THE Dutch operator due to take over the ScotRail franchise in April has signed a contract which will see Japanese-built trains running in the Central Belt.

 

Abellio has signed a deal with rolling stock manufacturer, Hitachi Rail, which will see 70 of the company's new AT200 commuter trains begin operating in Scotland from the end of 2017.

Scotland will be the first country in the world to start running passenger services using the trains, which include WiFi and air conditioning as standard. They were first unveiled in London last summer.

The design also includes an aluminium bodyshells, LED lighting, power sockets, tables, and cantilevered seats to allow for extra luggage storage underneath passengers.

The first seven trains will be built at Hitachi's Japanese factory in Kasado and shipped to Scotland, with the remaining 63 expected to be constructed at Hitachi Rail Europe's new UK manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which is scheduled to open later this year.

The new trains have a shelf life of around 35 years.

Jon Veitch, Hitachi Rail Europe's General Manager for Scotland, said: "We are delighted to be signing this contract with Abellio today, which will see the supply of rolling stock and maintenance services for their new ScotRail franchise. This forms the start of a long-term partnership to boost passenger services in Scotland, and we will be working closely with the operator to ensure that services are kept to a very high standard across this period."

The order consists of 46 three-carriage trains and 24 four-carriage models, with the deal financed for Abellio by Caledonian Rail Leasing. Each carriage measures around 75ft and features cab-end and inter-vehicle gangways to maximise passenger space.

The electric trains, which have a top speed of 100mph, will serve the main commuter corridor between Glasgow and Edinburgh and the route connecting Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane.

They will enter service from late 2017 and will play a major part in driving down the journey times between Scotland's two largest cities as a result of electrification undertaken as part of the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme.

Journey times of 42 minutes, or 44 minutes at peak time, are planned for 2019, with shorter journey times of 37 minutes expected by 2025.

The fastest journey at present is about 48 minutes.

The contract between Hitachi and Abellio also includes a 10-year maintenance deal, with plans currently in place to stable and service the trains at depots in Edinburgh.

Abellio, who currently run services on the Abellio Greater Anglia franchise in England, will take over the ScotRail franchise from FirstGroup on April 1.

The company is the international arm of Dutch nationalised rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen, and was the first to place an order for the new Hitachi AT200 trains.

Derek Mackay, Scottish Transport Minister, said: "With the new ScotRail franchise, a number of impressive infrastructure projects and these slick new trains, we are giving Scotland a railway to be proud of.

"Abellio's winning bid for the ScotRail franchise included several exciting proposals and I look forward to seeing it all take shape from their takeover of the service in just a few weeks.

"Passengers will love using these new trains, but the benefits go far beyond that. The use of electric trains on Scotland's busiest route will help reduce our carbon footprint. The improved connection can only be good for our two biggest cities."