PHILIP SHERRATT visits Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe factory to observe ScotRail’s new Class 385 EMUs in production
Lines in the Scottish central belt are going electric. Wires are being installed on several key routes as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). First up is Scotland’s main inter-city route, the link between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk.
In parallel with this, ScotRail operator Abellio has ordered 70 new Class 385 EMUs from Hitachi Rail. Formed of 46x3-car and 24x4-car units, they are due to be introduced later this year on the Edinburgh to Glasgow route, eventually spreading their wings across the central belt. All will be in traffic by December 2019, with an option for a further 10 three-car units should Abellio be granted a three-year extension to its franchise by Transport Scotland. Finance for the fleet is provided by Caledonian Rail Leasing, a special purpose vehicle created by SMBC Leasing. The contract also includes a 10-year deal which will see Hitachi maintain the new units.
Most of the ‘385’ fleet is being built at Hitachi’s rail vehicle manufacturing facility at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham. However, the first six units have been built at the ma…
