The procurement process to replace the last HSTs used on long-distance InterCity services has begun.
The procurement process to replace the last HSTs used on long-distance InterCity services has begun.
The Scottish government announced on December 17 that has asked ScotRail to procure for new trains to take over SoctRail’s fleet of 25 ex-GWR sets which operate between Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, confirmed the start of the process in response to a question from Kevin Stewart MSP (Aberdeen Central, SNP).
The deadline for interest is 4pm on January 28 2025, with the contract due to be awarded later in the year.
Hyslop said: “In the meantime, the HSTs remain safe to run until a replacement fleet is ready; they are needed for the capacity required by ScotRail to deliver an appropriate service level. As the replacement trains arrive, the HSTs will be withdrawn.”
ScotRail’s HSTs run on the Glasgow Queen Street-Inverness, Glasgow Queen Street-Aberdeen, Edinburgh-Aberdeen, Edinburgh-Inverness and Inverness-Aberdeen routes.
The procurement notice says the replacement fleet must be able to cover 19 daily passenger diagrams with sufficient spare trains for maintenance.
It also says: “The supplier of the trains will be required to refurbish The Fleet (as needed) before it enters passenger service to provide SRT customers with a reliable and comfortable journey, attractive environment and suitable facilities. The Fleet will be required to operate in reliable passenger service until at least 2035 and may be required (in whole or in part) until 2040 without further refurbishments.”
The Scottish Government is also refreshing its Decarbonisation Action Plan, with more details due to be published in spring 2025. This will include new targets for replacing ScotRail’s diesel trains.
In her answer, Hyslop said: “The original target date of 2035 for complete removal of diesel passenger trains from the Scottish network can no longer be met, due to constrained budgets and logistical requirements impacting adversely on the delivery programme.”
She added the plan will “demonstrate phased full decarbonisation by 2045”.
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Dougie - 17/12/2024 18:17
What kind of train is replacing the HSTs in Scotland