UK: ScotRail has begun the process of selecting a company to finance and own the electric and battery-electric multiple-units which it plans to order to replace much of its suburban fleet from the early 2030s.
Requests to participate are required by April 10, with invitations to tender expected on July 17.
A separate procurement process was launched in November to select a company to manufacture the trains, which the financier/owner would then lease to ScotRail under an agreement running for up to 30 years with an option to extend for a further five years. ScotRail anticipates that Transport Scotland will provide a Section 54 undertaking guaranteeing the long-term lease of the vehicles.
ScotRail is also exploring complementary sources of funds which may reduce or amend the financing required from the financier/owner.
The fleet is to comprise a minimum of 69 trains, with options for up to 37 more. Features will include air-conditioning, family friendly areas, improved spaces for bicycles and wheelchairs and increased accessibility including level boarding.
The procurement of financing options ‘is another exciting step on the journey to a new fleet of trains that will benefit customers in the years to come’, said ScotRail Chief Operating Officer David Ross on February 27. ‘This stage of the procurement process marks an important milestone as we look to secure funding for the building of the new trains. New trains will be a major step towards making ScotRail more reliable, comfortable, greener, and a more attractive choice compared to travelling by car.’
The units are be used on the East Kilbride, Fife, Borders and Glasgow inner-suburban routes, including on the Argyle Line which covers services between Glasgow and Motherwell, Larkhall and Lanark and South Electrics including the Shotts line. They will replace 42 Class 156 DMUs, and 55 Class 318 and 320 EMUs operating in the Glasgow area.
The order is being co-ordinated with electrification works which are expected to be completed by Network Rail by 2029, with the new trains expected to arrive in 2031.
A separate procurement process is ongoing for the replacement of ScotRail’s HST sets with an ‘interim’ inter-city fleet.
