Scotland railway business news
News about railway operations, infrastructure, suppliers and policy in Scotland, from Rail Business UK.
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Rail Business UKScotRail introduces emergency timetable
UK: Following the rejection of a pay offer and a decision by many drivers not to make themselves available for overtime work, ScotRail is to introduce a temporary timetable from July 10 which removes around 600 services. The company said the changes are ’a result of ...
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Rail Business UKScottish transport ticketing goes digital
UK: Unicard has migrated paper-based ZoneCard tickets valid on ScotRail, Glasgow Subway and bus services in the west of Scotland to its ITSO-compliant smart ticketing platform. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport awarded the contract with the aim of improving the passenger experience and reducing the complexity of ...
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Rail Business UKLevenmouth rail link officially opened
UK: The reinstated Levenmouth railway was official inaugurated by Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney on May 29, ahead of the start of passenger services on June 2.
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Rail Business UKSeparate MDs appointed for Network Rail Scotland and ScotRail
UK: Separate Managing Directors have been appointed for infrastructure manager Network Rail in Scotland and for passenger train operator ScotRail, though the organisations have stressed their commitment to the current alliance model of close co-operation. Both Managing Director roles are currently held jointly by Alex Hynes, ...
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Rail Business UKAlex Hynes appointed DfT Director General Rail Services
UK: The Department for Transport has appointed Alex Hynes as Director General Rail Services. He is due to join on a two-year secondment from his current position as Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway on April 15. Interim Director General Anit Chandarana will return to Network Rail ...
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Rail Business UKScotRail trials Smart Kiosk ticket machine
TICKETING: ScotRail is trialling a Smart Kiosk ticket vending machine supplied by Cammax which is designed to provide passengers in Scotland with a wider range of ticket options and information. As well as purchasing tickets on the day of travel, passengers can obtain live travel information, including ...
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Metro Report InternationalEdinburgh council to consult on north-south tram plan
UK: City of Edinburgh Council is to undertake public consultation to inform the development of a strategic business case for a north-south tram route running from Granton via the city centre to BioQuarter and beyond. Route The preferred route runs from Granton ...
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Rail Business UKScottish rail electrification framework procurement underway
UK: Network Rail has begun procurement for a framework contract covering the ‘efficient, consistent development, delivery, entry into service and handback’ of electrification to decarbonise rail operations in Scotland. This forms part of the Aberdeen Route Upgrade Electrification programme worth £250m-£300m and the £50m-£60m electrical safety ...
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Rail Business UKEast Linton station opens
UK: East Linton station on the East Coast Main Line opened on December 13. ScotRail and TransPennine Express will provide 22 services each weekday with an average journey time to Edinburgh of 22 min. The £15m station was built by contractor BAM Nuttall with AECOM providsing ...
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Metro Report InternationalGlasgow Subway’s Stadler trains enter passenger service
UK: The first two of 17 trainsets that Stadler is supplying to replace the Glasgow Subway fleet entered passenger service with a soft launch on the afternoon on December 11. The trains have been custom-made to the unique specifications of the 10·5 km circular underground line, ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail awards East Kilbride electrification contracts
UK: Network Rail has awarded the main works contracts for the East Kilbride Enhancement Project, which includes electrification of the line near Glasgow. The announcement on November 22 follows the confirmation of Scottish government funding in September, The contracts totalling £61·5m have been awarded to Story ...
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Metro Report InternationalEdinburgh tram inquiry report sets out reasons for delays and cost increases
UK: The long-awaited report of the inquiry into why the Edinburgh tram project incurred delays, cost more than budgeted and was reduced in scope was finally published on September 19. The construction of the line from the city’s airport to Newhaven was initially budgeted at £545m ...
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Rail Business UKScotRail to trial all-day Off Peak fares
UK: Off Peak tickets on routes where fares are controlled by ScotRail will be valid all day under a six-month trial running from October 3 until March 29 2024. The Scottish government-funded project aims to encourage people to travel by rail instead of car. ScotRail said ...
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Rail Business UKEast Kilbride electrification funding confirmed
UK: The Scottish government has confirmed funding for the East Kilbride Enhancement Project, saying a rolling programme of electrification forms a key element of its transport decarbonisation plans. The announcement on September 6 confirms £96·3m of funding for project delivery. This is on top of £43·5m ...
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Rail Business UKLevenmouth reopening tracklaying completed
UK: Scottish Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop installed a ceremonial golden Pandrol clip on August 25 to mark completion of tracklaying on the Levenmouth Rail Link project. The main works for the project to reinstate the line between Thornton Junction and Leven began in March 2022. These ...
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Rail Business UKNetwork Rail publishes £4·2bn CP7 Strategic Business Plan for Scotland
UK: Network Rail Scotland has published its £4·2bn Strategic Business Plan for Control Period 7, covering the five years from April 1 2024. The document is NR’s response to the Scottish government’s High Level Output Statement, which detailed what it wants Scotland’s Railway to deliver in ...
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Rail Business UKCaledonian Sleeper moves to Scottish government ownership
UK: The first Caledonian Sleeper night train services under Scottish government ownership ran on June 25, following the end of the contract previously held by Serco. The last Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd trains ran on the night of Friday June 23, as there is no Saturday ...
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Rail Business UKScotRail fare rises announced
UK: ScotRail fares are to increase by 4·8% from July 3, with no increase for season tickets and flexi-passes. Transport Scotland said disposable income in Scotland rose by 6% in the year to Q4 2022, and the fare rise was calculated based on being equal overall ...
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Metro Report InternationalEdinburgh tramway extension to Newhaven opens
UK: The Newhaven extension of the Edinburgh tramway opened at midday on June 7, adding 4·69 km and eight stops to the line. Trams run every 7 to 10 min from 06.00 to midnight, seven days a week. A piper accompanied the first tram into the ...
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Rail Business UKScottish Rail Holdings board members appointed
UK: On April 26 Scotland’s Minister for Transport Kevin Stewart announced the appointment of two non-executive directors to the board of Scottish Rail Holdings, the non-departmental public body wholly owned by the Scottish government which acts as the owning group for train operator ScotRail. Richard Cairns ...