ScotRail

The ScotRail network had since 2015 been operated by the private-sector franchisee Abellio ScotRail. In December 2019, Transport Scotland announced Abellio had not met the performance criteria necessary to have its seven-year franchise extended for a further three years, and the franchise would conclude on 31 March 2022.^[2][3][4]

In March 2021, Transport Scotland announced that the franchise would not be re-tendered for another private-sector operator to run, but would be operated by an operator of last resort owned by the Scottish Government.^[5][6][7] The move was welcomed by the ASLEF, RMT and TSSA unions.^[8]

The then Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth, confirmed in February 2022 that ScotRail services would return to public ownership. She invited key stakeholders to take part in a discussion on the future of the service, saying "I can confirm that the transition of ScotRail into Scottish Government control will take place on 1 April 2022. Whilst that’s good news, it’s clear that much work still needs to be done... I want to kick-start a National Conversation about what our new beginning for ScotRail should look like - an affordable, sustainable, customer focused rail passenger service in Scotland in a post pandemic world."^[9]

The Scottish Conservatives Transport Spokesman, Graham Simpson, criticised the planned consultation, saying that it "should be about lower fares, restoring services and stopping cuts to ticket offices - measures that will encourage people to use public transport."^[10] The Scottish Liberal Democrats added that discussions should have started two years earlier, when nationalisation was decided.^[10]

On 4 April 2022, on-board catering started to be reintroduced on ScotRail services. It had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[11]

In May 2022, ASLEF balloted its members for strike action, with drivers refusing to work overtime. In May 2022, many Sunday services were cancelled due to driver shortages.^[12][13][14] ScotRail stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had prevented them from training an estimated 130 drivers.^[15] On 1 June 2022, ASLEF announced that it had rejected an improved pay offer from ScotRail.^[16]

A temporary timetable was brought in on 23 May 2022. The number of daily services was cut by around one-third, from approximately 2,150 to 1,456. Many early morning and late night services were cancelled.^[17] In June 2022, ASLEF recommended its members accept a revised offer.^[18] Services between Wick and Inverness on the Far North Line were cut from four trains each way per day to two. In May 2022, Stagecoach Highlands announced the introduction of an additional weekday bus service between Inverness and Thurso, on a temporary basis, to compensate for the reduced rail service. The bus would depart Inverness at 11:50, with the return service leaving Thurso at 19:00.^[19]

AI announcer

See also: Audio deepfake § Extended use without permission

ScotRail train announcement

Fletcher Mathers recreation of the ScotRail train announcement, recorded in 2018

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On 22 May 2025, ScotRail began using the artificial intelligence-generated voice "Iona" as the announcer on some services in the Ayrshire and Inverclyde area. It was claimed that the voice, made with the Hoya Corporations product ReadSpeak, used recording work done by the actress Gayanne Potter for them in 2021, which at the time she understood would just be used for accessibility and e-learning software.^[22][23][24] The AI voice replaced older pre-recorded messages recorded by Scottish actress Fletcher Mathers. Mathers said that to her the voice's intonation, which in some cases had been entered phonetically by staff, "doesn't sound quite right".^[25]

On 25 August 2025, ScotRail announced that it would be replacing the "Iona" voice,^[26] and in December they began using an AI-generated announcer based on Paisley-based ScotRail employee Vanessa Sloan.^[27] The voice was launched on Class 380 trains, with a wider rollout planned for 2026.^[27]

ScotRail Trains took over all of the services operated by Abellio.^[7] As of May 2025^[update], off-peak services delivered by ScotRail Monday to Friday are as follows:^[28]

ScotRail operates a number of different electric and diesel train types in its fleet.^[29]

In 2021, ScotRail's predecessor introduced five newly refurbished Class 153 carriages, which are attached to two-car Class 156 units. These new carriages, named "Highland Explorer" feature a 50:50 split between seating and bicycle racks.^[30] The new carriage, which carries a £10 supplement to the regular ticket price, includes complimentary refreshments, cycling-themed interior decorations and external vinyl wrap, and maps for cyclists planning to explore Western Scotland by bicycle.^[31]

In 2025, ScotRail began a procurement process for a new suburban train fleet. This was in anticipation of the need to replace two thirds of ScotRail trains by 2040. The requirement was for a minimum of 69 trains with an option for a further 37 trains, these being a mixture of electrical multiple units (EMUs) and battery electrical multiple units (BEMUs). It was expected that the first trains would enter service in the early 2030s.^{[32][33][needs update]} A separate procurement process for the financing of the new fleet was begun in February 2026.^[34]

More information Family, Class ...

ScotRail rolling stock

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Carriages	Routes operated	Built	Notes
				mph	km/h
Inter7City
High Speed Train[35][36]	43		Diesel locomotive	125	200	52	4/5	Aberdeen-Inverness Line Glasgow/Edinburgh to Aberdeen Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness	1975–1982	Operates under the brand Inter7City. Fleet consists of 9 four-coach and 17 five-coach trains. 1 four coach train damaged in the Stonehaven derailment.
	Mark 3		Passenger carriage			120
Diesel multiple units
Sprinter	153 Super Sprinter[37]		DMU	75	120	5	1	West Highland Line (Attached to 156s)[30]	1987–1988
	156 Super Sprinter[38]					42	2	Glasgow South Western Line Maryhill Line Shotts Line West Highland Line	1987–1989
	158 Express Sprinter			90	145	40		Aberdeen-Inverness Line Borders Railway Far North Line Fife Circle Line Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness Kyle of Lochalsh line Maryhill Line Levenmouth rail link	1989–1992
Bombardier Turbostar	170			100	160	34	3	Aberdeen-Inverness Line Borders Railway Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line Fife Circle Line Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness Maryhill Line Levenmouth rail link	1999–2001 2003–05
Electric multiple units
BR Second Generation (Mark 3)	318[39]		EMU	90	145	21	3	North Clyde Line Whifflet Line Cumbernauld Line Inverclyde Line Paisley Canal Line Argyle Line Cathcart Circle Lines Glasgow to Lanark via Motherwell	1985–1986
	320/3[40]					22			1990
	320/4[41][42]			100	160	12			1989–1990	Converted from Class 321/4
Alstom Coradia Juniper[43]	334			90	145	40		North Clyde Line Argyle Line	1999–2002
Siemens Desiro[44][45]	380/0			100	160	22	3	Ayrshire Coast Line Paisley Canal Line Inverclyde Line Cathcart Circle Lines North Berwick Line	2009–2011
	380/1					16	4
Hitachi AT200[46]	385/0					46	3	Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line Glasgow/Edinburgh to North Berwick/Dunbar Glasgow/Edinburgh to Dunblane and Alloa Glasgow-Cathcart Circle/Neilston/Newton Cumbernauld Line Glasgow to Edinburgh via Motherwell and Carstairs Glasgow to Lanark via Motherwell Glasgow to Edinburgh via Shotts Inverclyde Line Argyle Line	2015–2019	Operates under the brand eXpress.
	385/1					24	4

Close

Transport Scotland has a plan to implement the Scottish Government's policy to "decarbonise domestic passenger rail services", part of which involves replacing all diesel trains by 2035.^[47] The £55 million first phase, to electrify 104 km (65 mi) of Fife Circle track, between Haymarket and Dalmeny, for use by battery electric multiple units, was begun by Scottish Powerlines in June 2022 and is due to be completed by December 2024.^[48][49] Further phases will electrify the lines between Kinghorn, Thornton, Ladybank and Lochgelly.^[50]

As of March 2022^[update], ScotRail operates 355 stations in Scotland.^[51] Not included are Prestwick International Airport station, owned and operated by the airport,^[52] as well as both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central, which are managed by Network Rail.^{[a] [54]} ScotRail operates Lockerbie and Reston even though no ScotRail services currently call at either station.^[53]

ScotRail's fleet is maintained at Edinburgh Haymarket, Glasgow Eastfield, Glasgow Shields Road, Corkerhill Glasgow, Yoker, Ayr Townhead, Bathgate, and Inverness, as well as a newly built EMU stabling depot at Millerhill in Midlothian and a rebuilt depot at Cadder Yard.^[55]