-55m-scottish-government-investment-in-decarbonisation/ . live.
  38. Web site: 2 Jun 2022 . Piling work to get underway to electrify line to Fife . Network Rail . 11 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220611183543/https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/piling-work-to-get-underway-to-electrify-lines-to-fife . live.
  39. Web site: 1 Jun 2022 . Four phases of Fife Electrification . Network Rail . 10 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220610194651/https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/resources/four-phases-of-fife-electrification . live.
  40. Web site: Table 1410: Passenger entries, exits and interchanges by station (annual), Great Britain, April 2021 to March 2022 . ODS . November 2022 . Leese . D. . Office of Rail and Road . London . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325012224/https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1907/table-1410-passenger-entries-and-exits-and-interchanges-by-station.ods . 25 March 2023 . live.
  41. Web site: Form 17s: Application to the Office of Rail Regulation for a Station Access Contract under Section 17 of the Railways Act 1993 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141024131010/http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/1528/1stScotr-S17_apfrm.pdf . 24 October 2014 . Document 235824.01 . Office of Rail Regulation . London . April 2006.
  42. Web site: Our stations . https://web.archive.org/web/20140410040141/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/managed-stations/ . 10 April 2014 . Network Rail.
  43. Web site: Scotland's Railway opens £33million servicing depot . ScotRail . 10 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211210165016/https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/news/scotland%E2%80%99s-railway-opens-%C2%A333million-servicing-depot . live.

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