Abellio ScotRail

Abellio ScotRail

A Class 380 at Musselburgh
Overview
Franchise(s):	ScotRail 1 April 2015 - 31 March 2025
Main Region(s):	Scotland
Other Region(s):	Cumbria, Northumberland
Fleet size:	295 (2016)
Stations operated:	346
National Rail abbreviation:	SR
Parent company:	Abellio
Website:	www.scotrail.co.uk

Abellio ScotRail,^[1] operating services under the name ScotRail, is the national train operating company of Scotland. Abellio,^[2] a subsidiary of Nederlandse Spoorwegen, has operated the ScotRail franchise since 1 April 2015.

History

In November 2013, Transport Scotland announced that Abellio, Arriva, FirstGroup, MTR Corporation and National Express had been shortlisted to bid for the new ScotRail franchise.^[3] In October 2014, the franchise was awarded to Abellio.^[4][5][6] The franchise will operate for seven years with a three-year extension available contingent on performance criteria being met.^[7] Abellio began operating the franchise on 1 April 2015.

On 6 September 2015, Abellio ScotRail commenced operating services on the Borders Railway.^[8]

In June 2016 the RMT union announced that train guards would be going in strike several times during the summer months in protest of more driver only trains.^[9] An agreement has been made in principle, following a meeting on 19 September 2016, bringing an end to the 3-month long dispute. It has been agreed that the new Class 385 trains will have the doors controlled by both the Driver and Guard meaning the Driver will open the doors and the Guard will close them.

Operations

Services

ScotRail routes highlighted in red

Abellio ScotRail took over all of the services operated by First ScotRail at 0200 on 1 April 2015, except for the Caledonian Sleeper services, which had been transferred to a separate franchise operated by Serco at 1400 the previous day.^[10] The franchise agreement requires the introduction of 'Great Scottish Scenic Railway' trains on the West Highland, Far North, Kyle, Borders Railway and Glasgow South Western lines. Steam special services will also be promoted by Abellio ScotRail.^[11]

Stations

Abellio ScotRail operates 355 stations in Scotland.^[12][13] Not included are Glasgow Prestwick Airport station, owned and operated by the airport,^[14] and Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central, managed by Network Rail.^[15] Abellio ScotRail operates Lockerbie even though none of its services call there. It took over management of Dunbar, previously operated by Virgin Trains East Coast, in June 2015.^[16]

Depots

Abellio ScotRail's fleet is maintained at Edinburgh Haymarket, Glasgow Eastfield, Glasgow Shields Road, Corkerhill and Inverness as well as a newly built stabling depot at Perth Friarton.

Rolling stock

Abellio ScotRail began operations with the rolling stock below, mainly transferred from First ScotRail:^[12][13]

Current

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 68		Diesel Locomotive	100	161	2	N/A	Fife Circle Line	2013-14
Mk2 Coach		Passenger Carriage	100	160	12	6		1973-75
156 Super Sprinter		DMU	75	120	48	2	Glasgow South Western Line, West Highland Line, Shotts Line, Maryhill Line, Cumbernauld Line	1987-89
158 Express Sprinter			90	145	48	2	Far North Line, Maryhill Line, Kyle of Lochalsh Line, Cumbernauld Line, Shotts Line, Fife Circle Line, Highland Main Line, Borders Railway, North Berwick Line (Occasional Saturday Services to Dunbar)	1989-92
Class 170 Turbostar			100	161	55	3	Croy Line, Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line, Glasgow to Aberdeen Line, Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line, Edinburgh to Dunblane Line, Fife Circle Line, Edinburgh Crossrail, Highland Main Line, Borders Railway, North Berwick Line (Saturday Services to Dunbar and a peak time North Berwick Service)	1998-2005
Class 314		EMU	75	121	16	3	Cathcart Circle Lines, Inverclyde Line, Paisley Canal Line.	1979
Class 318			90	145	21	3	North Clyde Line, Argyle Line, Whifflet Line	1986-87
Class 320			90	145	29[17]	3	North Clyde Line, Argyle Line, Whifflet Line	1990
Class 334 Juniper			90	145	40	3	North Clyde Line, Argyle Line	1999-2002
Class 380 Desiro			100	160	22	3	Ayrshire Coast Line, Inverclyde Line, North Berwick Line, Paisley Canal Line, Argyle Line, Cathcart Circle Line	2009-2011
					16	4

Future

Abellio ScotRail has mentioned the following as part of the future rolling stock.

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Into Service	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 385		EMU	100	161	46	3	24 by December 2017, a further 46 by December 2018 and an option for 10 in 2023. These new build trains will operate on the Edinburgh-Glasgow via Falkirk High line. They are also to be used on the Stirling-Alloa/Dunblane line, south Glasgow suburban routes and the Edinburgh to North Berwick/Dunbar Local services	2015-current
					24	4
Class 43		Diesel locomotive	125	201	54	N/A	December 2018 - On longer-distance services between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.	1975–82
Mark 3 Coach		Passenger coach	125	201	175	4 and 5

Abellio ScotRail will introduce a brand new fleet of 46 three car and 24 four car Class 385 electric trains from December 2017, to operate services on the lines being electrified as part of the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme, if it granted a three-year optional franchise extension, it will order a further 10 three car units.^[18][19]

Abellio ScotRail will also introduce 9 four-car (2+4) and 17 five-car (2+5) refurbished High Speed Trains by December 2018 on longer-distance services between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. Scotrail will receive the first locomotives and carriages late 2017, with the refurbishment program taking place at Brush Loughborough (power cars) and Wabtec Doncaster (carriages) between late 2017 and May 2019.

This new rolling stock will result in 10 Class 156, eight Class 158 and 21 (originally 34) Class 170s returning to their leasing companies.^[20] 5 of the 156s released, all the 158s released and 16 of the 170s released will join Northern when their lease expires in 2018.^[21] Transport Scotland has successfully negotiated a lease extension for 13 of their 170s meaning they'll be used to support services through Fife to Aberdeen and the Borders railway.^[22]

References

External links

Media related to Abellio ScotRail at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Abellio ScotRail franchise agreement