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First ScotRail

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First ScotRail
Rèile na h-Alba(Scottish Gaelic)
Class 158Express SprinteratNorth Queensferryin 2009
Overview
Franchise(s)ScotRail
17 October 2004 – 31 March 2015
Main region(s)Scotland
Other region(s)North West England
North East England
Fleet size311
Stations operated344
Parent companyFirstGroup
Reporting markSR
PredecessorScotRail (National Express)
SuccessorAbellio ScotRail
Caledonian Sleeper
Technical
Length3,032.0 km (1,884.0 mi)[citation needed]
Other
Websitescotrail.co.ukat theWayback Machine(archived 2015-03-16)

First ScotRail[1]was atrain operating companyin Scotland owned byFirstGroup.It operated the ScotRail franchise between October 2004 and March 2015.

On 17 October 2004, First ScotRail took over operations from the incumbent franchisee,National Express.First ScotRail operated most commuter and long-distance services within Scotland, and some services to northern England, as well as theCaledonian Sleeperto London. Of FirstGroup's four train operating companies, ScotRail was the second largest (in terms of number of passenger journeys 2013–14) afterFirst Great Westernat the time of the termination of its franchise.

During April 2008,Transport Scotlandgranted a three-year franchise extension to First ScotRail. In May 2009, First ScotRail announced a crackdown on fare-dodging due to abuse of the Flexipass ticket system. One month later, it was alleged that ScotRail's passenger figures were substantially inflated and that 7.2 million less passenger journeys had been actually made; the matter became politically charged but did not impact the extension decision. In June 2012, the Scottish Government announced that theCaledonian Sleeperservices would be split off from the ScotRail franchise. Following its unsuccessful bid to retain the franchise in 2014, First ScotRail transferred operations toAbellio ScotRailon 1 April 2015.

History

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First ScotRail logo (2004-2008)

Between March 1997 and October 2004, the public transport conglomerateNational Expressoperated the ScotRail franchise under theScotRailbrand. During July 2003, theScottish Executiveand theStrategic Rail AuthorityannouncedArriva,FirstGroupandNational Expresshad been shortlisted to bid for the new franchise.[2]In June 2004, the franchise was awarded to FirstGroup; the services formerly operated by ScotRail were transferred to First ScotRail on 17 October 2004.[3]

On 1 January 2006,Transport Scotlandwas established to carry out the Scottish Executive's transport responsibilities including its then newly devolved powers over rail franchising.[4]During April 2008, Transport Scotland granted a three-year franchise extension to First ScotRail, postponing its end-date to November 2014.[5][6]

In May 2009, First ScotRail announced a crackdown on fare-dodging shortly after discovering that one of its most popular saver tickets could be subject to widespread abuse; 150 travellers were caught misusing Flexipass tickets within a single week alone.[7]First ScotRail's approach to dealing with fare-dodgers remained a point of controversy at times.[8]

During June 2009, a report by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport alleged that passenger figures generated by ScotRail had contained 7.2 million more passenger journeys than had been actually made; in response,Holyrood's audit committee called in Auditor GeneralRobert Blackto review the extent of the miscalculation.[9]First ScotRail stated that the "long-standing" error was being corrected, while Transport Scotland contended that the overestimate did not impact its decision to extend the ScotRail franchise.[10]

During October 2011, First ScotRail and the British railway infrastructure operatorNetwork Railannounced the enactment of a series of new measures to handle service disruption in the event of severe winter conditions. In addition to improved access to travel information at stations and aboard trains, a new design of warmed plastic tunnels along with the first "power shower" system in the UK were rolled out to help de-ice trains, while it was stated that priority would be given to keeping the most highly-trafficked routes operational.[11]At times of severe weather, ScotRail services had been temporarily suspended on grounds of safety; in such situations, wherever possible, active trains were directed to stop in the nearest convenient station and alternative transportation was provided until services could be resumed.[12]

In June 2012, the Scottish Government announced that when the ScotRail franchise would be re-tendered in 2014, theCaledonian Sleeperservices would be split off and transferred to a standalone franchise.[13][14]In May 2014, it was announced that the new Caledonian Sleeper franchise had been awarded toSerco.[15]

In addition to FirstGroup, multiple other transport companies entered bids to operate the ScotRail franchise, includingAbellio,Arriva,MTR,and National Express.[16]During early October 2014, it was announced that Abellio's bid had been selected and thus First ScotRail would be discontinued from April 2015.[17][18]

Accordingly, the franchise was transferred toAbellio ScotRailat midnight on 1 April 2015.[19]Several hours beforehand, the Caledonian Sleeper services had been separately transferred to Serco.[20][21]

Services

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Main lines

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Map of the principal railway lines of Scotland; First ScotRail's former services are indicated in red.
NorthboundClass 170approaching theForth Bridgeon theEdinburgh to Aberdeen Line

Express trains operated between Edinburgh, Glasgow,Inverness,DundeeandAberdeen.TheHighland Main Linelinks Inverness to the south. Some stretches of main line, such as the Highland Main Line, are single track, and express trains must call at intermediate stations to permit trains coming in the opposite direction to pass.

The main lines of Scotland are:

Glasgow

[edit]
See also:Transport in Glasgow

The densest part of the network was thesuburban networkaroundGlasgow,with 183 stations, the second-largest suburban rail network in the UK, after London. Much of it is25 kV ACelectrified.Glasgow’s mainterminal stationsareCentralandQueen Street stations.ScotRail operated trains in this area under theStrathclyde Partnership for Transport(SPT) brand. However, theStrathclyde Partnership for Transportno longer has any input into specifying rail services in the Glasgow area. DMUs and EMUs that were liveried in the carmine and cream livery were stripped of the Strathclyde logos.[22][full citation needed]Lines in and around Glasgow were:

The North Clyde Line is now linked to the Edinburgh-Bathgate Line (see Edinburgh, below) with the completion of theAirdrie–Bathgate rail link,creating a new direct link between Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also a proposal to create a new rail link across the city with theCrossrail Glasgowproject.

Edinburgh

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TheForth Bridgein 2004
See also:Transport in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’ssuburban networkis less dense than Glasgow’s. Edinburgh’s main station isWaverley.The main railway line through the city centre runs in a cutting immediately belowEdinburgh Castle.A secondary station is atHaymarketin the west of the city. Railway lines running north from Edinburgh toFifeand theHighlandscross theFirth of Forthvia theForth Bridge.Lines in and around Edinburgh were:

The Edinburgh rail network is being expanded with the construction of the Waverley Line to the Borders, and the Edinburgh–Bathgate Line has been extended by theAirdrie–Bathgate rail link.A project to open arail link to Edinburgh Airportwas cancelled in September 2007 by the Scottish Government in favour of construction of a station at nearbyGogarwhich will connect with theEdinburgh tram networkto take passengers to the terminal.[24]A proposal to re-open theEdinburgh suburban railway linehas been made by campaigning groups.[25]

Rural lines

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TheWest Highland LineatRannoch
Class 170Turbostarin First ScotRail livery atInverness

Rural lines include the scenicWest Highland Line,Kyle of Lochalsh lineandFar North Line.These lines carried more passengers, mostly tourists, during the summer months, but provided a valuable link and social service during the winter months.

Many rural lines are single track. Trains terminating at the coastal towns ofObanandMallaigconnected with theCaledonian MacBrayneferry services toSkye,Colonsay,Lismore,Islayand theOuter HebridesandInner Hebrides.

The rural lines were:

InterCity & Sleeper services

[edit]
Main article:Caledonian Sleeper

First ScotRail operated some services that ventured south of the border: principally theCaledonian SleepertoLondon Eustonalong theWest Coast Main Line,and a three times daily cross-country service betweenNewcastle upon Tyneand Glasgow Central viaCarlisleandKilmarnock.

Performance

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Performance figures for National Express’s last quarter as franchise holder, July to September 2004, were:

Period % trains arriving within 5 mins of scheduled time Change
Jul - Sep 2004 82.8% Down 4.2% on the same quarter the previous year
Jul - Sep 2004 84.2% Down 1.0% on the previous year as a whole

Performance figures for FirstGroup’s first quarter as franchise holder, October to December 2004, were:

Period % trains arriving within 5 mins of scheduled time Change
Oct - Dec 2004 79.8% Down 1.9% on the same quarter the previous year
Oct - Dec 2004 83.7% Down 0.5% on the previous year as a whole

FirstGroup started operating the franchise on 17 October 2004.

The performance figures released by the Office for Rail Regulation (ORR) are as follows:

Period % trains arriving within
5 mins of scheduled time
(over three months)		 Change over
same quarter the previous year		 % trains arriving within
5 mins of scheduled time
Moving Annual Average (MAA)		 Change over
previous year as a whole
Apr - Jun 2007[26] 91.4% Up 0.8% 89.0% Up 0.2%
Jul - Sep 2007[27] 93.0% Up 2.2% 89.6% Up 0.7%
Oct - Dec 2007[28] 87.3% Up 2.8% 90.1% Up 0.6%
Jan - Mar 2008[29] 90.5% Up 2.0% 90.6% Up 0.6%
Apr - Jun 2008[30] 93.6% Up 2.4% 91.1% Up 0.6%
Jul - Sep 2008[31] 92.8% Down 0.2% 91.0% Up 0.4%
Oct - Dec 2008[32] 86.5% Down 0.9% 90.9% Up 0.3%
Jan - Mar 2009[33] 89.6% Down 1.0%> 90.6% Down 0.3%
Apr - Jun 2009[34] 93.0% Down 0.6% 90.5% Down 0.1%
Jul - Sep 2009[35] 93.5% Up 0.9% 90.7% Up 0.2%
Oct - Dec 2009[36] 86.7% Up 0.2% 90.7% Unchanged
Jan - Mar 2010[37] 89.5% Down 0.1% 90.7% Unchanged
Jul - Sep 2010[38] 94.5% Up 1.1% 91.4% Up 0.8%
Oct - Dec 2010[38] 78.4% Down 9.6% 92.9% Up 2.4%
Jan - Mar 2011[39] 89.1% Down 0.0% 90.1% Down 0.0%

Note:

  • The percentage change figures are not the actual increases in % but the percentage increase in the % value.
  • These values are very similar to the sector performance level.

Rolling stock

[edit]
Class 156in the oldNational Express ScotRaillivery atOban stationin June 2005

First ScotRail inherited a fleet ofClass 150,Class 156,Class 158,Class 170,Class 314,Class 318,Class 320andClass 334sfrom National Express, as well asMark 2 carriagesandMark 3 sleepersfor use on theCaledonian Sleeper.

First ScotRail contractedEWSto haul the Caledonian Sleeper services.[40]Class 90swere used south ofEdinburghandGlasgow CentralwithClass 67sused on the portions toFort William,AberdeenandInverness.A dedicated pool was also created due to the need to fit cast steel brakes. Three Class 90s were repainted in First ScotRail livery with EWS logos.[41][42][43]

For a short time in 2005, the Edinburgh -North Berwick Lineservices were operated byEnglish Welsh & ScottishClass 90swith formerVirgin TrainsMark 3 carriagesand aDriving Van Trailer.In late 2005, fiveClass 322swere transferred fromOneto replace these.[44][45]Following an refurbishment performed byHunslet-BarclayofKilmarnockbetween 2006 and 2007, all Class 322s had their capacity increased from 252 passengers to 293.[46][47]

During January 2007, public calls were made for the refurbishments of First ScotRail's Class 158 diesel multiple units, particularly in regards to the toilet facilities.[48]One year later, work commenced on the refurbishment of 25 Class 158s, which involved repainting, new seating, extra luggage space, the addition of new customer information systems,[49][50][51]and the fitting of the requested toilet retention tanks.[52]

In September 2008, Transport Scotland announced that all First ScotRail trains, including those previously operated on behalf of theStrathclyde Partnership for Transport,would be repainted in a new blue livery with whitesaltiremarkings on the carriage ends.[53]This rebranding placed less emphasis on theFirstand was marketed as"ScotRail: Scotland's Railway".[54]The first unit to receive the new livery was 170434, unveiled at Glasgow Queen Street on 22 September 2008.

During December 2008, ScotRail started operated a set ofDB SchenkerMark 2 carriageson a peak-hourFife Circle Lineservice hauled by a Class 67. A second set was also operated for a while.[citation needed]

In July 2008, Transport Scotland funded the acquisition of 22 three-carriage and 16 four-carriageClass 380Desiroswith the first entering service in December 2010. These trains operated Ayrshire and Inverclyde services, adding extra capacity and allowed the cascade of existing stock to the new Glasgow to Edinburgh services via the reopened Airdrie to Bathgate line.[55][56]

Fleet at end of franchise

[edit]
Class Image Type Top speed Number Routes operated Built
mph km/h
Class 67 Diesel locomotive 125 200 Hired fromDB Schenker Fife Circle Line
Caledonian Sleeper 		1999–2000
Class 90 Electric locomotive 110 177 Hired fromDB Schenker
(4 required per service night) 		Caledonian Sleeper 1987–1990
Class 156Super Sprinter DMU 75 120 48 West Highland Line
Glasgow South Western Line
Shotts Line
Croy Line
Edinburgh Crossrail
Maryhill Line
Cumbernauld Line 		1987–1989
Class 158Express Sprinter 90 145 48 Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
Highland Main Line
Croy Line
Aberdeen to Inverness Line
Kyle of Lochalsh Line
Far North Line
Edinburgh Crossrail
Edinburgh to Dunblane Line
Fife Circle Line
Shotts Line
Maryhill Line
Cumbernauld Line 		1989–1992
Class 170Turbostar 100 161 59 Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
Highland Main Line
Fife Circle Line
Edinburgh Crossrail
Edinburgh to Dunblane Line
Croy Line
Maryhill Line
Cumbernauld Line
Tay Coast Line 		1998–2005
Class 314 EMU 75 121 16 Cathcart Circle Lines
Inverclyde Line
Paisley Canal Line 		1979

Class 318 90 145 21 Argyle Line
North Clyde Line
Whifflet Line 		1986–1987
Class 320 22 1990
Class 334Coradia Juniper 40 North Clyde Line
Argyle Line
 1999–2002
Class 380Desiro 100 160 22 (3 carriage)
16 (4 carriage) 		Ayrshire Coast Line
Inverclyde Line
Glasgow to Edinburgh via Carstairs Line
North Berwick Line
Paisley Canal Line 		2009–2011
Mark 2 carriage Sleeper Seated 22 Caledonian Sleeper 1969–1974
Mark 3 carriage Sleeper Berth 125 200 53 1975–1988

Past fleet

[edit]

Former train types operated by First ScotRail include:

Class Image Type Top speed Number Carriages Built Left fleet
mph km/h
Class 150Sprinter DMU 75 121 18 2 1986–1987 2005
Class 322 EMU 100 161 5 4 1990 2011

Stations

[edit]

The majority of Scotland's 340 passenger stations were operated by First ScotRail underNetwork Railownership. Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central stations were operated by Network Rail itself;Glasgow Prestwick Airport stationwas owned and operated by the airport; andDunbarwas operated by theInterCity East Coastfranchise holder (originallyGNER,thenNational Express East Coast,thenEast Coast,and finallyVirgin Trains East Coast). ScotRail operatedLockerbie stationalthough none of its services called there.

Depots

[edit]

First ScotRail's fleet was maintained atEdinburgh Haymarket,Glasgow Shields Road,CorkerhillandInvernessdepots. During early 2005, the rebuiltGlasgow Eastfieldwas reopened.[57]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^"First ScotRail Limited: Company no. SC185018".Companies House.Archived fromthe originalon 12 April 2016.Retrieved23 December2023.
  2. ^"Shortlist of ScotRail bidders puts three in the ring".The Herald.18 October 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 19 November 2016.Retrieved19 November2016.
  3. ^"FirstGroup clinches Scottish rail franchise".The Daily Telegraph.12 June 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 13 April 2016.
  4. ^Transport Scotland Framework Document(PDF),Scottish Executive, December 2005,archived(PDF)from the original on 12 April 2016,retrieved19 November2016
  5. ^"Scot Rail franchise extension agreed".Transport Scotland News. 3 April 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 4 January 2016.
  6. ^"FirstGroup Plc statement: Extension of First ScotRail Franchise".First ScotRail. 3 April 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2014.
  7. ^"ScotRail crackdown on ticket abuse".glasgowtimes.co.uk. 26 May 2009.
  8. ^Gordon, Bryony (14 December 2011)."Rail inspectors don't know how to handle fare-dodgers".The Telegraph.
  9. ^"Probe call over passenger figures".BBC News.24 June 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2020.Retrieved2 April2010.
  10. ^"Rail contract handling defended".BBC News.14 January 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2020.Retrieved2 April2010.
  11. ^"Trains to be prioritised in severe winter weather".BBC News. 31 October 2011.
  12. ^Duffy, Owen (5 December 2013)."Scotland starts to clear up damage left by 100mph winds".The Guardian.
  13. ^"£5 billion investment in rail improvement plan".Scottish National Party Media Centre. 21 June 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 28 March 2013.
  14. ^Barrow, Keith (22 June 2012)."Scottish government sets out rail strategy".International Railway Journal.Archivedfrom the original on 17 November 2015.Retrieved15 November2015.
  15. ^"Serco wins franchise for Caledonian sleeper train service".BBC News. 28 May 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 29 May 2014.Retrieved21 June2018.
  16. ^"Dutch firm Abellio wins ScotRail franchise from FirstGroup".BBC News. 8 October 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 21 April 2016.Retrieved21 June2018.
  17. ^"Abellio awarded ScotRail franchise".Railway Gazette International. 8 October 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 5 April 2016.
  18. ^"Abellio awarded contract to operate Scotland's National Railway, ScotRail".Abellio. Archived fromthe originalon 15 April 2016.
  19. ^"FirstGroup plc thanks First ScotRail passengers and employees".FirstGroup. 27 March 2015.
  20. ^"Serco awarded contract to run the famous Caledonian Sleeper railway line".The Independent.28 May 2014.
  21. ^"Strike halts Caledonian Sleeper train".The Guardian.22 December 2015.
  22. ^Today's Railways UK.No. 81.{{cite magazine}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)
  23. ^ab"Airdrie-Bathgate rail link".airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2011.
  24. ^"It's £30m down the drain".The Scotsman.Edinburgh: Johnston Publishing. 27 September 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 5 June 2011.Retrieved7 September2013.
  25. ^"Capital Rail Action Group".Archived fromthe originalon 16 May 2014.
  26. ^"ORR Statistics for Q1 2007/08"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 29 February 2008.Retrieved3 November2007.
  27. ^"ORR Statistics for Q2 2007/08"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 28 February 2008.Retrieved12 February2008.
  28. ^"ORR Statistics for Q3 2007/08"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 19 December 2008.
  29. ^"ORR Statistics for Q4 2007/08"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 7 November 2008.Retrieved1 August2008.
  30. ^Office of Rail Regulation -National Rail TrendsArchived5 November 2008 at theWayback Machine,(2008), p. 22
  31. ^Office of Rail Regulation -National Rail TrendsArchived27 March 2009 at theWayback Machine,(2009), p. 5
  32. ^Office of Rail Regulation -National Rail Trends,(2009), p. 5
  33. ^Office of Rail Regulation -National Rail TrendsArchived7 August 2009 at theUK Government Web Archive,(2009), p. 24
  34. ^Office of Rail Regulation -National Rail TrendsArchived9 October 2009 at theUK Government Web Archive,(2009), p. 5
  35. ^Office of Rail Regulation -National Rail TrendsArchived3 March 2010 at theUK Government Web Archive,(2010), p. 5
  36. ^"Office of Rail Regulation - National Rail Trends"(PDF).ORR. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 13 April 2010.
  37. ^"National Rail Trends Chapter 2"(PDF).ORR. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 11 September 2010.
  38. ^ab"National Rail Trends Chapter 2"(PDF).ORR. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 3 February 2011.
  39. ^"National Rail Trends 2010-11. Chapter 2"(PDF).ORR.Archived(PDF)from the original on 7 September 2011.Retrieved29 August2011.
  40. ^"Operating enhancements for First Scotrail sleeper to be delivered by EWS and Axiom Rail"(Press release). English Welsh & Scottish. 26 May 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 13 June 2006.
  41. ^"Hybrid identity for Scottish Class 90s".Rail.No. 541. 7 June 2006. p. 7.
  42. ^"EWS paints first Class 90 for ScotRail".Today's Railways UK.No. 55. July 2006. p. 51.
  43. ^"Class 90 gets First Group livery".The Railway Magazine.No. 1266. October 2006. p. 7.
  44. ^"Class 322s return north".Rail Magazine.No. 519. 3 August 2005. p. 28.
  45. ^"322s return to Scotland".The Railway Magazine.No. 1253. September 2005. p. 71.
  46. ^"First Class 322 is overhauled".Rail Magazine.No. 538. 26 April 2006. p. 25.
  47. ^"Final 322 Outshopped".Rail Magazine.No. 560. 28 February 2007. p. 50.
  48. ^"Fury over faeces dumped on tracks".BBC News. 11 January 2007.
  49. ^"Railcare Springburn Class 158 Scotrail Internal refurbishment".Concept Applications. Archived fromthe originalon 26 July 2010.Retrieved28 June2010.
  50. ^"Renovation: Class 158 Express (DMU)"(PDF).RailCare. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 15 July 2011.Retrieved28 June2010.
  51. ^"Delivery against our priorities: Improved connections".Transport Scotland. 17 December 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2010.Retrieved29 May2010.
  52. ^Dalton, Alastair (11 August 2012)."Satellite loo-blocker leaves ScotRail chiefs flushed with success".scotsman.
  53. ^"ScotRail 25th Anniversary Publicity Materials".Transport Scotland. Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2010.
  54. ^Dalton, Alastair (23 September 2008)."ScotRail marks birthday with Saltire look".The Scotsman.Edinburgh.Archivedfrom the original on 17 January 2016.Retrieved19 November2016.
  55. ^"New Electric Trains for Scotland's Growing Railways".Transport Scotland. 11 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 17 December 2009.
  56. ^"Scotland orders Desiro fleet".Railway Gazette International.11 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 10 June 2012.Retrieved10 December2009.
  57. ^"Eastfield Depot 1904 -1992".Archivedfrom the original on 26 March 2014.Retrieved30 September2012.

Sources

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[edit]

Media related toFirst ScotRailat Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by Operator ofScotRail franchise
2004–2015 		Succeeded by
Succeeded by
Caledonian Sleeper
Caledonian Sleeper franchise
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