It is no excuse for Transport Scotland to state that the current ScotRail fleet was inherited from the private operator Abellio upon re-nationalisation in April 2022 as if it itself was not to blame ('LibDems urge end to 1970s-style railways', The Herald, January 4). [The letter is 4th down from top of page. Note particularly paragraph 3. -RS]
(Permalink) Class 156 Class 170 Class 318 Class 380 HST Reliability

Concerns have been raised after it emerged Scottish rail passengers are still relying on trains and carriages manufactured as far back as the mid-seventies. Freedom of information requests by the Scottish Liberal Democrats found the oldest carriages in use as part of the fleet were manufactured between 1976 and 1984. The trains with the longest continuous use are Class 318s, used on the Glasgow suburban line, which were manufactured in 1986 and entered service the same year.
(Permalink) Class 156 Class 318 HST

Part of a ScotRail train fell off and hit signalling cables today near Glasgow Central causing around 100 cancellations. The highly unusual incident involved a prop shaft dropping from a class 156 diesel train near Shields junction on the Glasgow-Paisley line in Pollokshields just after 6am.
(Permalink) Class 156 Shields Junction Signalling

ScotRail has announced a boost for customers in South Lanarkshire, with more seats to be made available for the increasingly popular East Kilbride and Barrhead services.

Additional Class 156 trains will be provided during the morning and evening between Glasgow Central and East Kilbride / Barrhead from May 2019.
(Permalink) Barrhead Class 156 East Kilbride

Wednesday 17 October 2007. Fergus Ewing, Minister for Community Safety and MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber joined Mary Dickson, managing director of First ScotRail and David Duthie, Partnership Director of HITRANS to unveil a plaque to officially open the new look Fort William Station transport hub, which has undergone a £750,000 refurbishment programme.
The refurbishment work is the result of a successful partnership between First ScotRail, Transport Scotland and HITRANS - the regional transport body for the Highlands and Islands. The significant investment has been used to provide customers with a more modern station environment - internally and externally - along with improved facilities such as enhanced access, a complete overhaul of the toilets, improvements to the left luggage facilities and ticket office and the introduction of five new showers.
New flooring has been laid throughout and lighting across the station has been enhanced. As part of a wider station investment package, Transport Scotland provided further funding to invest in CCTV at the station, increasing the overall feeling of security for customers.
In addition, customers are benefiting from increased comfort and improved facilities on board the Class 156 trains which operate to and from Fort William, thanks to a refurbishment programme currently underway. Funded by Transport Scotland and delivered by First ScotRail, the programme includes the replacement and upgrade of the luggage racks, new lighting, an interior repaint and new floor and wall carpets along with brand new table tops, creating a cleaner, brighter and more modern interior. [Item via First ScotRail]
(Permalink) Class 156 Fort William HITRANS ScotRail Transport Scotland West Highland Lines

One of the Scottish Region's regular practice's to check the emergency services' response to a serious railway crash will be held on a recently renovated section of track near the junction at Lugton. A 311 will be de-railed following 'collision' with a 156. 300 volunteer 'passengers' will be involved. This is the first use of the Giffen line in 5 to 6 years and is likely to be its last.
(Permalink) Class 156 Class 311 Crash Giffen Lugton