ScotRail was the trading name providing a distinctive brand for the British Rail network in Scotland, first adopted on 22 September 1983, under manager Chris Green, British Railways Scottish Region. ScotRail was the final brand of British Rail passenger services to operate prior to the privatisation of British Rail, with the ScotRail franchise being signed over to National Express on 31 March 1997.
Services ScotRail was responsible for all passenger services that operated wholly within Scotland. It also operated services across the English border to Carlisle, and from 5 March 1988, took over operation of the Caledonian Sleeper services to London Euston. Services from south of the border via the East Coast and West Coast Main Lines remained the responsibility of InterCity.
Infrastructure The Ayrshire Coast Line was electrified in September 1986, as was the North Berwick Line in July 1991.
Rolling stock During its tenure, much of Scotland's locomotive hauled passenger carriage fleet was replaced by Class 150, Class 156 and Class 158 diesel multiple units. It also introduced cascaded Class 305s as well as new Class 318 and Class 320 electric multiple units.
ClassImageTypeTop speedNumberCarsBuiltmphkm/hLocomotive hauled stock37Diesel locomotive90145N/A1960–19654775121At least 121962–196886Electric locomotive100–110161–1771965–1966871101771973–1975Mark 1Passenger carriage90–100145–161–1951–1963Mark 21001611963–1975DBSOAt least 121979Mark 3Passenger carriage1252001975–1988Diesel multiple units101DMU70113At least 122, 3 or 41956–1960104A few1957–19591072631960116142 or 31957–1961150 Sprinter751211821986–1987156 Super SprinterAbout 491987–1989158 Express Sprinter90145461989–1992Electric multiple units303EMU751219031959–1961305193 or 419593111931966–19673147011316197931890145211985–198632075121221990
Liveries When formed in 1983, customised versions of the existing British Rail liveries were adopted, with passenger locomotives and coaching stock painted in a lightly modified version of the InterCity Executive livery. The red stripe was replaced with a saltire blue stripe, and the InterCity name was replaced with the ScotRail name. Most locomotives carried the standard InterCity Executive livery but with ScotRail branding. Diesel and Electric multiple units carried normal versions of the Regional Railways livery. In the SPT area, rolling stock was painted in Strathclyde Orange and Black.
See also ScotRail, the train operating company operating the ScotRail franchise since 1 April 2022 ScotRail (brand)
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Further reading