Getting new trains into service is vital to address problems of crowding on certain routes and also for providing train services on new routes.
There are a number of instances where either the existing trains will need upgraded or new trains will be required:
- within the Glasgow area, there are crowding issues on a number of routes
- the Ayrshire and Inverclyde routes in particular are operating very close to capacity during peak periods
- the class 314 EMUs, which generally operate in south Glasgow, are currently covered by a short term lease (to December 2009). These are the oldest trains operating on the ScotRail network. Decisions must be made about how services will be operated after that date
- the Airdrie-Bathgate rail link and the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) will both require additional electric trains to be added to the fleet
- the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) project will need trains that are suitable for this route and a specification for the new trains is currently being developed to enable them to be delivered in time for the opening of the new link.
First ScotRail are currently upgrading the class 322 electric trains operating on the Edinburgh to North Berwick route and the class 318 electric trains operating widely in the Strathclyde area. The modifications will improve reliability as well as enhance passenger comfort and security. On-board CCTV and audio/visual passenger information systems are being provided.
The overall aim is to balance supply and demand for services by making the best use of trains across the network.
New trains will have a specification similar to many of new trains built in recent years for use in England and Scotland, whilst perhaps having interior layouts and colour schemes appropriate to specific services.
We are particularly keen that all new trains are reliable from the first. The maturity of the rolling stock market nowadays means that we should not suffer any of the problems we had in introducing the class 334s.
For further details of the classes of trains mentioned see the Glossary.
