ScotRail receives final converted Inter7City HST

All 26 ScotRail Inter7City High Speed Trains have now been released from conversion at Wabtec Rail, Doncaster, with the final set (HA19) arriving at Haymarket on February 24.

HA19’s arrival also marked the start of the delivery of 17 additional Mk 3 HST coaches that will enable SR to finally create its five-coach IC7 sets, as per its franchise agreement.

The coaches in the final set are

Trailer Guard’s Miniature Buffet First (TGFB) 40619 and TS 42255/256, 42568. The TGFB was converted from Trailer First (TF) 41124.

The first four extra TS coaches sent north were 42029/032, 42213, 42351. Initially these will be stored, but as lockdown restrictions ease and passenger numbers rise, so the coaches will be inserted into IC7 sets. There will be one set extended prior to that, for testing purposes.

Still to leave Doncaster are TS 42009/023/033/035/047/054/056/ 077/078/096, 42144/185, 42209.

All 26 IC7 sets feature sliding doors, more accessible interiors and exteriors, and universal access toilets. They have been converted from Great Western Railway

HSTs made redundant by the introduction of Hitachi IETs.

The IC7s have been introduced on routes between Scotland’s seven cities, replacing shorter diesel multiple units.

No decision has yet been made on whether HA22, which was involved in the fatal Carmont accident last August, will be replaced (this was formed of TGFB 40622, TS 42007, 42145, 42564).

The HSTs are leased from

Angel Trains. The Class 43 power cars were refurbished by Brush Traction, Loughborough, while most of the stock was treated at Doncaster Works.