First ScotRail

This article is about the Scottish rail network operated by First Group since 2004. For the story Scotland's railway network since creation of the ScotRail name, see ScotRail.

ScotRail

Franchise(s):	ScotRail 17 October 2004–2014
Main Region(s):	Scotland
Other Region(s):	Cumbria Northumberland Newcastle upon Tyne
Fleet size:	309
Stations operated:	341
Passenger km 2007/8:	2503.8 million
Route km operated:	3032.0
National Rail abbreviation:	SR
Parent company:	First Group
Web site:	www.scotrail.co.uk

ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government. The service was initially operated as First ScotRail but was permanently rebranded ScotRail: Scotland's Railway in September 2008.

History

See also: ScotRail

The ScotRail brand was originally used for Regional Railways services provided in Scotland by British Rail. In 1997, after privatisation, the franchise was awarded to the National Express Group. On 17 October 2004, the franchise was transferred to First Group from National Express resulting in the rebranding from ScotRail to First ScotRail. This was the first time the franchise has been re-let since the privatisation of British Rail. The ScotRail Franchise is a devolved matter for the Scottish Government but the current Franchise was awarded by the Strategic Rail Authority as its agent.

2008 rebrand

First ScotRail logo (2004-2008)

In September 2008 the Scottish Government's agency Transport Scotland announced that all First ScotRail trains, including those operated by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, would be repainted in a new blue livery with white Saltire markings on the carriage ends. The services will rebranded with less emphasis on the "First" and will be marketed as "ScotRail: Scotland's Railway". The first unit to receive the new livery was 170434, unveiled at Glasgow Queen Street on 22 September 2008.

Network

The ScotRail network is a mixture of long-distance, commuter and rural lines, totalling 1,696 miles (2,729 km), handling 66.1 million passenger journeys in 2003-4.

Main lines

Express trains operate between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Dundee and Aberdeen. The Highland Main Line links Inverness to the south. Some stretches of main line, such as the Highland Main Line, are single track, and express trains must call at intermediate stations to permit trains coming in the opposite direction to pass.

The main lines of Scotland are:

• Ayrshire Coast Line
• Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
• Fife Circle Line
• Glasgow-Edinburgh via Carstairs Line
• Glasgow-Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
• Glasgow to Aberdeen Line
• Glasgow South Western Line
• Highland Main Line

Glasgow

See also: Transport in Glasgow

The densest part of the network is the suburban network around Glasgow, with 183 stations, the second-largest suburban rail network in the UK, after London. Much of it is 25 kV AC electrified. Glasgow’s main terminal stations are Central and Queen Street stations. ScotRail operate trains in this area under the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) brand. However, the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport no longer has any input into specifying rail services in the Glasgow area. DMUs and EMUs that are livered in the carmine and cream livery are being stripped of the Strathclyde logos. Lines in and around Glasgow are:

Argyle Line Ayrshire Coast Line Cathcart Circle Lines Croy Line Cumbernauld Line Inverclyde Line Maryhill Line

Motherwell to Cumbernauld Line North Clyde Line (now extended to Edinburgh) Paisley Canal Line Shotts Line Glasgow South Western Line Whifflet Line Glasgow Airport Rail Link (cancelled by Scottish Government)

The North Clyde Line is now linked to the Edinburgh-Bathgate Line (see Edinburgh, below) with the completion of the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link, creating a new direct link between Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also a proposal to create a new rail link across the city with the Crossrail Glasgow project.

Edinburgh

The Forth Bridge in 2004

See also: Transport in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s suburban network is less dense than Glasgow’s. Edinburgh’s main station is Waverley. The main railway line through the city centre runs in a cutting immediately below Edinburgh Castle. A secondary station is at Haymarket in the west of the city. Railway lines running north from Edinburgh to Fife and the Highlands cross the Firth of Forth via the Forth Bridge. Lines in and around Edinburgh are:

• Edinburgh-Bathgate Line (now incorporated into the North Clyde Line)
• Edinburgh Crossrail
• Edinburgh-Dunblane line
• North Berwick Line
• Shotts Line
• Waverley Line (under construction)
• Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line

The Edinburgh rail network is being expanded with the construction of the Waverley Line to the Borders, and the Edinburgh-Bathgate Line has been extended by the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link. A project to open a rail link to Edinburgh Airport was cancelled in September 2007 by the Scottish Government in favour of construction of a station at nearby Gogar which will connect with the Edinburgh tram network to take passengers to the terminal. A proposal to re-open the Edinburgh suburban railway line has been made by campaigning groups.

Rural lines

The West Highland Line at Rannoch station

A Class 170 Turbostar train in First ScotRail livery at Inverness

Rural lines include the scenic West Highland Line, Kyle Line and Far North Line. These lines carry more passengers, mostly tourists, during the summer months, but provide a valuable link and social service during the winter months.

Many rural lines are single track. Trains terminating at the coastal towns of Oban and Mallaig connect with the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services to certain islands including Skye and Mull.

Corrour railway station, an isolated stop on Rannoch Moor on the West Highland Line, featured as a location in the 1996 film Trainspotting.

The rural lines are:

• Aberdeen-Inverness Line
• Far North Line
• Kyle of Lochalsh Line
• West Highland Line

InterCity and Sleeper services

Main article: Caledonian Sleeper

ScotRail operates some services that venture south of the border: principally the Caledonian Sleeper to London Euston along the West Coast Main Line, and a twice-daily cross-country service between Newcastle upon Tyne and Stranraer via Carlisle and Kilmarnock.

Stations

The majority of Scotland’s 340 passenger stations are operated by ScotRail under Network Rail ownership. Glasgow Prestwick Airport station is owned and operated by the airport, Dunbar is operated by East Coast, and Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central by Network Rail itself. ScotRail operates Lockerbie railway station but none of its services call there.

Rolling stock

Current fleet

A Class 156 Sprinter train in the old National Express ScotRail livery at Oban

The diesel fleet comprises a mixture of Class 156 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter units inherited from British Rail, and Class 170 Turbostar sets acquired post-privatisation. Eight Class 158s have been acquired from Northern Rail to bolster the Scotrail fleet.

The electric fleet includes Class 314, Class 318, Class 320, Class 334 Juniper and Class 380 units.

The Scotland-Euston overnight services comprise ex-InterCity Mark 2 and Mark 3 sleeper coaches, hauled by DB Schenker locomotives. In 2006, ScotRail came to an agreement with DB Schenker to use a small dedicated fleet of Class 90 locomotives between London and Edinburgh/Glasgow. This fleet is painted in ScotRail livery with a small DB Schenker logo beneath the cab.

During 2005, the Edinburgh-North Berwick line services were operated by EWS Class 90 electric locomotives with former Virgin Trains Mark 3 coaches. In late 2005, Class 322 units were reintroduced onto the line. These units were all refurbished and repainted into the First ScotRail livery.

The previous operator of the Scottish franchise (National Express - ScotRail) used Class 101 diesel units and Class 303 electric units, but these had all been withdrawn prior to First ScotRail taking over the franchise.

ScotRail has also operated Class 150 diesel units, but these have transferred to other operators following deliveries of new trains.

Following the new timetable, ScotRail has been running a DB Schenker Class 67 along with their Mk2 carriages on the Fife Circle on the most intense services allowing Class 158s and 170s to work elsewhere.

In July 2008, Transport Scotland funded the acquisition of 38 Class 380 Siemens Desiro EMUs, to enter service from late 2010. These trains operate Ayrshire and Inverclyde services, adding extra capacity and allowed the cascade of existing stock to the new Glasgow to Edinburgh services via the reopened Airdrie to Bathgate line. The first two units (380 001 & 380 102) entered service on the 15:30 Glasgow to Ayr service on 9 December 2010, with four units in service by the end of 2010.

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 67		Diesel locomotive	125	200	Hired from English Welsh and Scottish Railway / DB Schenker Rail (UK)	Fife Circle Line Caledonian Sleeper	1999–2000
Class 90		Electric locomotive	110	177	Hired from EWS / DB Schenker	Caledonian Sleeper	1987–1990
Class 156 Super Sprinter		Diesel multiple unit	75	120	48	West Highland Line Glasgow South Western Line Paisley Canal Line Whifflet Line Shotts Line Croy Line Edinburgh Crossrail Maryhill Line Cumbernauld Line	1987–1989
Class 158 Express Sprinter		Diesel multiple unit	90	145	46	Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line Highland Main Line Croy Line Aberdeen to Inverness Line Kyle of Lochalsh Line Far North Line Edinburgh Crossrail Whifflet Line Edinburgh to Dunblane Line Fife Circle Line Shotts Line Maryhill Line Cumbernauld Line	1989–1992
Class 170 Turbostar		Diesel multiple unit	100	161	59	Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line Highland Main Line Fife Circle Line Edinburgh Crossrail Edinburgh to Dunblane Line Croy Line Maryhill Line Cumbernauld Line Tay Coast Line	1998–2005
Class 314		Electric multiple unit	75	121	16	Cathcart Circle Lines Inverclyde Line	1979
Class 318		Electric multiple unit	90	145	21	Argyle Line North Clyde Line	1986-1987
Class 320		Electric multiple unit	75	121	22	North Clyde Line Argyle Line	1990
Class 334 Juniper		Electric multiple unit	90	145	40	North Clyde Line Argyle Line	1999–2002
Class 380 Desiro		Electric multiple unit	100	160	22 (3-car) 16 (4-car)	Ayrshire Coast Line Inverclyde Line Glasgow to Edinburgh via Carstairs Line North Berwick Line	2009-2011
Mark 2 coach		Passenger coach	100	160	22	Caledonian Sleeper Fife Circle Line	1969–1974
Mark 3 coach		Passenger coach	125	200	53	Caledonian Sleeper	1975–1988
		Sleeper coach

Past fleet

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Quantity	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 322		Electric multiple unit	100	160	5	Glasgow to Edinburgh via Carstairs Line North Berwick Line	1990

Performance

Performance figures for National Express’s last quarter as franchise holder, July to September 2004, were:

Period	% trains arriving within 5 mins of scheduled time	Change
1Jul - Sep 2004	82.8%	2Down 4.2% on the same quarter the previous year
1Jul - Sep 2004	84.2%	1Down 1.0% on the previous year as a whole

Performance figures for First Group’s first quarter as franchise holder, October to December 2004, were:

Period	% trains arriving within 5 mins of scheduled time	Change
1Oct - Dec 2004	79.8%	2Down 1.9% on the same quarter the previous year
1Oct - Dec 2004	83.7%	1Down 0.5% on the previous year as a whole

First Group started operating the franchise on 17 October 2004.

The performance figures released by the Office for Rail Regulation (ORR) are as follows:

Period	% trains arriving within 5 mins of scheduled time (over three months)	Change over same quarter the previous year	% trains arriving within 5 mins of scheduled time Moving Annual Average (MAA)	Change over previous year as a whole
01Apr - Jun 2007	91.4%	2Up 0.8%	89.0%	2Up 0.2%
02Jul - Sep 2007	93.0%	2Up 2.2%	89.6%	2Up 0.7%
03Oct - Dec 2007	87.3%	2Up 2.8%	90.1%	2Up 0.6%
04Jan - Mar 2008	90.5%	2Up 2.0%	90.6%	2Up 0.6%
05Apr - Jun 2008	93.6%	2Up 2.4%	91.1%	2Up 0.6%
06Jul - Sep 2008	92.8%	2Down 0.2%	91.0%	2Up 0.4%
07Oct - Dec 2008	86.5%	2Down 0.9%	90.9%	2Up 0.3%
08Jan - Mar 2009	89.6%	2Down 1.0%>	90.6%	2Down 0.3%
09Apr - Jun 2009	93.0%	2Down 0.6%	90.5%	2Down 0.1%
10Jul - Sep 2009	93.5%	2Up 0.9%	90.7%	2Up 0.2%
11Oct - Dec 2009	86.7%	2Up 0.2%	90.7%	2Unchanged
12Jan - Mar 2010	89.5%	2Down 0.1%	90.7%	2Unchanged
13Jul - Sep 2010	94.5%	2Up 1.1%	91.4%	2Up 0.8%
14Oct - Dec 2010	78.4%	2Down 9.6%	92.9%	2Up 2.4%
14Jan - Mar 2011	89.1%	2Down 0.0%	90.1%	2Down 0.0%

Note:

• The percentage change figures are not the actual increases in % but the percentage increase in the % value.
• These values are very similar to the sector performance level.

Controversy

In June 2009 a report by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport revealed passenger figures from ScotRail contain 7.2 million more passenger journeys than were actually made. Transport Scotland said this gross overestimate did not affect the decision to extend the franchise. (The franchise having been extended under controversial conditions in 2008.)

See also

• Transport in Scotland
• Transport in Edinburgh
• Transport in Glasgow
• Category:Transport in Scotland by council area
• Caledonian Sleeper
• Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
• Transport Initiatives Edinburgh
• Glasgow Subway
• Transport Scotland (government agency)
• List of railway lines in Great Britain

References

• Scottish Government. Scottish Transport Statistics No. 24: 2005 Edition. Accessed on October 2, 2005.
• Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Changes to the regulation of Scotland's railways. Accessed on October 2, 2005.
• RailBritain.com. First ScotRail fleet size as of December 2004. Accessed on October 2, 2005.

External links

• ScotRail: Scotland's Railway
• ScotRail network map
• Map of Glasgow & Edinburgh rail network (National Rail)
• First ScotRail Recruitment Website
• ScotRail reports - the Scotsman
• Friends of the Far North Line Website - Friends of the Far North Line

Preceded by ScotRail (National Express)

Operator of ScotRail franchise 2004 — present

Incumbent