First ScotRail

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Template:Infobox Rail companies First ScotRail is the brand under which First Group PLC runs its railway franchise to operate all domestic passenger services within Scotland, as well as the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London, England. First Group has headquarters in Aberdeen, Scotland.

On 17 October 2004 the franchise was transferred to First Group from National Express resulting in the rebranding from ScotRail to First ScotRail. This was the first time the franchise has been renegotiated since the privatisation of British Rail. Franchises are negotiated with the Strategic Rail Authority.

1 Network
2 Fleet
3 Performance
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

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Network

The First ScotRail network is mixture of long-distance, commuter and rural lines, totalling 2,729 km (1,696 miles), handling 66.1 million passenger journeys in 2003-4.

The densest part of the network is the suburban network around Glasgow, consisting of 183 stations — the largest suburban rail network in the UK, outwith London. Much of it is 25kV electrified. Glasgow’s main terminal stations are Central Station and Queen Street Station. Although First ScotRail operate the trains in this area, they do so under the Strathclyde Passenger Transport name, who set the timetables and fares, and brand the trains in their livery.

Image:First ScotRail Class 170.JPG

Edinburgh’s suburban network is less dense than Glasgow’s, but is still relatively extensive. Edinburgh’s main station is Waverley Station.

Express services operate between Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen. The Highland Main Line links Inverness to the south.

Rural lines include the scenic West Highland Line, Kyle Line and Far North Line. These are not generally well used, but are kept open for a variety of reasons, including social necessity, tourism and political considerations.

First ScotRail also operates the Caledonian Sleeper services to Euston station in London, along the West Coast Main Line.

The majority of Scotland’s 340 passenger stations are operated by First ScotRail with Network Rail retaining ownership — the exception being Prestwick International Airport station, which is both owned and operated by the airport. Only three other stations in Scotland are not operated by First ScotRail: Dunbar (GNER), Edinburgh Waverley (Network Rail) and Glasgow Central (Network Rail). Curiously, they operate Lockerbie railway station but none of their services call there.

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Fleet

Image:156457 at Oban.JPG The present diesel fleet is comprised of a mixture of Class 156 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter units, which were acquired during the British Rail era, and Class 170 Turbostar sets acquired post-privatisation.

The present electric fleet includes Class 314, Class 318, Class 320, Class 322 and Class 334 Juniper units.

In addition to the main fleet, at least one Class 458 is in Scotland being converted from 750V DC third rail to 25kV AC overhead power for testing, possily on the SPT network. If these tests are successful, the AC powered units may be reclassified as Class 358 units.

The sleepers are comprised of specially adapted Mark 3 coaches, which are hauled by EWS locomotives.

During 2005, the Edinburgh-North Berwick line were operated by EWS-Class 90 electric locomotives with former Virgin Trains Mark 3 coaches. In late 2005, Class 322 units were reintroduced onto the line. A refurbishment program is taking place for these units. It is considered bad use of resources to use diesel trains on an entirely-electric line, thus precluding the use of shorter Turbostar units.

ScotRail has previously operated Class 101 and Class 117 diesel units, and Class 303 and Class 305 electric units, but these have now all been withdrawn. ScotRail has also operated Class 150 diesel but these have transferred to other operators following deliveries of new trains.

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Performance

The performance figures for National Express’s last quarter as franchise holders, July to September 2004, are:

82.8% of trains arriving within 5 minutes of the scheduled time. Down 4.2% on the same quarter the previous year.
84.2% of trains arriving within 5 minutes of the scheduled time. Down 1.0% on the previous year as a whole.

The performance figures for First Group’s first quarter as franchise holders, October to December 2004, are:

79.8% of trains arriving within 5 minutes of the scheduled time. Down 1.9% on the same quarter the previous year
83.7% of trains arriving within 5 minutes of the schedules time. Down 0.5% on the previous year as a whole.

Note: First Group did not start operating the franchise until 17 October 2004.

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