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Withdrawal of Scottish veteran EMUs relies on stock cascades

Withdrawals of Class 314 electric multiple units is dependent upon the arrival of cascaded stock to replace it, ScotRail confirmed on February 13.

The three-car EMUs date from 1979-80, and are used on suburban trains from Glasgow Central to Newton, Neilston and Paisley Canal as well as on the Cathcart Circle. The veteran EMUs also serve Wemyss Bay.

The introduction of Hitachi Rail Europe Class 385s is intended to release ‘380s’ to be used on these routes instead, alongside the Hitachi-built EMUs when more are delivered. A further five Class 320/4s are also on their way to SR in the near future, allowing Class 318s to also be used on these routes.

The 16 Class 314s (314201-314216) are owned by Angel Trains. They have a maximum speed of 70mph, and the first five are fitted with different traction motors to the remaining 11. 

They are Standard-only trains, and have recently undergone refurbishment. Seven sets (314203/204/208/209/211/212/214) carry Scotland’s Railways livery. They are all based at Glasgow Shields Road, and have always operated in the Strathclyde area. 

An Angel Trains spokesman told RAIL that the ‘314s’ are destined to be sent for scrap as soon as they are withdrawn, although any attempts to save vehicles for preservation will be considered.

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  • AndrewJGwilt1989 - 15/02/2018 12:01

    Possibly facing the scrapyard. Guarantee that Class 318’s will remain for few years until ScotRail does decide to get rid of the Class 318’s and to use a mixture of Class 320’s, Class 380’s and Class 385’s to operate on some suburban lines in the Glasgow area.

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  • Duncan Wilson - 22/03/2023 07:48

    Scotrail needs to get it's act together and order more 385's. A 6 car variant would be ideal for taking over Edinburgh to Helensburgh Central services allowing Class 334's to replace Class 320's and some 318's. Additional 4 car Class 385's should be ordered to standardise Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk Services to 8 car trains, and release 3 car Class 385 to replace the remaining Class 318's

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