Scotrail's old High Speed Trains WILL be replaced

Scotland's High Speed Trains are to be replaced after safety concerns were raised following the Stonehaven rail crash four years ago.

The Scottish Government announced on Tuesday that procurement will begin to replace its ageing intercity trains which operate between Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.

The procurement will be led by ScotRail on behalf of Transport Scotland.

Transport Scotland said the process to secure the new trains has begun, but cost and timescales for their delivery remain unknown.

A procurement notice is due in the next few weeks and a "detailed timetable" will be announced when the contract is awarded.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the procurement could facilitate a move from diesel to electric trains.

She said: “Resilient, reliable ScotRail services are key to encouraging more people to choose to travel by train rather than car, to cutting our transport emissions and to helping to move people around Scotland for work, leisure and learning.

"That is why we must build on our investment in Scotland’s railway infrastructure by investing in the services and trains which connect our key cities.

“Over 4 million passenger journeys were made on InterCity trains in the last year. We want to maintain and where possible, increase that number choosing to go by train between Scotland’s cities.

“We want to replace the current Intercity fleet with trains which provide more comfort and accessibility for passengers on these routes.

“This planned investment will ensure the reliability of our Intercity routes for the long-term, will reduce emissions from Intercity services and will support our efforts to decarbonise Scotland’s railways.”

Joanne Maguire, the managing director of ScotRail, said the announcement was "good news for customers" and "an important step for ScotRail as we work towards delivering a safe, green, and reliable railway".

Train driver unions hail "significant victory"

The announcement has been welcomed by rail unions who have long been campaigning for the fleet to be upgraded.

Kevin Lindsay, ASLEF Scotland Organiser, said: “This announcement is a testament to the dedication and persistence of our members, who have consistently advocated for the safety and modernisation of Scotland’s rail services.

"The HSTs are simply not fit for purpose in the 21st century—whether we’re talking about driver and passenger safety or their environmental footprint. We are pleased that the Scottish Government has recognised the urgency of this issue and is taking action to replace these outdated trains.”

“We urge ScotRail to engage with our members throughout this process. Their input is crucial in making sure that the new fleet not only meets the needs of passengers but also ensures the highest standards of operational safety and efficiency.”

Train driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, died when an HST derailed near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, on August 12, 2020.

It happened after heavy rain caused a landslide. Network Rail was fined £6.7 million after admitting health and safety failings.

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