ScotRail (National Express)

ScotRail

Class 156 at Oban station in June 2005
Overview
Franchise(s): ScotRail
31 March 1997 - 16 October 2004
Main Region(s): Scotland
Fleet size: 309
Stations operated: 336
Route km operated: 3032.0
National Rail abbreviation: SR
Parent company: National Express

ScotRail[1] was a train operating company in Scotland owned by National Express that operated the ScotRail franchise from March 1997 until October 2004. Prior to March 1997 ScotRail (British Rail) ran the trains and after October 2004 First ScotRail ran them.

Services

ScotRail operated all passenger train services in Scotland, with the exception of the Arriva Trains Northern, GNER, Virgin CrossCountry and Virgin Trains West Coast services from England. ScotRail operated services into England with services to Carlisle and Newcastle, and the Caledonian Sleeper services to London Euston.

Rolling stock

ScotRail inherited a fleet of Class 101, Class 117 Class 150, Class 156, Class 158, Class 303, Class 305, Class 314, Class 318 and Class 320s from British Rail as well as Mark 2 carriages and Mark 3 sleepers for use on the Caledonian Sleepers and on some other passenger services.

ScotRail contracted English Welsh & Scottish to haul the Caledonian Sleeper services to London Euston. Class 90s were used south of Edinburgh and Glasgow Central with Class 37s used on the portion to Fort William and Class 47s to Aberdeen and Inverness. From June 2001, Class 67s began to take over.[2] A dedicated pool was created due to the need to fit cast steel brakes.

ScotRail ordered 55 three-carriage Class 170 Turbostars to replace locomotive hauled stock and 40 three-carriage Class 334 Junipers to replace Class 303s.[3][4]

In 2000, two Class 150s were transferred to Arriva Trains Northern.[5] Class 158s were also transferred, four going to Arriva Trains Northern and two to Wessex Trains.[6] The Class 101, Class 303 and Class 305s were all withdrawn.

In December 2001, five Class 322s were sublet from West Anglia Great Northern, they were returned in March 2004.[7] To replace them ex Virgin West Coast Mark 3s were leased, being hauled by EWS Class 90s on North Berwick Line services.[8]

In 2005, four three-carriage Class 170s were transferred from Hull Trains.[9]

Class Image Type Top speed Built
mph km/h
101 Diesel multiple unit 70 112 1956–1960
150 Sprinter Diesel multiple unit 75 120 1984–1987
156 Super Sprinter Diesel multiple unit 75 120 1987–1989
158 Express Sprinter Diesel multiple unit 90 145 1989–1992
170 Turbostar Diesel multiple unit 100 160 1999-2004
303 Blue Train Electric multiple unit 75 120 1959–1961
314 Electric multiple unit 75 120 1979
318 Electric multiple unit 90 145 1986-1987
320 Electric multiple unit 75 120 1990
322 Electric multiple unit 100 160 1990
334 Juniper Electric multiple unit 90 145 1999-2002
Mark 2 Carriage Passenger rolling stock 100 160 1969–1974
Mark 3 Sleepers Passenger rolling stock 125 200 1975–1988

Depots

ScotRail's fleet was maintained at Haymarket, Glasgow Shields Road and Inverness depots.

Demise

In July 2003, the Scottish Executive and the Strategic Rail Authority announced Arriva, FirstGroup and National Express had been shortlisted to bid for the new franchise.[10] In June 2004, the franchise was awarded to FirstGroup, with the services operated by ScotRail transferring to First ScotRail on 17 October 2004.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Companies House extract company no 2938994 ScotRail Railways Limited
  2. ↑ Class 47 scot-rail.co.uk
  3. ↑ Class 170 scot-rail.co.uk
  4. ↑ Class 334 scot-rail.co.uk
  5. ↑ Class 150 scot-rail.co.uk
  6. ↑ Class 158 scot-rail.co.uk
  7. ↑ Class 322 scot-rail.co.uk
  8. ↑ MK3 DVT Push-Pull scot-rail.co.uk
  9. ↑ Rail Magazine issue 516 22 June 2005 page 10
  10. ↑ Shortlist of ScotRail bidders puts three in the ring Herald Scotland 28 October 2003
  11. ↑ FirstGroup clinches Scottish rail franchise The Daily Telegraph 12 June 2004

External links

Preceded by
ScotRail
As part of British Rail		 Operator of ScotRail franchise
1997 - 2004 		Succeeded by
First ScotRail
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