The first of the ten electric trains being introduced to boost capacity on the Edinburgh to Glasgow line have begun service this weekend.
ScotRail says its temporary class 365 trains were starting to run from late evening yesterday Saturday, 23 June.
The rail operator has hired these trains while it prepares for the delivery of its new Hitachi class 385 electric trains, which are expected in a few months time.
One eight-carriage train will be used this weekend, increasing the number of electric services between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk High route to five out of eight services per hour in total. The remaining trains will be phased in during the coming weeks.
When the initial period is over seven of the eight trains per hour along the route will be electric, and customers are expected to benefit from an extra 17,200 seats per day.
As the priority is getting the trains into service as soon as possible, the trains will initially not be fitted with WiFi, but Scotrail says this this will become available in the coming weeks.
ScotRail Alliance Head of Customer Experience Graham Heald said: “I’m delighted to confirm that we’ll have an eight-carriage class 365 electric train in use this weekend, with more entering service over the coming weeks. When all of the class 365 trains are in service, customers will benefit from an extra 17,200 seats a day on our flagship route between Scotland’s two biggest cities.
“The coming months will see a transformation on Scotland’s railway, and we can’t wait for customers to experience the difference.”
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