Abellio ScotRail
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A Class 380 at Musselburgh | |
Overview | |
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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
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
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
- ↑ Companies House extract company no SC450732 Abellio ScotRail Limited
- ↑ "Abellio Group Head Office" Group corporate website, Abellio, Utrecht, Netherlands, Undate. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Scotrail franchise shortlist named" BBC News 1 November 2013
- ↑ "Dutch firms wins ScotRail franchise from FirstGroup" BBC News 8 October 2014
- ↑ "Abellio awarded ScotRail franchise" Railway Gazette (London) 8 October 2014
- ↑ "Abellio awarded contract to operate Scotland's National Railway, ScotRail" (Press release). Abellio. n.d.
- ↑ Tender conditions Transport Scotland
- ↑ Borders railway Transport Scotland
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-36532081
- ↑ "Serco wins franchise for Caledonian sleeper train service" BBC News 28 May 2014
- ↑ ScotRail Franchise Transport Scotland
- 1 2 Facts & Figures Abellio ScotRail
- 1 2 "ScotRail franchise facts & figures" Rail (Peterborough). Issue 759. Page 8. 15 October 2014.
- ↑ Station Access Application. Office of Rail Regulation.
- ↑ Our stations. Network Rail.
- ↑ ScotRail Franchise Invitation to Tender. Transport Scotland. 23 January 2014.
- ↑ BBC News. 14 March 2016 https://twitter.com/ScotRail/status/709390597040316417. Retrieved 18 March 2016. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - ↑ "Hitachi selected for Scottish EMU contract" International Railway Journal (London) 9 October 2014
- ↑ "Hitachi to build ScotRail EMUs". Railway Gazette (London). 10 October 2014.
- ↑ "Abellio takes over ScotRail" Today's Railways issue 162 June 2015 page 12
- ↑ http://www.transport.gov.scot/system/files/documents/tsc-basic-pages/Redacted%20Franchise%20Agreement%20-%20CU%20version.pdf
- ↑ http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2016/scotrail-rail-revolution
External links
Media related to Abellio ScotRail at Wikimedia Commons
Preceded by First ScotRail ScotRail franchise |
Operator of ScotRail franchise 2015 - 2025 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |