News - Scotrail
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Customers using Scotland's Railway are continuing to benefit from a recent strong performance in the number of trains running on time across the network.
New figures released today show that 93.2 per cent of trains met the rail industry standard public performance measure (PPM) in period ten (13 December to 9 January). The PPM statistics for the last two periods are the highest since records began in 2000. (Permalink) ScotRail |
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ScotRail will reduce the number of carriages on some services from Monday (18 January) as the train operator continues to provide a critical service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The revised lockdown restrictions announced by the Scottish Government this week have had a further impact on the number of people travelling, and fewer seats are needed to continue running a safe and reliable service. (Permalink) COVID-19 ScotRail |
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ScotRail is set to launch an online video which will show the drivers view of some of Scotlands most breath-taking scenery.
(Permalink) ScotRail West Highland Line West Highland Railway |
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Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to nationalise Scotland's rail services in a joint letter signed by acoalition of organisations and MSPs.
(Permalink) COVID-19 Nationalisation ScotRail |
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ScotRail is reminding customers to check their journey before travelling to see which services are affected from Sunday.
(Permalink) ScotRail Timetabling |
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ScotRail's much-loved fleet of Class 380 electric trains is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.
Over the last 10 years there have been almost 125 million passenger journeys on the 38 trains which have clocked up nearly 50 million miles from Ayrshire to Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Lothian and beyond. So, its little wonder ScotRail decided the Class 380s deserved a makeover. The transformation of the 130 carriages includes new seat upholstery, a paint refresh, the installation of new flooring, and general repairs to tables, bins and handrails. (Permalink) Class 380 ScotRail  Glasgow Central: The Class 380 mock up on display at Glasgow Central Station in May 2009, in what was then then short stay car park. This later became the renumbered platforms 12 and 13.  Drem: A six-car Class 380 pulls into Drem where it will fill the westbound platform. Note the unusual platform lighting: heritage-style Sugg Rochester lanterns on brackets presumably designed to keep clear of the cat's cradle of overhead live-lines, earths and support wires at this location.  Glasgow Central: 380001 stands at Platform 15 and is the rear unit of the terminated 0742 Largs - Glasgow Central. Although now being used in service, the Class 380 continues to have teething problems and the class is not yet ready for full operation as hoped. |
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Christmas is coming early this year for Scottish students, thanks to a massive 50 per cent discount on tickets from Scotlands Railway.
University students will be able to take advantage of half price travel on any off-peak ScotRail service until 24 December. And, the train operator is getting into the festive spirit even more by simplifying the process of buying the tickets. All a student needs to do is turn up at a staffed ticket office with their ID, jump on board and head home to their loved ones. (Permalink) Christmas ScotRail |
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Scotland's railway has been a success story in recent years, with substantial investment in electrification, infrastructure enhancements and new fleets.
(Permalink) Electrification ScotRail |
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ScotRail has recognised community rail's unsung heroes at its annual ScotRail in the Community Awards.
The awards thank and celebrate the hard-working volunteers across Scotland's Railway, recognising their contribution to the wider local community and railway. Categories up for grabs this year included Adopt a Station of the Year, Community Involvement Champion, Station Adopter of the Year, Community Volunteer of the Year and Outstanding Contribution. With restrictions on people attending live indoor events still in place, this years awards ceremony took place online, hosted by ScotRail's community development manager, Tracy Stephenson. (Permalink) Aberdour Auchinleck Duke Street Gorebridge Kilmarnock New Cumnock Portlethen Rail 74 ScotRail ScotRail in the Community Awards |
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The number of people travelling with Scotland's main train operator has dipped to a near-record low of just 9 per cent of normal on some days, The Scotsman has learned.
(Permalink) COVID-19 Passenger numbers ScotRail |
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Rail campaigners say they remain 'optimistic' that services will return to normal on the Far North Line once the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
(Permalink) COVID-19 ScotRail Timetabling |
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People who work on the railways often remark it is like one big family.
(Permalink) COVID-19 ScotRail Scotland's Railway Strike |
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Trains to and from Edinburgh have been disrupted and some could be cancelled due to the failure of a power supply.
(Permalink) Power supply ScotRail |
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The volume of people using buses in Scotland also dramatically declined during the first weekend of tougher restrictions.
(Permalink) COVID-19 Glasgow District Subway Scotrail |
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Leasing company Eversholt Rail has awarded supplier Alstom Transport UK a £124m contract to undertake the mileage-based overhaul of its fleet of 40 three-car Class 334 Juniper electric multiple-units which are operated by ScotRail.
(Permalink) Alstom Class 334 Eversholt Rail ScotRail |
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One of the best periods of performance during autumn for more than eight years has seen nine out of 10 trains arriving on time on Scotlands Railway.
Despite the challenges of the autumn weather, including heavy rain and strong winds affecting the network, figures released today (Friday, 20 November) show that 89.3 per cent of trains met the rail industry standard public performance measure (PPM) in the period (18 October to 14 November). (Permalink) Punctuality Scotrail |
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People are no longer allowed to drink alcohol on trains or at stations as part of measures to stem Covid.
(Permalink) Alcohol ban COVID-19 ScotRail |
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Labour MSP James Kelly told the Record it was time for the ScotRail franchise to be taken back into public ownership. ScotRail has been accused of treating businesses with 'contempt' after it was revealed the franchise is regularly taking more than 30 days to settle its bills. Labour MSP James Kelly said any delay in payments was putting unnecessary pressure on firms which may already be struggling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
(Permalink) Nationalisation ScotRail |
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People will not be allowed to drink alcohol on trains or at stations in Scotland from Monday.
(Permalink) Alcohol ban ScotRail |
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An expert has called for rail bosses to 'react quickly' to restore consumer confidence as the line between Aberdeen and Dundee finally reopens following the fatal derailment at Stonehaven this summer.
(Permalink) Gareth Dennis Safety ScotRail Stonehaven derailment |
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An Ayrshire firm has unveiled the interior design for ScotRails first active travel carriage, designated for carrying bikes and large sporting. [See also news item 21/10.]
(Permalink) Bikes Brodie Engineering Class 153 ScotRail West Highland Lines |
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ScotRail's Robroyston station project has landed a top award at the Scottish Transport Awards 2020.
The new £14 million station scooped the prestigious prize in the Transport Team/Partnership of the Year category. Opened on 15 December 2019, Robroyston station forms part of ScotRail's commitment to reducing carbon emissions, offering a free park-and-ride facility to take cars off the road and ease congestion in Glasgow city centre. (Permalink) Robroyston ScotRail  Robroyston: Robroyston was officially opened by Michael Matheson MSP on the 16th of December. The station features a 263 space car park close to the M80.  Robroyston: The first train (the 0837 to Cumbernauld) arrives at Robroyston at 0836 on Sunday 15th December.  Robroyston: Work began on 12th September 2018 to construct the new Robroyston railway station, which will serve a development of 1,600 homes in the area around the site. The design and build contract which marks the start of work, was awarded to AmcoGiffen. Located between Stepps and Springburn on the Glasgow to Cumbernauld line, the new station will include step free platform access, together with two car parks with a total of 258 spaces, offering a new 'park and ride' facility for people driving into Glasgow along the nearby M80. Clearance works at the site were completed beforehand with ground investigations underway. The station is expected to open in December 2019.
(l-r) ScotRail Chief Operating Officer Angus Thom; Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity; Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction at Glasgow City Council and Alan Ross, Director Route Sponsorship for Network Rail Scotland at the site of the new Robroyston railway station. |
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Scotland's Railway has relaunched its Stakeholder Panel as it continues to engage with the railway's key stakeholders. The original Stakeholder Panel was created in 2015 as part of the franchise awarded to Abellio. The Panel helps scrutinise the performance of Scotland's Railway, as well as bring insight and challenges to its work. The relaunch sees a brand-new membership in place, with the appointment of CBI Scotland Director Tracy Black as chair, alongside senior representatives from Scotland's key sectors.
(Permalink) ScotRail Stakeholder Panel |
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New figures published today (Friday, 23 October) show that work to prepare for the effects of autumn resulted in more trains arriving on time, and the best performing September of the Abellio franchise.
Across Scotland, 92.3 per cent of ScotRail trains met the rail industry standard public performance measure (PPM) in the period 20 September to 17 October 2020 “ the best September-October performance since the start of the Abellio franchise. (Permalink) COVID-19 ScotRail |
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ScotRail has unveiled the interior design for its first active travel carriage, designated for carrying bikes and large sporting equipment, as the first train nears completion.
Five Class 153 trains are being transformed to carry up to 20 bikes to enhance existing ScotRail services on the West Highland Line initially, providing custom designed racks to accommodate bikes, sporting equipment and large items of luggage as well as more seats for customers. The redesigned carriage boasts space for tandem cycles, and an e-bike charging socket - a first for a train in the UK. Modified by Brodie Engineering in Kilmarnock, forming part of the firms expansion plans, the finishing touches to the first carriage are now being applied. The train has received a full interior and exterior refresh including installation of free WiFi, at seat power sockets and a refurbished toilet with controlled emission toilet (CET) tank. (Permalink) Bikes Brodie Engineering Class 153 ScotRail West Highland Lines |
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On World Mental Health Day 2020 (Saturday, 10 October) ScotRail is joining the Samaritans and encouraging people to look out for each other.
Railway staff across Scotland are being encouraged to share their coping mechanisms and to strike up a conversation with people who they feel may be struggling. From taking a walk and chatting with friends to boiling the kettle for a cup of tea, staff have been sharing what they do to improve their mental health when they are having a tough day. (Permalink) Samaritans ScotRail World Mental Health Day |
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With new and refurbished trains on the way, a rolling programme of electrification, and a devolved Government committed to further expansion, Scotland is showing other regions of the UK how to deliver a better railway. Ben Jones met ScotRail Alliance MD Alex Hynes to find out what is in store.
(Permalink) ScotRail |
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