Class 385 completes successful Edinburgh-Glasgow test
A new Hitachi Rail Europe Class 385 electric multiple unit completed a test run on the newly electrified line from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street in the early hours of November 1, with the trips repeated the following night.
Three-car 385001 was used on the first night. It left Edinburgh Waverley at 0040 (12 minutes late) and arrived at Glasgow Queen Street at 0152 (seven minutes early). It then left Glasgow at 0231 and arrived at Newbridge Junction at 0343. The ‘385’ then returned to Glasgow, arriving at 0423 (18 minutes early), before leaving for Edinburgh at 0441 (19 minutes early) and arriving at 0604 (on time).
The following night, four-car 385102 was used to complete two return trips between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street. This follows a successful trial of the infrastructure between Edinburgh and Linlithgow in the early hours of October 18 ( RAIL 839).
Full testing of the trains and the infrastructure along the route will continue for several weeks.
When the new trains enter passenger service they will deliver faster journeys, more seats and better services for customers travelling between Scotland’s two biggest cities. They will then be rolled out to other routes in the Central Belt.
ScotRail Alliance Programmes and Transformation Director Ian McConnell said: “This morning’s trial was a massive step towards the introduction of electric passenger trains on the newly electrified Edinburgh to Glasgow main line. Having a train run successfully along the full route shows real progress.”
Hitachi Rail Europe Programme Manager Andy Radford, said: “We are really pleased that our new trains can now be tested on the newly electrified Edinburgh to Glasgow routes. We will continue to work closely with the ScotRail Alliance to ensure the trains deliver the benefits to future passengers as soon as possible.”
Electric trains are due to start running between the two cities in December, a year later than planned. Class 380s will be used initially, with the ‘385s’ to enter traffic from next spring ( RAIL 839).