Date: 12/02/2018

Aslef has warned that modifications must be made to ScotRail's new Class 385 electric trains - or its drivers will refuse to work them. The train drivers' union is concerned that the curved windscreen is leading reflections of others signals at night. Drivers identified the problem on a recent evening test run between Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street. The units are due to come into service on the Edinburgh Waverly to Glasgow Queen Street service in March. Drivers reported that they could 'view two or three signals when we should have been viewing only one'. Kevin Lindsay from Aslef, said: 'ScotRail is trying to get Hitachi to come up with a solution but, so far, I'm afraid, they have failed. 'I've informed ScotRail that we won't allow these trains to come into service like this.'

External links

Safety worry over new ScotRail trains

BBC News

Drivers report seeing multiple signals reflecting in the curved windscreen when driving at night.

Related images

One of the new ScotRail Class 385 electric multiple units, which can be regularly seen at Gourock where they are currently being tested overnight. Photograph taken on 9 January 2017. (Pictures are also available in Inverclydenow.com)
Location: Gourock
Company: Gourock Extension Railway (Caledonian Railway)
09/01/2017 Brian Thompson

Mock up image of a Hitachi Rail Europe Class 385 AT200 train for Abellio's ScotRail franchise at Queen Street. 70 of these are due to enter service in 2017/2018.
Courtesy Hitachi Rail Europe.
Location: Glasgow Queen Street High Level
Company: Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
12/03/2015 Hitachi Rail Europe

The new ScotRail class 385 electric multiple unit to be built by Hitachi. Artist's impression distributed at the Abellio franchise launch on 1 April 2015.
Location: ScotRail
Company: Abellio
01/04/2015 ScotRail