ScotRail's old high-speed trains to be replaced

Scotland’s high-speed train fleet will be replaced after concerns were raised about their safety in the wake of the Stonehaven rail crash.

The Scottish Government announced that procurement will begin to replace its ageing Intercity trains, led by ScotRail on behalf of Transport Scotland.

The fleet, which operates on routes between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, is set to be replaced with “more comfortable and accessible” trains.

The announcement has been welcomed by train drivers’ union ASLEF which previously demanded the replacement of the High-Speed Train (HST) fleet as part of its campaign on driver and passenger safety.

Following the fatal Carmont derailment, near Stonehaven in 2020, which involved a HST dating back to the 1970s, an investigation found that the trains “pre-date a number of modern standards that are relevant to train behaviour in derailments and collisions” but were known to have a “good safety standard”.

Stonehaven train crash in 2020 killed three people. Contributed

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch report found: “HST driving cabs are not fitted with seat belts or any other secondary impact protection for the driver, and therefore drivers are vulnerable to injurious impact with the desk structure and windscreen in collisions and derailments.”

A report by the drivers’ union highlighted inadequacies of the trains in relation to driver and passenger safety and their environmental impact.

Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said the investment will support efforts to decarbonise Scotland’s railways.

“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”, Hyslop said.

“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 four 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.”

ASLEF is calling on ScotRail and the Scottish Government to ensure that train drivers are involved in the procurement process.

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.”

A contract notice on the announcement is expected to be published in the coming weeks.