Scottish Rolling Stock

[Passenger John]

We are going on holiday to Scotland next month and planning to tour Western Scotland by rail. What type of train can we expect to travel on between Edinburgh/Glasgow/Oban and Mallaig routes and also Inverness - Kyle. Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[First ScotRail]

Glasgow - Oban /Mallaig - 156
Inverness-Kyle - 158

Catering will operate part or all of the journey on both.

 

[Pumbaa]

Edinburgh - Glasgow will be either a) Intercity 225 (class 91 + Mk4s + DVT) if travelling with NXEC from Waverly > Motherwell > Glasgow Central, b) 322 if travelling with ScotRail Waverley > Motherwell > Central, c) 156 if travelling with Scotrail to Central via Shotts or d) a Turbostar 170 if travelling into Queen Street via Falkirk.

Most people travel via Falkirk as it's quickest, most frequent (every 15 mins) and is duly called the "shuttle"

 

[Passenger John]

Thank you both for those helpful replies. We are really looking forward to our first visit to Scotland and the Western Highlands at 62. Cheers John

 

[djw1981]

How are you getting back to the central belt from Inverness. The choices are pretty much a FSR 170, or an NXEC HST. I like the HST feel - the Mk3 experience reminds me of what I imagine train travel through such beautiful scenery to be, and the lack of engine noise is a relief after the 156/158 you will have experienced. But it is once a day at 07XX. The 170 are very good and (apparently) much better than their siblings in England. FSR do have a specialist turbostar maintanecne centre at Haymarket, and many of the ones used on the Inverness route are ex-Hull Trains, and thus the seats etc are less tired that the FSR 170's which plough the central belt all day. Even then, they are mechanically fine and the large windows are great for such a scenic route - much like the 156's. The 158's were a bit too dark and small windowed for such a scenic route IMO.

 

[90019]

and many of the ones used on the Inverness route are ex-Hull Trains

Only 4 of FSR's 59 Turbostars are ex-Hull Trains; 393-396, and I don't think they really stick to this route.

 

[Passenger John]

We are catching the 07.55 service all the way back to KX as we live near Cambridge and I understand this will be a NXEC HST. Going to be a fantastic ride the whole length of the route.

 

[djw1981]

The 4 HT sets are normally on Inverness routes. Admittedly only on 40% vof services, but even so if you get one it is a find,m and also irrelevant now, as Op is coming back NXEC andtravelling in style (not the company, the train)

 

[MCR247]

The 4 HT sets are normally on Inverness routes. Admittedly only on 40% vof services,

I've seen them on a Bathgate service before :?

 

[90019]

I've seen them on a Bathgate service before :?

Yeah, I've seen them doing various other routes as well.

 

[me123]

They are/were diagrammed to do other routes to fill in gaps, but are mostly consigned to Inverness in theory. In practice, they can end up anywhere. The reduction in seats can be a particular problem on Edinburgh-Glasgow services.

Of course the HST is fantastic. But don't underestimate Scotrail's Turbostars. These are fantastic units; well maintained, comfortable and perfectly suitable for the Inverness route. Whatever rolling stock you get, you will be guaranteed the sweeping views out of the large windows; alignment is pretty good on both trains.

 

[SouthernCrescent]

The NXEC service south from Inverness has the benfit of being and HST but also because its a once a day train with a regular crew I think the customer service and standards are a bit higher than on other NXEC trains. The 170's are not bad either. When the ex Hull Trains sets were introduced they had a lot of former first class that was declassifed to standard - very nice. That's gone now. They also had buffet counters with meals! It was promoted as Scotrails only buffet service but it didn't last long. They counters are still there but not in use, further reducing the seating in these sets.

 

[jopsuk]

I guess at some point the ex-Hull trains ones will be refurbished to the same standard Scotrail layout?

 

[SouthernCrescent]

I guess at some point the ex-Hull trains ones will be refurbished to the same standard Scotrail layout?

I would imagine so but there is nothing in the plans that I've heard of. The only thing I did hear was that the first Turbostars purchased by Scotrail are starting to be refurbished so I'd imagine in some years time it will happen. I can't imagine the buffet staying when it does.