Scotland railway business news
News about railway operations, infrastructure, suppliers and policy in Scotland, from Rail Business UK.
-
Rail Business UKScotRail and Network Rail sign strengthened Alliance Agreement
UK: Scottish government-owned passenger train operator ScotRail and infrastructure manager Network Rail have signed a ‘strengthened’ Alliance Agreement, updating the partnership signed by former franchisee Abellio ScotRail in 2015. The purpose of the Alliance is ‘to integrate track and train in order to deliver the best ...
-
Rail Business UKScotRail to replace inter-city HST fleet
UK: ScotRail is to procure trains to replace the ageing High Speed Train fleet used on routes between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, the Scottish government announced on September 3. ScotRail’s procurement and fleet teams are working with its parent body Scottish Rail Holdings, Transport Scotland ...
-
Rail Business UKTransPennine Express Newcastle – Edinburgh local services to continue
UK: The Newcastle – Edinburgh service operated by TransPennine Express under contract to Transport Scotland will continue after December 2024, despite the end of Scottish government funding. The service introduced in December 2021 comprises five Newcastle – Edinburgh trains per day, plus two additional trains between ...
-
Rail Business UKAll-day off-peak fare trial fails to achieve modal shift goals
UK: A pilot scheme which removed peak fares on ScotRail services in favour of offering cheaper off-peak fares all day is to end, after analysis found only ‘a limited degree of success’ in achieving modal shift from cars The Scottish government spent £40m subsidising the ScotRail ...
-
Rail Business UKSt Rollox works revival underway
UK: The first rail vehicles have arrived at the St Rollox works site at Springburn in Glasgow since it was taken over by Gibson’s Engineering. ‘This is a really exciting moment for Glasgow and Scotland, given what we are planning to do and the number of ...
-
Rail Business UKNetwork Rail awards Scotland Civils Framework contracts
UK: Network Rail announced the award of Scotland Civils Framework contracts totalling up to £1·3bn on August 13. Each of the contracts are for five years, with a three-year extension option based on performance. Scotland Civils Framework contracts Lot Works Contractor ...
-
Rail Business UKScotland’s Railway publishes five-year Climate Action Plan
UK: The Scotland’s Railway partnership of Network Rail and ScotRail has published a five-year Climate Action Plan setting out aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2024-29. There are five priority areas: Climate ready: preparing the railway and organisations for anticipated changes in the ...
-
Rail Business UKScotRail introduces emergency timetable
UK: Following the rejection of a pay offer and a decision by many drivers not to make themselves available for overtime work, ScotRail is to introduce a temporary timetable from July 10 which removes around 600 services. The company said the changes are ’a result of ...
-
Rail Business UKScottish transport ticketing goes digital
UK: Unicard has migrated paper-based ZoneCard tickets valid on ScotRail, Glasgow Subway and bus services in the west of Scotland to its ITSO-compliant smart ticketing platform. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport awarded the contract with the aim of improving the passenger experience and reducing the complexity of ...
-
Rail Business UKLevenmouth rail link officially opened
UK: The reinstated Levenmouth railway was official inaugurated by Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney on May 29, ahead of the start of passenger services on June 2.
-
Rail Business UKSeparate MDs appointed for Network Rail Scotland and ScotRail
UK: Separate Managing Directors have been appointed for infrastructure manager Network Rail in Scotland and for passenger train operator ScotRail, though the organisations have stressed their commitment to the current alliance model of close co-operation. Both Managing Director roles are currently held jointly by Alex Hynes, ...
-
Rail Business UKAlex Hynes appointed DfT Director General Rail Services
UK: The Department for Transport has appointed Alex Hynes as Director General Rail Services. He is due to join on a two-year secondment from his current position as Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway on April 15. Interim Director General Anit Chandarana will return to Network Rail ...
-
Rail Business UKScotRail trials Smart Kiosk ticket machine
TICKETING: ScotRail is trialling a Smart Kiosk ticket vending machine supplied by Cammax which is designed to provide passengers in Scotland with a wider range of ticket options and information. As well as purchasing tickets on the day of travel, passengers can obtain live travel information, including ...
-
Metro Report InternationalEdinburgh council to consult on north-south tram plan
UK: City of Edinburgh Council is to undertake public consultation to inform the development of a strategic business case for a north-south tram route running from Granton via the city centre to BioQuarter and beyond. Route The preferred route runs from Granton ...
-
Rail Business UKScottish rail electrification framework procurement underway
UK: Network Rail has begun procurement for a framework contract covering the ‘efficient, consistent development, delivery, entry into service and handback’ of electrification to decarbonise rail operations in Scotland. This forms part of the Aberdeen Route Upgrade Electrification programme worth £250m-£300m and the £50m-£60m electrical safety ...
-
Rail Business UKEast Linton station opens
UK: East Linton station on the East Coast Main Line opened on December 13. ScotRail and TransPennine Express will provide 22 services each weekday with an average journey time to Edinburgh of 22 min. The £15m station was built by contractor BAM Nuttall with AECOM providsing ...
-
Metro Report InternationalGlasgow Subway’s Stadler trains enter passenger service
UK: The first two of 17 trainsets that Stadler is supplying to replace the Glasgow Subway fleet entered passenger service with a soft launch on the afternoon on December 11. The trains have been custom-made to the unique specifications of the 10·5 km circular underground line, ...
-
Rail Business UKNetwork Rail awards East Kilbride electrification contracts
UK: Network Rail has awarded the main works contracts for the East Kilbride Enhancement Project, which includes electrification of the line near Glasgow. The announcement on November 22 follows the confirmation of Scottish government funding in September, The contracts totalling £61·5m have been awarded to Story ...
-
Metro Report InternationalEdinburgh tram inquiry report sets out reasons for delays and cost increases
UK: The long-awaited report of the inquiry into why the Edinburgh tram project incurred delays, cost more than budgeted and was reduced in scope was finally published on September 19. The construction of the line from the city’s airport to Newhaven was initially budgeted at £545m ...
-
Rail Business UKScotRail to trial all-day Off Peak fares
UK: Off Peak tickets on routes where fares are controlled by ScotRail will be valid all day under a six-month trial running from October 3 until March 29 2024. The Scottish government-funded project aims to encourage people to travel by rail instead of car. ScotRail said ...