‘Happy trains’ to lighten gloom for commuters

The first of Scotrail’s stand-in “Happy Trains” will start operating on the main Edinburgh-glasgow line on Saturday.

The class 365 electric trains have been drafted in to ease overcrowding after a brand new Scotrail fleet was delayed.

Other trains have gone after their leases expired.

The first services are due to run between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley via Falkirk High late on Saturday evening.

They will operate the 10:30pm Glasgow-edinburgh and 11:30pm Edinburgh-glasgow services. The 23-year-old trains’ nickname comes from the fact they appear to smile.

A memo sent to Scotrail staff from Graham Heald, the firm’s head of customer experience, said: “Once all trains are in service, there will be an extra 17,200 seats per day between our two biggest cities.”

The trains do not have wheelchair ramps or wifi, unlike the diesel trains on the route they will replace. Station ramps will be used instead. The trains will also not call at Bishopbriggs or Lenzie because they are too long for the platforms.

Brand-new class 385 electric trains have been delayed because of problems drivers have encountered seeing signals through their windscreens, which are being replaced.

The first of these trains is expected to carry passengers on the line next month.