ScotRail Faces Scrutiny Over Oldest Train Fleet in Britain

Scotland's nationalised rail company, ScotRail, is operating the oldest fleet of trains in Britain, a development that has drawn criticism from political opponents. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) revealed that the average age of ScotRail's engines and carriages is 26.3 years, significantly older than the UK average of 16.4 years. The trains used for Scotland's main inter-city lines are the oldest still in service across the entire British rail network.

When ScotRail was taken back into public ownership by the Scottish National Party (SNP) government four and a half years ago, passengers were promised a 'new beginning'. However, recent performance statistics indicate a decline in punctuality, with just 68.9 per cent of trains arriving on time in 2025-26, down from 71.2 per cent in 2021-22.

The ORR's analysis found that ScotRail's rolling stock, some of which was built in the 1970s for British Rail, is substantially older than fleets used on other major routes. For instance, trains operated by Avanti West Coast between Glasgow and London average 17.82 years, while those on the East Coast main line between Edinburgh and London operated by LNER are just 9.97 years old.

ScotRail currently uses a fleet of High Speed Train (HST) units, originally built between 1975 and 1982, for its Inter7City routes connecting major Scottish cities. These trains have been associated with operational challenges, including frequent engine and mechanical issues. Notably, one of these HSTs was involved in the fatal Stonehaven derailment in August 2020, which resulted in three deaths and six injuries. An inquiry into the incident suggested that the outcome might have been different if the train had been built to more modern safety standards.

In response to the situation, ScotRail has acknowledged that its 1970s HST trains are 'reaching the end of their usable life' and present 'operational challenges,' while also being 'considerably more expensive to operate and maintain.' The company plans to replace these ageing trains with 22 second-hand Class 222 diesel-electric trains, previously operated by East Midlands Railway. Although these trains are between 21 and 23 years old, ScotRail has committed to an £80 million refurbishment program to ensure they are brought up to a high standard before entering service. The phased rollout of this replacement fleet is scheduled to begin in 2027 and conclude by the end of 2028.

The aging train fleet is one of several issues facing Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn. He is also dealing with delays concerning the state-owned Glen Rosa ferry, which has experienced further setbacks due to issues with its propellers potentially causing hull vibrations.