Scotland railway business news

News about railway operations, infrastructure, suppliers and policy in Scotland, from Rail Business UK

  • ScotRail Highland Explorer Class 153 and Class 156 (Photo ScotRail)
    Rail Business UK

    Scottish diesel operations to continue to 2045

    2024-12-18T11:00:00Z

    UK: The deadline for removing diesel powered passenger trains from the Scottish rail network has been put back from 2035 to 2045. The Scottish government is undertaking an update of the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan which it published in July 2020 in collaboration with Network ...

  • ScotRail has formally begun the procurement of trainsets to replace the current fleet of 25 HST sets used on Inter7Cities services.
    Rail Business UK

    ScotRail begins HST replacement process

    2024-12-18T09:45:00Z

    UK: ScotRail has formally begun the procurement of trainsets to replace the current fleet of 25 HST sets used on Inter7City services. On behalf of Transport Scotland, the operator is seeking proposals for the supply of a single class of existing rolling stock to operate a ...

  • ScotRail train
    Rail Business UK

    ScotRail and Network Rail sign strengthened Alliance Agreement

    2024-10-16T11:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • ScotRail is to procure trains to replace the ageing High Speed Train fleet
    Rail Business UK

    ScotRail to replace inter-city HST fleet

    2024-09-04T11:24:00Z

    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 ...

  • TransPennine Express Class 802 Nova 1 on the coast (Photo Hitachi Rail)
    Rail Business UK

    TransPennine Express Newcastle – Edinburgh local services to continue

    2024-09-02T11:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • Glasgow Queen Street ScotRail Class 385 EMU
    Rail Business UK

    All-day off-peak fare trial fails to achieve modal shift goals

    2024-08-21T11:12:00Z

    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 ...

  • First train arriving at the St Rollox site
    Rail Business UK

    St Rollox works revival underway

    2024-08-19T04:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • VolkerRail and Network Rail hivis (Photo VolkerRail)
    Rail Business UK

    Network Rail awards Scotland Civils Framework contracts

    2024-08-14T11:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • Scotrail train
    Rail Business UK

    Scotland’s Railway publishes five-year Climate Action Plan

    2024-08-12T04:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • Glasgow Queen Street ScotRail Class 385 EMU
    Rail Business UK

    ScotRail introduces emergency timetable

    2024-07-10T09:30:00Z

    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 ...

  • Glasgow Subway Stadler train (Photo SPT) (3)
    Rail Business UK

    Scottish transport ticketing goes digital

    2024-07-09T04:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • Levenmouth reopening ceremony (Photo Transport Scotland)
    Rail Business UK

    Levenmouth rail link officially opened

    2024-05-29T14:28:00Z

    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.

  • Glasgow Queen Street ScotRail Class 385 EMU
    Rail Business UK

    Separate MDs appointed for Network Rail Scotland and ScotRail

    2024-04-10T13:13:00Z

    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, ...

  • Alex Hynes (Photo Network Rail)
    Rail Business UK

    Alex Hynes appointed DfT Director General Rail Services

    2024-03-18T16:47:00Z

    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 ...

  • Glasgow Central station entrance
    Rail Business UK

    ScotRail trials Smart Kiosk ticket machine

    2024-03-13T04:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • Edinburgh trams photo 3
    Metro Report International

    Edinburgh council to consult on north-south tram plan

    2024-02-07T11:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • Electrification
    Rail Business UK

    Scottish rail electrification framework procurement underway

    2023-12-15T04:00:00Z

    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 ...

  • East Linton station opening
    Rail Business UK

    East Linton station opens

    2023-12-13T15:08:00Z

    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 ...

  • Glasgow Subway Stadler train (Photo SPT) (3)
    Metro Report International

    Glasgow Subway’s Stadler trains enter passenger service

    2023-12-12T14:53:00Z

    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, ...

  • East Kilbride (Photo Network Rail)
    Rail Business UK

    Network Rail awards East Kilbride electrification contracts

    2023-11-23T12:57:00Z

    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 ...