ScotRail (British Rail)

ScotRail
Class 47 in ScotRail livery at York station
in 1988
Overview
Franchise(s)Not subject to franchising
Main Region(s)Scotland
Parent companyBritish Rail
PredecessorRegional Railways
SuccessorScotRail (National Express)

ScotRail was the trading name providing a distinctive brand for the British Rail network in Scotland,[1][page needed] first adopted on 22 September 1983, under manager Chris Green, British Railways Scottish Region. ScotRail was the final brand of British Rail passenger services to operate prior to the privatisation of British Rail, with the ScotRail franchise being signed over to National Express on 31 March 1997.[2]

Services

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ScotRail was responsible for all passenger services that operated wholly within Scotland. It also operated services across the English border to Carlisle, and from 5 March 1988, took over operation of the Caledonian Sleeper services to London Euston.[3] Services from south of the border via the East Coast and West Coast Main Lines remained the responsibility of InterCity.

Infrastructure

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The Ayrshire Coast Line was electrified in September 1986, as was the North Berwick Line in July 1991.

Rolling stock

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During its tenure, much of Scotland's locomotive hauled passenger carriage fleet was replaced by Class 150, Class 156 and Class 158 diesel multiple units. It also introduced cascaded Class 305s as well as new Class 318 and Class 320 electric multiple units.

Class Image Type Top speed Number Cars Built
mph km/h
Locomotive hauled stock
37 Diesel locomotive 90 145 N/A 1960–1965
47 75 121 At least 12 1962–1968
86 Electric locomotive 100–110 161–177 1965–1966
87 110 177 1973–1975
Mark 1 Passenger carriage 90–100 145–161 1951–1963
Mark 2 100 161 1963–1975
DBSO At least 12 1979
Mark 3 Passenger carriage 125 200 1975–1988
Diesel multiple units
101 DMU 70 113 At least 12 2, 3 or 4 1956–1960
104 A few 1957–1959
107 26 3 1960
116 14 2 or 3 1957–1961
150 Sprinter 75 121 18 2 1986–1987
156 Super Sprinter About 49 1987–1989
158 Express Sprinter 90 145 46 1989–1992
Electric multiple units
303 EMU 75 121 90 3 1959–1961
305 19 3 or 4 1959
311 19 3 1967
314 70 113 16 1979
318 90 145 21 1985–1986
320 75 121 22 1990

Liveries

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When formed in 1983, customised versions of the existing British Rail liveries were adopted, with passenger locomotives and coaching stock painted in a lightly modified version of the InterCity Executive livery. The red stripe was replaced with a saltire blue stripe, and the InterCity name was replaced with the ScotRail name. Most locomotives carried the standard InterCity Executive livery but with ScotRail branding. Diesel and Electric multiple units carried normal versions of the Regional Railways livery. In the SPT area, rolling stock was painted in Strathclyde Orange and Black.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Stewart, Valerie & Chadwick, Vivian (1987). Changing Trains: messages for management from the ScotRail challenge. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8870-3.
  2. ^ Donegan, Lawrence (1 April 1997). "First and final BR man sees off its last train". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Inverness depot to remain open". The Railway Magazine. No. 1128. April 1995. p. 31.

Further reading

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  • Perren, Brian; Noble, Tom; Brown, Murray (June 1988). "Focus on ScotRail". RAIL. No. 81. EMAP National Publications. Supplement. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
Preceded by Operator of Scotland
passenger services

1983–1997
Succeeded by