ScotRail launches its new inter-city service with revamped trains

Operator promises faster journey times on the east coast

Scotland’s fleet of refurbished high speed trains will lead to more local services and happier customers, ScotRail’s managing director has promised.

Alex Hynes said improvements will be felt across the network with the introduction of the inter-city service between Edinburgh and Aberdeen next week.

The route, which will stop only at Dundee on its way to the capital, will initially shave 10 minutes off travel times.

Mr Hynes spoke at the press launch of the new service, with members of the media, politicians and specially invited guests enjoying a trip down the east coast mainline.

In an unintended glimpse of the ScotRail east coast experience, passengers were delayed on the line for almost 40 minutes north of Kirkcaldy following apparent brake problems.

The ScotRail boss insisted fares would not rise as a result of the new rolling stock, pointing out costs are set by the Scottish Government.

The new service, which will start on Monday, will feature four and fivecarriage trains running from Edinburgh Waverley to Aberdeen via Dundee.

Mr Hynes said: “Our three-car diesel trains which we currently operate are perfectly fine but they weren’t designed to InterCity levels of quality or longdistance journeys.

“We wanted to provide to our customers a top-quality inter-city rail travel and that’s why we brought the high-speed trains to Scotland, so we can deliver on that promise.

“Customers will see these trains rolled out across the inter-city service between now and the end of next year.

“The routes will generally stay the same but what we will do is cut journey time.”

Mr Hynes said the move would lead to improvements in local services, with an increase in the number of seats and trains expected.

“We have upgraded the quality of the project but the combination of the other changes we’ll be making means there will be a lot more local services too, particularly in the north-east of the country where there will be a huge uplift in local services,” he said.

“We currently have 800 carriages in the rolling stock fleet, which is going to increase to 1,000.

“They will either be brand new or refurbished between now and the end of next year.

“Starting in December, customers will be able to see more and more of the InterCity trains and increase in the number of seats.

“Travel time has been cut down by 10 minutes but we have ambition to cut it by more. We have some tough targets on the franchise agreement.”

Pictures: Mhairi Edwards. Hospitality assistant Brooklyn Kerr supplies drinks in the first class cabin.

ScotRail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes on board the new high speed service, which runs between Edinburgh and Aberdeen via Dundee.