ScotRail HST operation 2026

[43096]

Surely depends on what “go to” means? They could “go” to Scotrail and be immediately sub-leased back to EMR before they set off - I think there’s a precedent for that, though I don’t remember what it was.

The extra 323s that Northern took on from West Mids were sub-leased back to West Mids for a period, for one.

 

[Carntyne]

The 222 fleet will arrive in Scotland on time, the HSTs need to go ASAP.

 

[swinny1990]

Ex emr 222104 now debranded and will be one of the first for scottrail

 

[scotraildriver]

The 222 fleet will arrive in Scotland on time, the HSTs need to go ASAP.

Why do you say that? There's still investment being made in the fleet, 2 coach sets away for extensive corrosion repairs and power cars continue to be overhauled. There won't be huge rush and a good period when both fleets will operate together.

 

[WesternLancer]

The 222 fleet will arrive in Scotland on time, the HSTs need to go ASAP.

Crystal ball? Or legal contract? Or your opinion?

Things don’t usually happen until they happen in my experience.

 

[shredder1]

You can actually find a list of the services that they are supposed to run on the ScotRail website on the catering or first class info pages. I’ll try and find a link.

But i think the issue is that short notice set swaps make it hard to be sure they will operate as planned. This needs to be verified on real time trains on the day.

Might be worth starting a thread under ‘trip planning’ part of forum.

I’ve thought of doing something similar.

Thank you very much, appreciated

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==

Found them: https://files.scotrail.co.uk/FOi Unit Diagrams May 2026.pdf

They are from section 2 on this page: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-sc...ts/scotrail-trains-limited-publication-scheme

Thank you so much, thats very helpful./

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==

I might go up on friday for a week, there seems to be plenty of cheap accommodation near Aberdeen station, probably get a 4 day Freedom of Scotland ticket to start with, or Spirit of Scotland a they now call it, it seems to have peak travel restrictions these days.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you very much, appreciated

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==


Thank you so much, thats very helpful./

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==

I might go up on friday for a week, there seems to be plenty of cheap accommodation near Aberdeen station, probably get a 4 day Freedom of Scotland ticket to start with, or Spirit of Scotland a they now call it, it seems to have peak travel restrictions these days.

Yes. Looks like weekday morning restriction. I don’t know if this ticket always had that.

 

[gabrielhj07]

Yes. Looks like weekday morning restriction. I don’t know if this ticket always had that.

I would be very surprised if that restriction is enforced.

 

[WesternLancer]

I would be very surprised if that restriction is enforced.

Interesting. Why wouldn’t it be? Could be handy to know if it’s ignored generally.

There are some exceptions listed including west highland line and I think seated sleeper.

By exceptions I mean in relation to the pre 09.15 start.

 

[gabrielhj07]

Interesting. Why wouldn’t it be? Could be handy to know if it’s ignored generally.

There are some exceptions listed including west highland line and I think seated sleeper.

By exceptions I mean in relation to the pre 09.15 start.

I’ve never seen that rule enforced on any train in Scotland, it seems to be either ignored or not known about.

 

[WesternLancer]

I’ve never seen that rule enforced on any train in Scotland, it seems to be either ignored or not known about.

Thanks.

 

[blackhill]

They'd have been better served by deleting the buffet and having a composite first/standard coach. The buffet service was never really needed, and the first class section is far larger than it need be.

I don’t agree from Perth to Glasgow in mornings ex Aberdeen 1st is often full.

 

[dave87016]

Thank you very much, appreciated

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==


Thank you so much, thats very helpful./

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2026 ==

I might go up on friday for a week, there seems to be plenty of cheap accommodation near Aberdeen station, probably get a 4 day Freedom of Scotland ticket to start with, or Spirit of Scotland a they now call it, it seems to have peak travel restrictions these days.

Travelodge in Aberdeen central ( 5mins walk from station ) is very good and can be quite cheap weekdays if that helps that’s my usual base and if a visit to a few pubs on your return each evening is your thing then plenty within several mins walk of hotel

 

[InvHst]

I don’t agree from Perth to Glasgow in mornings ex Aberdeen 1st is often full.

Im currently on 1B52 the 1052 Inverness to Edinburgh formed of HA08 today first is full and also there is first class passengers in standard class so this statement is completely true.

 

[shredder1]

Travelodge in Aberdeen central ( 5mins walk from station ) is very good and can be quite cheap weekdays if that helps that’s my usual base and if a visit to a few pubs on your return each evening is your thing then plenty within several mins walk of hotel

Thanks Dave, Ive just paid £145 for 4 nights, 8 minute walk from the station, even comes with a breakfast, 7.5 rating on booking.com, so that will do for me, I dont drink.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jun 2026 ==

Interesting. Why wouldn’t it be? Could be handy to know if it’s ignored generally.

There are some exceptions listed including west highland line and I think seated sleeper.

By exceptions I mean in relation to the pre 09.15 start.

Thank you, I probably wont bother with those lines, Ive done them so many times over the years. Ill just be concentration on Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Perth, Glasgow Edinburgh this time and need to make time for the National Coal Museum while Im up there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jun 2026 ==

I would be very surprised if that restriction is enforced.

That would be nice if they are not enforced

 

[318266]

But that would presumably involve the Scottish government agreeing, which sounds unlikely (why would the SNP do a favour for the Labour government at Westminster?) and if they did it would presumably be at a price, involving the DfT signing off the extra expenditure involved, which sounds highly unlikely to me especially given how the East Midlands is generally treated by central governments. I'm sure the DfT would be quite content to see the last few months of EMR (up to the franchise break point later this year) be plagued by cancellations and gamble on things improving at that point as more 810s became available and reliable.

I'm convinced the only reason Scotrail would agree to a delay would be if they really were not ready for the 222s to come as scheduled and they would be in some way actually inconvenient.

Given that the Scottish Government is somewhat financially strained to say the least at present, I'm sure it would not hesitate to extract money from England into Scotland.

Equally, the English Government would probably object to such an arrangement regardless as it would benefit Scotland, which just can't be allowed to happen...

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you, I probably wont bother with those lines, Ive done them so many times over the years. Ill just be concentration on Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Perth, Glasgow Edinburgh this time and need to make time for the National Coal Museum while Im up there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jun 2026 ==


That would be nice if they are not enforced

Thanks.
I’m thinking of similar routes to those just to focus on quality HST travel whilst it’s still possible.

If you do try travel before 9.15 I’d be interested in if ticket acceptance is ok, as if so I’ll plot some itineraries with an earlier start.
Planning my trip for a bit later in summer so would be handy to know.

 

[gabrielhj07]

That would be nice if they are not enforced

I think it must be one of the only tickets with a peak time restriction in Scotland.

 

[shredder1]

Thanks.
I’m thinking of similar routes to those just to focus on quality HST travel whilst it’s still possible.

If you do try travel before 9.15 I’d be interested in if ticket acceptance is ok, as if so I’ll plot some itineraries with an earlier start.
Planning my trip for a bit later in summer so would be handy to know.

Yes certainly Ill do a full report on each day, I plan on a 4 day Spirit of Scotland ticket and then drop back for one of the 3 day tickets for the area between Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Central Scotland rover ticket, Ill get accommodation for a few days in Glasgow or Edinburgh for that one, that one has 915 peak restrictions on it also I need to do the new tram extension in Edinburgh while Im up there too

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes certainly Ill do a full report on each day, I plan on a 4 day Spirit of Scotland ticket and then drop back for one of the 3 day tickets for the area between Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Central Scotland rover ticket, Ill get accommodation for a few days in Glasgow or Edinburgh for that one, that one has 915 peak restrictions on it also I need to do the new tram extension in Edinburgh while Im up there too

Thanks - sounds like a great plan there to cover your objectives!

 

[blackhill]

Im currently on 1B52 the 1052 Inverness to Edinburgh formed of HA08 today first is full and also there is first class passengers in standard class so this statement is completely true.

And when the 222s arrive capacity in 1st will be down.

 

[InvHst]

And when the 222s arrive capacity in 1st will be down.

Honestly god help them....

 

[shredder1]

I think it must be one of the only tickets with a peak time restriction in Scotland.

the Central Scotland rover ticket has peak restrictions, although Scotrail website is saying Peak Fares are gone, so its not really clear? https://www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/peak-fares-gone-for-good

 

[Highlander1]

the Central Scotland rover ticket has peak restrictions, although Scotrail website is saying Peak Fares are gone, so its not really clear? https://www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/peak-fares-gone-for-good

Peak fares are gone but peak times have not. Restrictions still remain on a number of discounted tickets such as rovers, concessionary fares where they still exist, Club 50 discounts and of course Railcard rules still apply.

 

[shredder1]

Peak fares are gone but peak times have not. Restrictions still remain on a number of discounted tickets such as rovers, concessionary fares where they still exist, Club 50 discounts and of course Railcard rules still apply.

Thank you very much for clearing that up