SCOTRAIL'S fleet of inter-city trains is due to be overhauled after ministers announced procurement plans for new vehicles.
On Tuesday, Transport Scotland said the process to secure the new locomotives began, but cost and timescale for their delivery remains unknown, with a procurement notice due in the next few weeks and a “detailed timetable” to be announced when the contract is awarded.
In 2018 – when ScotRail was owned by Dutch company Abellio before being taken into public ownership – the current stock was introduced following a £54 million refurbishment of older trains.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop (below) said the procurement could facilitate a move from diesel to electric trains.
She said: “Resilient, reliable ScotRail services are key to encouraging more people to choose to travel by train rather than car, to cutting our transport emissions and to helping to move people around Scotland for work, leisure and learning.
“That is why we must build on our investment in Scotland’s railway infrastructure by investing in the services and trains which connect our key cities.
“Over four million passenger journeys were made on InterCity trains in the last year. We want to maintain and where possible, increase that number choosing to go by train between Scotland’s cities.
“We want to replace the current Intercity fleet with trains which provide more comfort and accessibility for passengers on these routes.
“This planned investment will ensure the reliability of our Intercity routes for the long-term, will reduce emissions from Intercity services and will support our efforts to decarbonise Scotland’s railways.”
Joanne Maguire, the managing director of ScotRail, said the announcement was “good news for customers” and “an important step for ScotRail as we work towards delivering a safe, green, and reliable railway”.
Train driver union Aslef heralded the announcement as a win for its members.
“The (high speed trains) are simply not fit for purpose in the 21st century – whether we’re talking about driver and passenger safety or their environmental footprint,” said Aslef’s Scotland organiser Kevin Lindsay.
“We are pleased that the Scottish Government has recognised the urgency of this issue and is taking action to replace these outdated trains.”
“We urge ScotRail to engage with our members throughout this process.
“Their input is crucial in making sure that the new fleet not only meets the needs of passengers but also ensures the highest standards of operational safety and efficiency.”
