Scotrail

ScotRail: Scotland’s National Railway

ScotRail is Scotland’s national train operator, responsible for delivering passenger rail services across the Scottish rail network. As the backbone of public transport in Scotland, ScotRail connects hundreds of communities, from the busy commuter corridors of the Central Belt to the remote and spectacular routes of the Scottish Highlands.

About ScotRail

ScotRail has been Scotland’s principal passenger train operator for decades, evolving through successive franchise arrangements before returning to public ownership in April 2022. Today, ScotRail Trains Limited operates as a publicly owned company under the Scottish Government, managed through its holding company, Scottish Rail Holdings. This transition marked a significant moment in Scottish transport history, bringing the day-to-day operation of passenger services back under public control for the first time in a generation.

ScotRail operates the vast majority of domestic passenger train services within Scotland, covering routes from Thurso and Wick in the far north to the English border in the south, and from Aberdeen and Dundee in the east to the Hebridean ferry ports on the west coast.

The ScotRail Network

ScotRail serves more than 350 stations across Scotland, operating on a network that covers approximately 3,000 kilometres of track. The network encompasses a wide variety of route types and environments:

• High-frequency commuter services in the Glasgow and Edinburgh city regions
• Inter-city services connecting Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Perth
• Rural and community lines serving smaller towns and villages across Scotland
• Scenic tourist routes including the iconic West Highland Line, the Kyle of Lochalsh Line and the Far North Line
• Cross-boundary services connecting Scotland with northern England

Rolling Stock and Fleet

ScotRail operates a mixed fleet of electric and diesel rolling stock suited to the diverse requirements of the Scottish network:

• Class 385 electric multiple units operate on the electrified Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street route via Falkirk High, one of Scotland’s busiest and most improved corridors
• Class 170, 156 and 158 diesel multiple units serve rural, inter-city and cross-country routes where electrification is not yet in place
• Class 314, 318, 320 and 380 electric units operate on the extensive electrified suburban network around Glasgow
• Ongoing fleet investment and refurbishment programmes aim to improve passenger comfort, accessibility and reliability across the network

Key Routes and Services

ScotRail’s network includes some of the most celebrated and strategically important rail routes in Britain:

• Edinburgh to Glasgow: One of the busiest inter-city corridors in Scotland, now operated by modern Class 385 electric trains following the completion of the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme
• Glasgow to Aberdeen and Inverness: Long-distance inter-city services connecting Scotland’s major northern cities
• Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig (West Highland Line): One of the most scenic railway journeys in the world, serving communities and tourists in the western Highlands
• Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and the Far North Line: Remote Highland routes providing vital connectivity for communities with limited transport alternatives
• The Borders Railway: Scotland’s newest railway, reopened in 2015 connecting Edinburgh with Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders

Engineering Works and Possession Planning

Maintaining and improving ScotRail’s network requires regular planned engineering works, during which sections of track are taken out of service to allow maintenance, renewal and enhancement activities to take place safely. These periods, known as possessions, are carefully planned and coordinated by Network Rail Scotland in close partnership with ScotRail.

Engineering works on the ScotRail network typically take place:

• Overnight on weekdays, with services resuming before the morning peak
• At weekends, when major works requiring longer possession windows are scheduled
• During extended blockades for large-scale renewal or enhancement projects

During planned engineering works, ScotRail operates rail replacement bus services to minimise disruption for passengers. Information on upcoming engineering works and service alterations is published on the ScotRail website and through its passenger communications channels.

ScotRail and Sustainability

ScotRail and the Scottish Government are committed to a sustainable railway future. Key sustainability priorities include:

• Reducing carbon emissions through electrification of additional routes and investment in low and zero emission traction technology
• Exploring hydrogen and battery-powered trains for routes where conventional electrification is not practical
• Improving energy efficiency across the fleet and estate
• Supporting modal shift from private car and domestic aviation to rail
• Contributing to Scotland’s ambitious net zero emissions targets

ScotRail’s transition to public ownership has also placed renewed emphasis on delivering social value alongside operational performance, recognising the railway’s role in connecting communities, supporting economic development and providing accessible, affordable transport for people across Scotland.

News and Media

ScotRail publishes regular news, service updates and project information through its website and media channels. The latest ScotRail news and press releases are available at www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/news, covering operational updates, infrastructure improvements, community initiatives and sustainability progress.

For infrastructure and engineering works news relating to the Scottish network, Network Rail Scotland’s media centre at www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/media-centre/scotland provides detailed information