‘385s’ delayed
ScotRail admits new Class 385s will not enter traffic as planned in December, as they need final approval.
CLASS 385s will not be ready for their planned introduction onto Edinburgh-Glasgow electric services via Falkirk.
ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes has written to Scotland’s Transport Minister Humza Yousaf informing him that the Hitachi Rail Europe-built electric multiple units will only be introduced once they can maintain SR’s standards.
“The new trains mean it’s an exciting time for customers and for our industry,” said Hynes.
“Passengers have noticed our improved performance in recent months. We equalled our best ever score in the most recent National Rail Passenger Survey, and we are the best-performing large operator in the UK.
“When it comes to the introduction of the new Class 385 trains, I won’t do anything to put that performance at risk. The service our customers receive must come first.
“With that in mind, I have written to the Transport Minister to tell him that even though we are working flat out, we will only introduce the new ‘385s’ on the Edinburgh-Glasgow line when we are confident that we can maintain our current high level of service.”
Hynes concluded: “Only when our four tests have been met will we introduce the new trains.
“If introducing the new Class 385s in December would have a negative impact on our performance and does not meet our four tests, we won’t do it.”
The four tests the trains must meet are: Q That the line should be successfully electrified and checked it is safe. Q That the trains themselves should be tested on the route, to the point that ScotRail is satisfied they can enter traffic (this is due to start in October). Q That there are sufficient numbers of trains manufactured and delivered to allow SR to train its train crew, so that it can confidently operate a reliable service (this is expected to start in October). Q That SR has received necessary regulatory approvals.
Hitachi confirmed the delays, and said that there was no date for the introduction for the trains. It confirmed that access to the network had been a cause for the delay.
Spokesman Adam Love told RAIL that four trains were being tested (two in the UK and two in Germany), and that a fifth train was about to be completed in Newton Aycliffe - the first of 56 to be assembled there.
This is the latest in a series of delays suffered by the EdinburghGlasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), which was due to have had electric trains start last December using Class 380s. The ‘380s’ will now begin running this December, with ‘385s’ gradually replacing them as they are cleared for use.
There are 70 Class 385s on order. In July, Hynes told RAIL that the electric services may not start with the new EMUs ( RAIL 831), and that he would be an “idiot to guarantee that”. To operate the service. SR needs 21 ‘385s’.
At Newton Aycliffe, three-car 385003-385013 are in production. Three-car 385014 (built in Kasado, Japan) arrived at the site by road on September 15 for finishing, and 385015/016 will follow (both were at Teesport as this issue of RAIL went to press).
Four-car 385103 will be the first to be released from the site, while 385104 is undergoing testing.
Also at Newton Aycliffe is 385122, which has arrived from Japan for completion.