Inbox

01.09.15

ScotRail unveils first of 40 restored Class 158s

ScotRail unveiled today the first of 40 revamped Class 158 trains as part of a wider £14m modernisation project.

The first carriage will leave the depot tomorrow (2 September) in preparation for the opening day of the new Borders Railway.

Work is being carried out at the Knorr-Bremse RailServices’ Springburn facility in Glasgow, with 14 additional staff recruited specifically for the overhaul project.

The two-carriage trains, built in Derby from 1989-92, are all to get the new 'Saltire' livery and have their interiors fitted with modern carpets, finishes and toilets.

The 137-seat trains will also be equipped with new CCTV systems and automatic passenger-counting systems.

The fleet, which is being upgraded with Scotland’s "scenic railways" in mind, is being funded by ScotRail and jointly managed by Porterbrook.

Derek Mackay, minister for transport and islands, said: “We are investing record amounts in Scotland’s railways and, with passenger numbers increasing by more than six million last year, these refurbished trains will further improve the travel experience.

“Passengers will soon see more of these refurbished trains rolling out on routes all over Scotland and, fittingly, the first carriages off the production line will start their journey as part of the historic Borders Railway launch, with all the benefits that will bring for the Border, Midlothian and Edinburgh economy.”

The new trains will be introduced at a rate of around one a month between now and April 2018 on several routes across Scotland, including:

  • Inverness - Aberdeen/Kyle/Wick
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Stirling/Dunblane/Alloa
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Falkirk Grahamston
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Anniesland via Maryhill
  • Edinburgh - Dunblane/Perth/Glasgow Central via Shotts
  • Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Queen Street - Perth/Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness  
  • Fife Circle.

Comments

Michael Finch   02/09/2015 at 12:41

Always good news to see something that is a bit tired and jaded refurbished, but I hope that they make a better job of them than Arriva trains Wales did on their Class 158 refurbs, and pay special attention to the reliability of the air conditioning units.There is little or none other fresh air ingress into these units and without fully functional air con the ambience in the carriages is awful, especially when fully loaded.

Nonsuchmike   05/09/2015 at 14:52

They look really great and comfortable. We are delighted that Scotland has some new, albeit "restored", coaches for a variety of different lines and passenger experiences. Our northern brothers and sisters deserve some good fortune in this respect. Our only doubt is why two carriage units are considered sufficient to make up a full train; surely this is insulting on any route? Better would be to have a minimum of three carriages in a train and preferably four, even for the less well patronised routes and times.

Adz   07/11/2015 at 01:16

Would be nice to have something new on the West Highland line from Glasgow to Oban and Mallaig

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