Highlands promised "bigger, better, faster" trains
The largest-ever train improvement programme to be carried out by The ScotRail Alliance was announced on Monday (December 21), promising better services and faster trains to and from the Highlands.
The package includes the pledge to deliver thousands of extra seats, new trains, improved accessibility and enhanced facilities such as at-seat power points and better wifi.
ScotRail will spend £475 million on the programme over the next seven years, with “75% of its train fleet either new or fully refurbished.”
Speaking as they unveiled a newly-refurbished Class 318 train at Milngavie station, Derek Mackay, Minister for Transport & Islands, and ScotRail Alliance managing director Phil Verster confirmed that during the next three years:
- 180 carriages will be added to the fleet – bringing the total to almost 1,000
- Two-thirds of current ScotRail trains will be refurbished by 2018
- More than 17,000 at-seat power points will be added to trains
- 346 more trains will be equipped with free wifi
- And seven Class 320 trains will be introduced in Scotland from early 2016.
Mr Verster said: “This is the biggest improvement programme in ScotRail’s history. Over the course of the next three years we will bring in new trains, upgrade our existing fleet and deliver exciting upgrades like better wifi and at-seat power points. This is an extraordinary programme of works that will give Scotland a railway of which we can be truly proud.
“I know that one of the biggest issues concerning our customers is busy trains. I hope, with the programme we are announcing today, people will see we are taking action. Alongside the massive projects we are currently delivering, this programme will bring more seats, shorter journey times and a rail service that is better for our environment.
“We are not just about running metal boxes up and down tracks. We want to connect people with jobs, business with customers and tourists with destinations. Our vision of Connecting Scotland is about using the railway to help our country to grow and prosper. The transformation of our fleet in the next few years will help deliver that."
Transport Minister, Derek Mackay, said: “The Scottish Government wants to see more people choose to leave their car at home and make use of public transport. That is why we are investing a record £5 billion in our rail network, including significant improvements to rolling stock, to ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with demand and that Scotland’s rail passengers are offered the very best value for money.
“When completed, this major train improvement programme will mean that 75% of trains on our railways are either brand new or newly refurbished, meaning all passengers across the network will have access to more modern, comfortable and accessible trains.”
All 21 of ScotRail’s Class 318s are being fully refurbished inside and out, with new accessible toilets, wheelchair spaces and companion seating. Further enhancements will also see power sockets fitted for the first time, with cycle storage, CCTV and free wifi to follow next year.
The first extra rolling stock that will be delivered on Scotland’s railways will be seven Class 320 trains, which will phased in from early 2016.
In addition 27 fully refurbished HSTs are being introduced onto inter-city routes during the second half of 2018.
ScotRail’s new High Speed Train fleet will be introduced from autumn 2017 and throughout 2018 and used on the Glasgow–Aberdeen, Edinburgh–Aberdeen, Glasgow–Inverness, Edinburgh–Inverness and Aberdeen–Inverness routes.
“As this fleet is made up of four and five-carriage trains, rather than current three-carriage trains, the seating capacity will increase on these services by, on average, 36%,” said Mr Mackay.
