ScotRail has reached another milestone in delivering a better service for customers with the introduction of the first ever Hitachi class 385 electric train on the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts line.
Following the completion of the Network Rail £160m electrification of the line, the rail operator is now able to run electric trains along the popular route, and launched the first customer service earlier today (Tuesday).
This is another important step forward in delivering faster journeys, more seats, and better services for customers, with more than 50 of the class 385s now in use on seven different routes. The six routes currently operating class 385s are:
- Glasgow Queen St – Edinburgh via Falkirk High
- Glasgow Queen St – Edinburgh via Falkirk Grahamston
- Glasgow Queen St/Edinburgh – Stirling, Dunblane, Alloa
- Cathcart Circle
- Glasgow Central – Newton
- Edinburgh to North Berwick/Dunbar
More electric trains will be added to the line in the coming weeks, with the upcoming May timetable change providing customers with more opportunity to travel on the newest trains in the fleet.
Sunday services, which had been replaced by buses during the engineering works, have now been partly restored. The introduction of the new timetable in May will see those fully restored, in addition to the final two services of each weekday, which continue to be replaced by buses.
Customers can find full details of service alterations on the ScotRail website https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/engineering-works and can use the mobile app to keep up to date with any changes to services.
ScotRail Chief Operating Officer Angus Thom said:
“We are delighted to be introducing the first Hitachi class 385 electric train on the Shotts line and we thank customers for their patience during the improvement works.
“The class 385 trains have proven to be very popular and this is another important step forward for ScotRail as we provide customers with a vastly improved service, including more seats and improved journey times.”