Main Region(s): Scotland National Rail abbreviation: SR CEO Phil Verster (May 2015–) Founded 2015 | Stations operated: 354 Parent company: Abellio Parent organization Abellio Fleet size 295 (2016) | |
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Franchise(s): ScotRail
1 April 2015 - 31 March 2025 Other Region(s): Cumbria, Northumberland | ||
Abellio scotrail class 380s in action
Abellio ScotRail, operating services under the name ScotRail, is the national train operating company of Scotland. A subisidary of Abellio, it has operated the ScotRail franchise since 1 April 2015.
Contents
Ex first abellio scotrail class 158s in action
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. In October 2014, the franchise was awarded to Abellio. The franchise will operate for seven years with a three-year extension available contingent on performance criteria being met. Abellio began operating the franchise on 1 April 2015.
On 6 September 2015, Abellio ScotRail commenced operating services on the Borders Railway.
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. An agreement was reached in September 2016, bringing an end to the dispute. It was agreed that the new Class 385 trains will have the doors controlled by both the driver and guard, with the driver opening the doors and the guard closing them.
On 20 January 2017 the Managing Director of ScotRail and the ScotRail alliance stepped down from his role after 18 months in the company. Within a few days Alex Hynes was named as the new Managing Director.
Services
Abellio ScotRail took over all of the services operated by First ScotRail on 1 April 2015, except for the Caledonian Sleeper services, which were transferred to a separate franchise operated by Serco. 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 are also promoted by Abellio ScotRail.
Stations
Abellio ScotRail operates 354 stations in Scotland. Not included are Glasgow Prestwick Airport station, owned and operated by the airport, as well as both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central, which are managed by Network Rail. Abellio ScotRail operates Lockerbie even though none of its services call there. It also took over management of Dunbar, previously operated by Virgin Trains East Coast, in June 2015.
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:
Future
Abellio ScotRail has mentioned the following as part of the future rolling stock.
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.
Abellio ScotRail will also introduce nine 4-carriage and seventeen 5-carriage refurbished former Great Western Railway High Speed Trains by December 2018 on longer-distance services between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.
This new rolling stock will result in 10 Class 156, eight Class 158 and 21 (originally 34) Class 170s returning to their leasing companies. Five of the 156s, all the 158s and 16 of the 170s released will join Northern when their leases expires in 2018. Transport Scotland negotiated to retain an extra 13 Class 170s to support services through Fife to Aberdeen and the Borders railway.