The first refurbished ScotRail Class 158 to be used on the Great Scenic Railway Journeys north of the border should be released into traffic in early September.
SR 158701 is currently at Knorr-Bremse Rail Services’ Springburn Works.
When the project is complete, 40 Class 158s will have a ‘go anywhere’ capability on the GSRJ routes. The size of the homogenous ‘158’ fleet will allow ScotRail to run four-car sets when there is the demand and where operationally permitted.
Of SR’s 40 Class 158s, 15 used in the Edinburgh area will be refurbished to the same standard as 25 based at Inverness. This includes new seating and LED lighting, power points, increased luggage and cycle space, refurbished toilets, and new interior and exterior ‘ScotRail’ branding (specified by Transport Scotland), plus a host of reliability improvements.
- For much more on this story, read RAIL 782, published on September 2.
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DOUG CARMICHAEL - 01/09/2015 16:13
THE WEST HIGHLAND, AS THE GREATEST SCENIC LINE OF THEM ALL, HAS TO WAIT UNTIL 2018 WHEN CENTRAL BELT ELECTRIFICATION IS COMPLETED WHILE MUNDANE CENTRAL BELT SERVICES ARE GIVEN THE NEW-LOOK 158S IN THE COMING MONTHS !
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Andrewjgwilt1989 - 02/09/2015 22:20
Looks like Abellio are doing a great job in Scotland than in the East of England where passengers want new trains as there has been so many train faults in the past as Abellio Greater Anglia has 94 Class 321's and 72 Class 317's that are ageing.
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Niall Laybourne - 23/05/2016 21:08
And believe it or not, they think a bit of wi-fi, fancy upholstery and a new livery will make '156s and '158s 'Great Scenic Trains' (according to their 'cinematic' advertising)? If we really wanted to capitalise on our stunning railways...look to Austria, Switzerland, Italy...Sprinters are not 'Great Scenic Trains'.
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