ScotRail has commenced the procurement process for financing options for a new suburban train fleet.
This is part of the process to fund the building and delivery of the fleet, which will comprise a minimum of 69 trains, with an option of additional orders of up to 37 trains. ScotRail will then enter into a rolling stock lease when the new trains enter service in the early 2030s.
A separate procurement process was launched in November last year to find the potential supplier to design and build the new trains.
The planned trains will operate on routes such as East Kilbride, Fife, Borders, and the Glasgow inner suburban routes, including services between Glasgow and Motherwell, Larkhall, Lanark, and Shotts.
Improved on-board facilities will include modern air-conditioning, greater reliability, increased accessibility including level access boarding (where the platform and the entrance to the carriage are level with each other), and active travel provision such as improved spaces for bicycles, wheelchairs, and inclusion of family friendly areas, leading to more comfortable journeys.
The Scottish Government has given its approval for the full procurement to proceed, and the process is being closely coordinated with Network Rail’s work to electrify key routes across the network.
ScotRail Chief Operating Officer David Ross said: “This is another exciting step on the journey to a new fleet of trains that will benefit customers in the years to come.
“This stage of the procurement process marks an important milestone as we look to secure funding for the building of the new trains.
“New trains will be a major step towards making ScotRail more reliable, comfortable, greener, and a more attractive choice compared to travelling by car.
Image credit: ScotRail
