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Is the unreliability of the HSTs more down to ScotRail's lack of experience operating these trains or to issues with the trains themselves? I imagine the fact ScotRail are lucky if they get half of them going a day is no small factor in all this (combined with the economics of actually running...

Any news on more sets being increased to 5 coaches, or are those coaches going to be left rotting away at Slateford for the foreseeable? I dread to think what condition all those Coach E's are in having sat there for so long now.

I would imagine a uniform fleet of 5-cars would be preferable?

Is this speculation or from an internal source(s) at SR/TS?

Out of curiosity, what are the operating costs of the HST's vs 5-car 222's?

With the confirmation that TPE are withdrawing their Mk5's, is there any real chance/likelihood of them going to ScotRail? I know there aren't enough to completely replace the HSTs, but could they take over the majority of workings with HSTs filling in the rest (since ScotRail has them til 2030...

An extreme, yes. A rarity, no. I agree there are some services on these lines that are more inter-urban - although this is more common up towards Aberdeen - and the 170's work for these. But they just aren't best suited to inter-city services. Not bad, just not suited.

A 3.5+ hour journey from Edinburgh to Inverness is not an inter-urban journey, and as I said the reasons they're not suited to these routes have been listed many times.

The problem is the 170's are suburban trains and aren't suited for long-distance journeys up to Aberdeen and Inverness, for reasons that are well established.

If I understand properly, does this suggest all the HSTs will be withdrawn once electrification to Aberdeen is complete, leaving 170's to work Central Belt - Inverness services? Can't imagine this going down well with Inverness passengers.

At least that's a when and not if! Do we know if the new staff are being trained on the buffets right away or just trollies?

Do we know if ScotRail plan on ever re-opening the buffets on the HST's? I know there are power supply problems, but is there any timescale for their return (if they ever do)?

Speaking of diagrams, do we know if there are any long-term plans for the HST replacements to completely take over the Intercity routes (ie no more 170's or equivalent on Intercity services)? Also, I've seen Alex Hynes has said the new trains will have level-boarding capability (even if the...

How did they get round the platform length issue? Great to hear though. It will definitely be interesting to see how many more 5-car sets appear, as I believe ScotRail's excuse had been difficulty diagraming them because of capacity at Inverness? Doesn't really fly anymore if that's no longer a...

Is there a plan underway then for getting 2+5's in to Platforms 3 and 4 at Inverness? I know it's been discussed for a while know but didn't realise a solution had been decided on? Great news if so.

Are you sure you don’t mean introduced? Considering how long it takes to procure new trains (and the near inevitable delays), I don’t think ScotRail will wait until the infrastructure is there before even ordering the rolling stock.

It goes back to the point that ScotRail are almost definitely not going to be getting any new-build diesel trains. Even a bi-mode 80X. The plan seems to be for the new rolling stock to be electric trains with batteries to work with discontinuous electrification. It would be near-impossible (and...

I just can’t see the HST’s getting replaced before the intended date. Regardless of the faff it’s been getting them into service, they’re here now and will be in full operation by the end of the year. They also provide a new standard for long-distance ScotRail services (buffet with hot food...

ScotRail won’t be ordering diesel bi-modes. Much more likely to be electric trains with sufficient battery power to work along with discontinuous electrification. But agree that any interim HST replacement is unrealistic.

I’m still struggling to see why ScotRail haven’t reintroduced catering when almost every other TOC has. Surely the buffet on the HSTs could be operated safely as it only needs one member of staff? Non-HST trains where a trolly is used is slightly trickier granted, but could a CrossCountry...