| Franchise(s): | ScotRail 1997 - 16 October 2004 |
|---|---|
| Main Region(s): | Scotland |
| Other Region(s): | London, Watford, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle and Newcastle |
| Fleet size: | 309 |
| Stations operated: | 336 |
| Route km operated: | 3032.0 |
| National Rail abbreviation: | SR |
| Parent company: | National Express |
ScotRail (Scottish Gaelic: Rèile na h-Alba) was a brand name used by National Express for all Scottish regional and commuter rail services, including some cross-border services, from 1997 to 2004, taken from the brand name created by British Railways manager Chris Green.[1]
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The brand was adopted by National Express when it became the first franchisee following on from British Rail in 1997. When the franchise was awarded to First Group, it subsequently revised the brand under the name First ScotRail when it took over the franchise on 17 October 2004, having outbid National Express.
The first unique ScotRail livery was introduced shortly after privatisation under National Express, who introduced their own livery. Initially, vehicles received the new ScotRail logo applied with vinyl stickers; a stylised outline of Scotland composed of three flashes in the corporate colours of green, red and purple. Multiple units were painted into the new livery with bodies in white (lower half) and purple (upper half) with green, red and white stripes bordering the purple, overlain by and a wide diagonal white band in the centre of the carriage. There were no units left with Regional Railways livery in Scotland at the end of the National Express franchise period, although the Class 305 electric units retained it until withdrawal in 2001. The latter were replaced by ex-Stansted Skytrain Class 322 units which were never repainted under the National Express franchise, receiving only ScotRail logo transfers. When the Class 322 hire ended in 2004, they were replaced on the North Berwick branch by EWS Class 90 electric locomotives hauling former Virgin Trains Mk.3 coaching stock, in the old Virgin red and grey livery, again with ScotRail logo transfers.
Post privatisation, National Express ordered a total of 55 Class 170 units from 1999-2004 and by 2004, the only slam door services were also the only locomotive hauled services, the Caledonian Sleeper services from London to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William along with a single regional service between Edinburgh Waverley and North Berwick. First ScotRail has since leased electric multiple units to run between Edinburgh and North Berwick.
ScotRail contracted EWS to haul the Caledonian Sleeper between London and Scotland. EWS operate a dedicated pool of five Class 90 electric locomotives to haul the Caledonian Sleeper between London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central, together with a fleet of Class 67 diesel locomotives to haul the various sleeper portions north of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Class 37 diesel locomotives were used in place of the Class 67 locomotives, specifically on the Fort William sleeper.
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||
| Class 101 | Diesel multiple unit | 70 | 112 | 1956–1960 | |
| Class 150 Sprinter | Diesel multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 1984–1987 | |
| Class 156 Super Sprinter | Diesel multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 1987–1989 | |
| Class 158 Express Sprinter | Diesel multiple unit | 90 | 145 | 1989–1992 | |
| Class 170 Turbostar | Diesel multiple unit | 100 | 160 | 1999-2004 | |
| Class 303 Blue Train | Electric multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 1959–1961 | |
| Class 314 | Electric multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 1979 | |
| Class 318 | Electric multiple unit | 90 | 145 | 1986-1987 | |
| Class 320 | Electric multiple unit | 75 | 120 | 1990 | |
| Class 322 | Electric multiple unit | 100 | 160 | 1990 | |
| Class 334 Juniper | Electric multiple unit | 90 | 145 | 1999-2002 | |
| Mk 2 Coach | Passenger rolling stock | 100 | 160 | 1969–1974 | |
| Mk 3 Coach (Sleepers) | Passenger rolling stock | 125 | 200 | 1975–1988 | |
| Preceded by Regional Railways As part of British Rail |
Operator of ScotRail franchise 1997 - 2004 |
Succeeded by First ScotRail |
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