Latest Rail News

01.11.17

EGIP into final testing phase as first full Edinburgh to Glasgow journey completed

The ScotRail Alliance successfully tested its first Class 385 on the full journey between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street in the early hours of this morning.

The journey builds on the previous test between Edinburgh and Linlithgow last month and stands as a major step forward for the EGIP plans.

There will be continual trials of the new stock across the Edinburgh-Glasgow Line for the next few weeks before it is official opened for public use.

“This morning’s trial was a massive step towards the introduction of electric passenger trains on the newly electrified Edinburgh to Glasgow mainline,” commented Ian McConnell, director of programmes and transformation at ScotRail Alliance, who spoke to RTM about the trains earlier this year

“Having a train run successfully along the full route shows real progress. We are building the best railway that Scotland has ever had.”

The Hitachi 385s were official unveiled at the company’s Newton Aycliffe factory last month. They are expected to travel on a number of lines into and out of Glasgow and Edinburgh, including Stirling/Dunblane/Alloa.

Hitachi Rail Europe programme manager, Andy Radford, said: “We are really pleased that our new trains can now be tested on the newly electrified Edinburgh to Glasgow routes. We will continue to work closely with the ScotRail Alliance to ensure the trains deliver the benefits to future passengers as soon as possible.”

Speaking to RTM exclusively earlier this month, Alex Hynes, managing director of ScotRail Alliance, said the Class 385 fleet will, alongside the refurbished HSTs, mean 90% of the operator’s fleet will be either new or revamped by 2020. The other 10% is already too modern to require any work.

While Hynes did acknowledge that the alliance was aiming to roll out the trains onto the network by December, he said no promises can be made until the fleet is fully tested on the newly electrified stretch between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

RTM’s full interview with Hynes appears in the November/December edition, which you can receive for free by subscribing here.

Top image: ScotRail

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Comments

PP   01/11/2017 at 16:06

As an E&G regular, it's great to see this progress at last. We've gone through a lot of pain to get here!

Andrew Gwilt   02/11/2017 at 00:36

That would mean that the Class 385’s should start passenger service in couple weeks time. Or in early January 2018. As the Class 385’s will be operating on the newly electrified Shotts Line between Glasgow and Edinburgh via High Falkirk and on other routes including the North Berwick Line.

Ken Maclagan   02/11/2017 at 06:27

Building the “best railway Scotland has ever had” would need to connect major settlements like Levenmouth on the Fife Coast before it can even dream of this”

PP   02/11/2017 at 07:16

Andrew, you do not know when the 385s will enter service. And the Shotts line does NOT run via Falkirk.

Andrew Gwilt   02/11/2017 at 10:09

Ok I proven wrong. Again!

Andrew Gwilt   02/11/2017 at 10:13

But the Shotts Line is due to be electrified at some point as the Class 385’s will replace the Class 170 & other DMU’s. And Class 380’s could also operate on the Shotts Line once the electrification is completed. The electrification on the Glasgow-Edinburgh line via Falkirk High is due to be completed next year and the Class 385’s will soon operate on the line once the overhead wires are live.

AJG89   02/11/2017 at 12:04

Lines to be electrified in Central Scotland are: Shotts Line (Could of been renamed as Glasgow-Edinburgh via Shotts Line). Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk Line (could of been renamed as Falkirk High Line). Edinburgh–Dunblane line (which includes Stirling and Alloa lines that is also to be electrified). These lines will have a mixture of Class 380’s and mostly Class 385’s to replace the Class 170’s, Class 158’s, Class 153’s and Class 156’s DMU’s to be operated on other routes and some to be cascaded to other lines in Wales and England.

PP   02/11/2017 at 20:49

Yes, we know what lines are being electrified. Why do we need to rename them? And class 153s have never operated in Scotland. Please check your "facts" before you post them.

AJG89   03/11/2017 at 07:02

Ah right. Thanks for clarifying.

Andrew Gwilt   03/11/2017 at 07:05

Please check your "facts" before you post them. Does it really matter about facts. Who cares about facts. Facts are rubbish.

Jim   03/11/2017 at 07:53

I think Andrew has been watching a bit too much Trump...

Andrew Gwilt   04/11/2017 at 10:43

Would I want to say “Fake News”. Or “Fake statement”.

Andrew JG   05/11/2017 at 19:37

Can’t wait for these new trains to start passenger services in Scotland from next year.

PJ   12/01/2018 at 20:33

I thought the class 70 "Fugly" was an uugly design but these Storm Troopers take the biscuit.

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