View source for First ScotRail

{{Short description|Train operating company in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox rail company
|name           = First ScotRail
|other_name     = {{native name|gd|Rèile na h-Alba}}
|image          = File:British Rail Class 158 738.JPG
|image_size     = 
|caption        = [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158 ''Express Sprinter'']] at {{stnlnk|North Queensferry}} in 2009
|franchise      = ScotRail<br>17 October 2004 &ndash; 31 March 2015
|logo           = ScotRail logo.svg
|logo_size      = 250px
|regions        = [[Scotland]]
|abbr           = SR
|secregions     = [[North West England]]<br>[[North East England]]
|fleet          = 311
|stationsop     = 344
|length        = {{cvt|3032.0|km}}{{cn|date=April 2023}}
|parent_company = [[FirstGroup]]
|website        = {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316194950/http://www.scotrail.co.uk/|title=www.scotrail.co.uk}}
|predecessor    = [[ScotRail (National Express)]]
|successor     =  [[Abellio ScotRail]]<br>[[Caledonian Sleeper]] 
}}
'''First ScotRail'''<ref>{{cite web |url = http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/SC185018 |publisher = [[Companies House]] |title = First ScotRail Limited: Company no. SC185018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160412232247/http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/SC185018 |archive-date = 12 April 2016 |access-date = 23 December 2023}}</ref> was a [[train operating company]] in Scotland owned by [[FirstGroup]]. It operated the ScotRail franchise between October 2004 and March 2015.

On 17 October 2004, First ScotRail took over operations from the incumbent franchisee, [[ScotRail (National Express)|National Express]]. First ScotRail operated most commuter and long-distance services within Scotland, and some services to northern England, as well as the [[Caledonian Sleeper]] to London. Of FirstGroup's four train operating companies, ScotRail was the second largest (in terms of number of passenger journeys 2013&ndash;14) after [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|First Great Western]] at the time of the termination of its franchise.

During April 2008, [[Transport Scotland]] granted a three-year franchise extension to First ScotRail. In May 2009, First ScotRail announced a crackdown on fare-dodging due to abuse of the Flexipass ticket system. One month later, it was alleged that ScotRail's passenger figures were substantially inflated and that 7.2 million less passenger journeys had been actually made; the matter became politically charged but did not impact the extension decision. In June 2012, the Scottish Government announced that the [[Caledonian Sleeper]] services would be split off from the ScotRail franchise. Following its unsuccessful bid to retain the franchise in 2014, First ScotRail transferred operations to [[Abellio ScotRail]] on 1 April 2015.

==History==
[[File:FirstScotrailClassic.svg|right|thumb|200px|First ScotRail logo (2004–2008)]]
Between March 1997 and October 2004, the public transport conglomerate [[National Express]] operated the ScotRail franchise under the [[ScotRail (National Express)|ScotRail]] brand. During July 2003, the [[Scottish Executive]] and the [[Strategic Rail Authority]] announced [[Arriva]], [[FirstGroup]] and [[National Express]] had been shortlisted to bid for the new franchise.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12526850.Shortlist_of_ScotRail_bidders_puts_three_in_the_ring/ |title = Shortlist of ScotRail bidders puts three in the ring |work = The Herald |date = 18 October 2016 |access-date = 19 November 2016 |archive-date = 19 November 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161119120330/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12526850.Shortlist_of_ScotRail_bidders_puts_three_in_the_ring/ |url-status = live }}</ref> In June 2004, the franchise was awarded to FirstGroup; the services formerly operated by ScotRail were transferred to First ScotRail on 17 October 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2887785/FirstGroup-clinches-Scottish-rail-franchise.html |title = FirstGroup clinches Scottish rail franchise |publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date = 12 June 2004 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160413182610/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2887785/FirstGroup-clinches-Scottish-rail-franchise.html |archive-date = 13 April 2016 }}</ref>

On 1 January 2006, [[Transport Scotland]] was established to carry out the Scottish Executive's transport responsibilities including its then newly devolved powers over rail franchising.<ref>{{citation |url = http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/47121/0020855.pdf |title = Transport Scotland Framework Document |date = December 2005 |publisher = Scottish Executive |access-date = 19 November 2016 |archive-date = 12 April 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160412232524/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/47121/0020855.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref> During April 2008, Transport Scotland granted a three-year franchise extension to First ScotRail, postponing its end-date to November 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/Scot-Rail-franchise-extension |title = Scot Rail franchise extension agreed |publisher = Transport Scotland News |date = 3 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160104192514/http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/Scot-Rail-franchise-extension |archive-date = 4 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.scotrail.co.uk/content/firstgroup-plc-statement-extension-first-scotrail-franchise |title = FirstGroup Plc statement: Extension of First ScotRail Franchise |publisher = First ScotRail |date = 3 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006105100/http://www.scotrail.co.uk/content/firstgroup-plc-statement-extension-first-scotrail-franchise |archive-date = 6 October 2014 }}</ref>

In May 2009, First ScotRail announced a crackdown on fare-dodging shortly after discovering that one of its most popular saver tickets could be subject to widespread abuse; 150 travellers were caught misusing Flexipass tickets within a single week alone.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/12796231.scotrail-crackdown-on-ticket-abuse/ |title = ScotRail crackdown on ticket abuse |publisher = glasgowtimes.co.uk |date = 26 May 2009 }}</ref> First ScotRail's approach to dealing with fare-dodgers remained a point of controversy at times.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/8956985/Rail-inspectors-dont-know-how-to-handle-fare-dodgers.html |title = Rail inspectors don't know how to handle fare-dodgers |publisher = The Telegraph |first = Bryony |last = Gordon |date = 14 December 2011 }}</ref>

During June 2009, a report by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport alleged that passenger figures generated by ScotRail had contained 7.2 million more passenger journeys than had been actually made; in response, [[Scottish Parliament|Holyrood]]'s audit committee called in Auditor General [[Robert Black (auditor)|Robert Black]] to review the extent of the miscalculation.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8117328.stm |work = BBC News |title = Probe call over passenger figures |date = 24 June 2009 |access-date = 2 April 2010 |archive-date = 29 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201129020731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8117328.stm |url-status = live }}</ref> First ScotRail stated that the "long-standing" error was being corrected, while Transport Scotland contended that the overestimate did not impact its decision to extend the ScotRail franchise.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7829240.stm |work = BBC News |title = Rail contract handling defended |date = 14 January 2009 |access-date = 2 April 2010 |archive-date = 29 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201129020731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7829240.stm |url-status = live }}</ref>

During October 2011, First ScotRail and the British railway infrastructure operator [[Network Rail]] announced the enactment of a series of new measures to handle service disruption in the event of severe winter conditions. In addition to improved access to travel information at stations and aboard trains, a new design of warmed plastic tunnels along with the first "power shower" system in the UK were rolled out to help de-ice trains, while it was stated that priority would be given to keeping the most highly-trafficked routes operational.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-15521669 |title = Trains to be prioritised in severe winter weather |publisher = BBC News |date = 31 October 2011}}</ref> At times of severe weather, ScotRail services had been temporarily suspended on grounds of safety; in such situations, wherever possible, active trains were directed to stop in the nearest convenient station and alternative transportation was provided until services could be resumed.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/05/scotland-clear-up-damage-winds-weather |title = Scotland starts to clear up damage left by 100mph winds |work = The Guardian |first = Owen |last = Duffy |date = 5 December 2013}}</ref>

In June 2012, the Scottish Government announced that when the ScotRail franchise would be re-tendered in 2014, the [[Caledonian Sleeper]] services would be split off and transferred to a standalone franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2012/jun/%C2%A35-billion-investment-rail-improvement-plan |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130328152400/http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2012/jun/%C2%A35-billion-investment-rail-improvement-plan |title = £5 billion investment in rail improvement plan |publisher = Scottish National Party Media Centre |date = 21 June 2012|archive-date = 28 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/scottish-government-sets-out-rail-strategy.html |title = Scottish government sets out rail strategy |first = Keith |last = Barrow |work = International Railway Journal |date = 22 June 2012 |access-date = 15 November 2015 |archive-date = 17 November 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151117210231/http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/scottish-government-sets-out-rail-strategy.html |url-status = live }}</ref> In May 2014, it was announced that the new Caledonian Sleeper franchise had been awarded to [[Serco]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Serco wins franchise for Caledonian sleeper train service |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-27599963 |publisher = BBC News |date = 28 May 2014 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140529084953/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-27599963 |archive-date = 29 May 2014 |access-date = 21 June 2018}}</ref>

In addition to FirstGroup, multiple other transport companies entered bids to operate the ScotRail franchise, including [[Abellio]], [[Arriva]], [[MTR]], and National Express.<ref>{{cite news |title = Dutch firm Abellio wins ScotRail franchise from FirstGroup |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29531099 |publisher = BBC News |date = 8 October 2014 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160421080619/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29531099 |archive-date = 21 April 2016 |access-date = 21 June 2018}}</ref> During early October 2014, it was announced that Abellio's bid had been selected and thus First ScotRail would be discontinued from April 2015.<ref name=RailwayGazette8Oct14>{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/abellio-awarded-scotrail-franchise.html |title = Abellio awarded ScotRail franchise |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 8 October 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160405230829/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/abellio-awarded-scotrail-franchise.html |archive-date = 5 April 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.abellio.com/news/abellio-awarded-contract-operate-scotlands-national-railway-scotrail |title = Abellio awarded contract to operate Scotland's National Railway, ScotRail |publisher = Abellio |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160415221031/http://www.abellio.com/news/abellio-awarded-contract-operate-scotlands-national-railway-scotrail |archive-date = 15 April 2016 }}</ref>

Accordingly, the franchise was transferred to [[Abellio ScotRail]] at midnight on 1 April 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.firstgroupplc.com/news-and-media/latest-news/2015/27-03-15.aspx |title = FirstGroup plc thanks First ScotRail passengers and employees |publisher = FirstGroup |date = 27 March 2015}}</ref> Several hours beforehand, the Caledonian Sleeper services had been separately transferred to Serco.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/serco-awarded-contract-to-run-the-famous-caledonian-sleeper-railway-line-9447845.html |title = Serco awarded contract to run the famous Caledonian Sleeper railway line |date = 28 May 2014 |work = The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/22/strike-halts-caledonian-sleeper-train |title = Strike halts Caledonian Sleeper train |date = 22 December 2015 |work = The Guardian}}</ref>

==Services==

===Main lines===
[[File:Rail map scotland 2014.png|thumb|upright=1.25|Map of the principal railway lines of Scotland; First ScotRail's former services are indicated in red.]]
[[File:Train approaching the Forth Bridge.JPG|thumb|Northbound [[British Rail Class 170|Class 170]] approaching the [[Forth Bridge]] on the [[Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line]]]]
Express trains operated between Edinburgh, Glasgow, [[Inverness]], [[Dundee]] and [[Aberdeen]]. The [[Highland Main Line]] links Inverness to the south. Some stretches of main line, such as the Highland Main Line, are single track, and express trains must call at intermediate stations to permit trains coming in the opposite direction to pass.

The main lines of Scotland are:
*[[Ayrshire Coast Line]]
*[[Dundee–Aberdeen line]]
*[[Edinburgh–Dundee line]]
*[[Fife Circle Line]]
*[[Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line]]
*[[Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line]]
*[[Glasgow–Dundee line]]
*[[Glasgow South Western Line]]
*[[Highland Main Line]]

===Glasgow===
{{see also|Transport in Glasgow}}
The densest part of the network was the [[Commuter rail in the United Kingdom|suburban network]] around [[Glasgow]], with 183 stations, the second-largest suburban rail network in the UK, after London. Much of it is [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|{{nowrap|25 kV AC}} electrified]]. Glasgow’s main [[terminal station]]s are [[Glasgow Central railway station|Central]] and [[Glasgow Queen Street railway station|Queen Street station]]s. ScotRail operated trains in this area under the [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport]] (SPT) brand. However, the [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport]] no longer has any input into specifying rail services in the Glasgow area. DMUs and EMUs that were liveried in the carmine and cream livery were stripped of the Strathclyde logos.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = |magazine = [[Today's Railways UK]] |issue = 81  |date = |page = }}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=May 2023}} Lines in and around Glasgow were:
{{col-float}}
*[[Argyle Line]]
*[[Ayrshire Coast Line]]
*[[Cathcart Circle Lines]]
*[[Croy Line]]
*[[Cumbernauld Line]]
*[[Inverclyde Line]]
*[[Maryhill Line]]

{{col-float-break}}
*[[Motherwell–Cumbernauld line]]
*[[North Clyde Line]] (extended to Cumbernauld & Edinburgh<ref name="airdriebathgate">{{cite web |url = http://www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk/plan/ |title = Airdrie-Bathgate rail link |publisher = airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110928141710/http://www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk/plan/ |archive-date = 28 September 2011 }}</ref>)
*[[Paisley Canal line]]
*[[Shotts Line]]
*[[Glasgow South Western Line]]
*[[Whifflet Line]] (incorporated into the [[Argyle Line]])
{{col-float-end}}

The North Clyde Line is now linked to the Edinburgh-Bathgate Line (see Edinburgh, below) with the completion of the [[Airdrie–Bathgate rail link]], creating a new direct link between Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also a proposal to create a new rail link across the city with the [[Crossrail Glasgow]] project.

===Edinburgh===
[[File:Bb-forthrailbridge.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Forth Bridge]] in 2004]]
{{See also|Transport in Edinburgh}}

[[Edinburgh]]’s [[Commuter rail in the United Kingdom|suburban network]] is less dense than Glasgow’s. Edinburgh’s main station is [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Waverley]]. The main railway line through the city centre runs in a cutting immediately below [[Edinburgh Castle]]. A secondary station is at {{Stnlnk|Haymarket}} in the west of the city. Railway lines running north from Edinburgh to [[Fife]] and the [[Highland (council area)|Highlands]] cross the [[Firth of Forth]] via the [[Forth Bridge]]. Lines in and around Edinburgh were:
*[[Edinburgh–Bathgate line]] (incorporated into the [[North Clyde Line]]<ref name="airdriebathgate"/>)
*[[Edinburgh Crossrail]]
*[[Edinburgh–Dunblane line]]
*[[North Berwick Line]]
*[[Shotts Line]]
*[[Edinburgh–Dundee line]]

The Edinburgh rail network is being expanded with the construction of the Waverley Line to the Borders, and the Edinburgh–Bathgate Line has been extended by the [[Airdrie–Bathgate rail link]]. A project to open a [[Edinburgh Airport railway station|rail link to Edinburgh Airport]] was cancelled in September 2007 by the Scottish Government in favour of construction of a station at nearby [[Gogar]] which will connect with the [[Edinburgh tram network]] to take passengers to the terminal.<ref name=edinAirport>{{cite news |title = It's £30m down the drain |publisher = Johnston Publishing |work = The Scotsman |url = http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=607&id=1546642007 |access-date = 7 September 2013 |location = Edinburgh |date = 27 September 2007 |archive-date = 5 June 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605052125/http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=607 |url-status = live }}</ref> A proposal to re-open the [[Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway|Edinburgh suburban railway line]] has been made by campaigning groups.<ref name="CRAG">{{cite web |url = http://www.reopenthesouthsub.org.uk/ |title = Capital Rail Action Group |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140516205531/http://www.reopenthesouthsub.org.uk/ |archive-date = 16 May 2014 }}</ref>

===Rural lines===
[[File:West Highland Line looking north from Rannoch station 02.jpg|thumb|right|The [[West Highland Line]] at [[Rannoch railway station|Rannoch]]]]
[[File:First ScotRail Class 170.JPG|thumb|[[British Rail Class 170|Class 170 ''Turbostar'']] in First ScotRail livery at [[Inverness railway station|Inverness]]]]
Rural lines include the scenic [[West Highland Line]], [[Kyle of Lochalsh line]] and [[Far North Line]]. These lines carried more passengers, mostly tourists, during the summer months, but provided a valuable link and social service during the winter months.

Many rural lines are single track. Trains terminating at the coastal towns of [[Oban]] and [[Mallaig]] connected with the [[Caledonian MacBrayne]] ferry services to [[Isle of Skye|Skye]], [[Colonsay]], [[Lismore, Scotland|Lismore]], [[Islay]] and the [[Outer Hebrides]] and [[Inner Hebrides]].

The rural lines were:
*[[Aberdeen–Inverness line]]
*[[Far North Line]]
*[[Kyle of Lochalsh line]]
*[[West Highland Line]]

===InterCity & Sleeper services===
{{Main|Caledonian Sleeper}}
First ScotRail operated some services that ventured south of the border: principally the [[Caledonian Sleeper]] to [[London Euston railway station|London Euston]] along the [[West Coast Main Line]], and a three times daily cross-country service between [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] and Glasgow Central via [[Carlisle]] and [[Kilmarnock]].

==Performance==
Performance figures for National Express’s last quarter as franchise holder, July to September 2004, were:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Numbers|Period!!Numbers|[[Public Performance Measure|% trains arriving within 5 mins of scheduled time]]!!Numbers|Change
|-
|{{sort|1|Jul - Sep 2004}}||82.8%||{{sort|2|Down 4.2% on the same quarter the previous year}}
|-
|{{sort|1|Jul - Sep 2004}}||84.2%||{{sort|1|Down 1.0% on the previous year as a whole}}
|}

Performance figures for FirstGroup’s first quarter as franchise holder, October to December 2004, were:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Numbers|Period!!Numbers|% trains arriving within 5 mins of scheduled time!!Numbers|Change
|-
|{{sort|1|Oct - Dec 2004}}||79.8%||{{sort|2|Down 1.9% on the same quarter the previous year}}
|-
|{{sort|1|Oct - Dec 2004}}||83.7%||{{sort|1|Down 0.5% on the previous year as a whole}}
|}

FirstGroup started operating the franchise on 17 October 2004.

The performance figures released by the Office for Rail Regulation (ORR) are as follows:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Numbers|Period!!Numbers|% trains arriving within<br>5 mins of scheduled time<br>(over three months)!!Numbers|Change over<br>same quarter the previous year!!Numbers|% trains arriving within<br>5 mins of scheduled time<br>Moving Annual Average (MAA)!!Numbers|Change over<br>previous year as a whole
|-
|{{sort|01|Apr - Jun 2007}}<ref name=trends1>{{Cite web |url = http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/341.pdf |title = ORR Statistics for Q1 2007/08 |access-date = 3 November 2007 |archive-date = 29 February 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080229173713/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/341.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref>||91.4%||{{sort|2|Up 0.8%}}||89.0%||{{sort|2|Up 0.2%}}
|-
|{{sort|02|Jul - Sep 2007}}<ref name=trends2>{{Cite web |url = http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/347.pdf |title = ORR Statistics for Q2 2007/08 |access-date = 12 February 2008 |archive-date = 28 February 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080228103517/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/347.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref>||93.0%||{{sort|2|Up 2.2%}}||89.6%||{{sort|2|Up 0.7%}}
|-
|{{sort|03|Oct - Dec 2007}}<ref name=trends3>{{cite web |url = http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/356.pdf |title = ORR Statistics for Q3 2007/08 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081219163142/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/356.pdf |archive-date = 19 December 2008 |url-status = live}}</ref>||87.3%||{{sort|2|Up 2.8%}}||90.1%||{{sort|2|Up 0.6%}}
|-
|{{sort|04|Jan - Mar 2008}}<ref name=trends4>{{Cite web |url = http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/375.pdf |title = ORR Statistics for Q4 2007/08 |access-date = 1 August 2008 |archive-date = 7 November 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081107213743/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/375.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref>||90.5%||{{sort|2|Up 2.0%}}||90.6%||{{sort|2|Up 0.6%}}
|-
|{{sort|05|Apr - Jun 2008}}<ref name=trends5>Office of Rail Regulation - ''[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/382.pdf National Rail Trends] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105152817/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/382.pdf |date=5 November 2008 }}'', (2008), p. 22</ref>||93.6%||{{sort|2|Up 2.4%}}||91.1%||{{sort|2|Up 0.6%}}
|-
|{{sort|06|Jul - Sep 2008}}<ref name=trends6>Office of Rail Regulation - ''[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling-c2-railperf-v2.pdf National Rail Trends] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327151033/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling-c2-railperf-v2.pdf |date=27 March 2009 }}'', (2009), p. 5</ref>||92.8%||{{sort|2|Down 0.2%}}||91.0%||{{sort|2|Up 0.4%}}
|-
|{{sort|07|Oct - Dec 2008}}<ref name=trends7>Office of Rail Regulation - ''[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090707011623/http%3A//www.rail%2Dreg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling%2Dc2%2Drailperf%2Dq3.pdf National Rail Trends]'', (2009), p. 5</ref>||86.5%||{{sort|2|Down 0.9%}}||90.9%||{{sort|2|Up 0.3%}}
|-
|{{sort|08|Jan - Mar 2009}}<ref name=trends8>Office of Rail Regulation - ''[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt-yearbook-0809.pdf National Rail Trends] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090807145839/http%3A//www.rail%2Dreg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt%2Dyearbook%2D0809.pdf |date=7 August 2009 }}'', (2009), p. 24</ref>||89.6%||{{sort|2|Down 1.0%}}>||90.6%||{{sort|2|Down 0.3%}}
|-
|{{sort|09|Apr - Jun 2009}}<ref name=trends9>Office of Rail Regulation - ''[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling-c2-railperf-011009.pdf National Rail Trends] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091009042409/http%3A//www.rail%2Dreg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling%2Dc2%2Drailperf%2D011009.pdf |date=9 October 2009 }}'', (2009), p. 5</ref>||93.0%||{{sort|2|Down 0.6%}}||90.5%||{{sort|2|Down 0.1%}}
|-
|{{sort|10|Jul - Sep 2009}}<ref name=trends10>Office of Rail Regulation - ''[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling-c2-railperf-140110.pdf National Rail Trends] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100303194156/http%3A//www.rail%2Dreg.gov.uk//upload/pdf/rolling%2Dc2%2Drailperf%2D140110.pdf |date=3 March 2010 }}'', (2010), p. 5</ref>||93.5%||{{sort|2|Up 0.9%}}||90.7%||{{sort|2|Up 0.2%}}
|-
|{{sort|11|Oct - Dec 2009}}<ref name=trends11>{{cite web |url = http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling-c2-railperf-080410.pdf |title = Office of Rail Regulation - National Rail Trends |publisher = ORR |url-status = dead |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100413215527/http%3A//www.rail%2Dreg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling%2Dc2%2Drailperf%2D080410.pdf |archive-date = 13 April 2010 |df = dmy-all}}</ref>||86.7%||{{sort|2|Up 0.2%}}||90.7%||{{sort|2|Unchanged}}
|-
|{{sort|12|Jan - Mar 2010}}<ref name=trends12>{{cite web |title = National Rail Trends Chapter 2 |url = http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/NRTCh2Railperformance20100729.pdf |publisher = ORR |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/5sfPLhSr1?url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/NRTCh2Railperformance20100729.pdf |archive-date = 11 September 2010 |df = dmy-all}}</ref>||89.5%||{{sort|2|Down 0.1%}}||90.7%||{{sort|2|Unchanged}}
|-
|{{sort|13|Jul - Sep 2010}}<ref name="trends14">{{cite web |title = National Rail Trends Chapter 2 |url = http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt-ch2-railperformance.pdf |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110203013913/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt%2Dch2%2Drailperformance.pdf |url-status = dead |archive-date = 3 February 2011 |publisher = ORR}}</ref>||94.5%||{{sort|2|Up 1.1%}}||91.4%||{{sort|2|Up 0.8%}}
|-
|{{sort|14|Oct - Dec 2010}}<ref name="trends14"/>||78.4%||{{sort|2|Down 9.6%}}||92.9%||{{sort|2|Up 2.4%}}
|-
|{{sort|14|Jan - Mar 2011}}<ref name="NRT-yearbook">{{cite web |title = National Rail Trends 2010-11. Chapter 2 |url = http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt-yearbook-2010-11.pdf |publisher = ORR |access-date = 29 August 2011 |archive-date = 7 September 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110907173027/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt-yearbook-2010-11.pdf |url-status = live}}</ref>||89.1%||{{sort|2|Down 0.0%}}||90.1%||{{sort|2|Down 0.0%}}
|}

Note:
* The percentage change figures are not the actual increases in % but the percentage increase in the % value.
* These values are very similar to the sector performance level.

==Rolling stock==
[[File:156457 at Oban.jpg|thumb|[[British Rail Class 156|Class 156]] in the old [[ScotRail (National Express)|National Express ScotRail]] livery at [[Oban railway station|Oban station]] in June 2005]]
First ScotRail inherited a fleet of [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150]], [[British Rail Class 156|Class 156]], [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]], [[British Rail Class 170|Class 170]], [[British Rail Class 314|Class 314]], [[British Rail Class 318|Class 318]], [[British Rail Class 320|Class 320]] and [[British Rail Class 334|Class 334s]] from National Express, as well as [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2 carriages]] and [[Sleeper Either Class|Mark 3 sleepers]] for use on the [[Caledonian Sleeper]].

First ScotRail contracted [[DB Cargo UK|EWS]] to haul the Caledonian Sleeper services.<ref>{{cite press release |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060613021304/http://ews-railway.co.uk/cmsystem/news_article.asp?guid=%7B7EC09DB6-E6E0-4033-B9DA-223618C87FF9%7D |url = http://ews-railway.co.uk/cmsystem/news_article.asp?guid=%7B7EC09DB6-E6E0-4033-B9DA-223618C87FF9%7D |archive-date = 13 June 2006 |title = Operating enhancements for First Scotrail sleeper to be delivered by EWS and Axiom Rail |publisher = English Welsh & Scottish |date = 26 May 2006}}</ref> [[British Rail Class 90|Class 90s]] were used south of [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow Central railway station|Glasgow Central]] with [[British Rail Class 67|Class 67s]] used on the portions to [[Fort William railway station|Fort William]], [[Aberdeen railway station|Aberdeen]] and [[Inverness railway station|Inverness]]. A dedicated pool was also created due to the need to fit cast steel brakes. Three Class 90s were repainted in First ScotRail livery with EWS logos.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Hybrid identity for Scottish Class 90s |magazine = Rail |issue = 541 |date = 7 June 2006 |page = 7}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = EWS paints first Class 90 for ScotRail |magazine = [[Today's Railways UK]] |issue = 55 |date = July 2006 |page = 51}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = Class 90 gets First Group livery |magazine = The Railway Magazine |issue = 1266 |date = October 2006 |page = 7}}</ref>

For a short time in 2005, the Edinburgh - [[North Berwick Line]] services were operated by [[DB Cargo UK|English Welsh & Scottish]] [[British Rail Class 90|Class 90s]] with former [[Virgin Trains]] [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3 carriages]] and a [[Driving Van Trailer]]. In late 2005, five [[British Rail Class 322|Class 322s]] were transferred from [[National Express East Anglia|One]] to replace these.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Class 322s return north |magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue = 519 |date = 3 August 2005 |page = 28}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = 322s return to Scotland |magazine = [[The Railway Magazine]] |issue = 1253 |date = September 2005 |page = 71}}</ref> Following an refurbishment performed by [[Hunslet-Barclay]] of [[Kilmarnock]] between 2006 and 2007, all Class 322s had their capacity increased from 252 passengers to 293.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = First Class 322 is overhauled |magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue = 538 |date = 26 April 2006 |page = 25}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title = Final 322 Outshopped |magazine = [[Rail Magazine]] |issue = 560 |date = 28 February 2007 |page = 50}}</ref>

During January 2007, public calls were made for the refurbishments of First ScotRail's Class 158 diesel multiple units, particularly in regards to the toilet facilities.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6249091.stm |title = Fury over faeces dumped on tracks |publisher = BBC News |date = 11 January 2007}}</ref> One year later, work commenced on the refurbishment of 25 Class 158s, which involved repainting, new seating, extra luggage space, the addition of new customer information systems,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.concept-applications.com/case_study2.php |title = Railcare Springburn Class 158 Scotrail Internal refurbishment |publisher = Concept Applications |access-date = 28 June 2010 |archive-date = 26 July 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100726012631/http://www.concept-applications.com/case_study2.php |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railcare-uk.com/files/downloads/Class%20158%20Express.pdf |title = Renovation: Class 158 Express (DMU) | publisher = RailCare |access-date = 28 June 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715150727/http://www.railcare-uk.com/files/downloads/Class%20158%20Express.pdf |archive-date = 15 July 2011 |df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/reports/corporate/j11465-04.htm |title = Delivery against our priorities: Improved connections |date = 17 December 2009 |publisher = Transport Scotland |access-date = 29 May 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100303215610/http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/reports/corporate/j11465-04.htm |archive-date = 3 March 2010 |url-status = dead }}</ref> and the fitting of the requested toilet retention tanks.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.scotsman.com/news/satellite-loo-blocker-leaves-scotrail-chiefs-flushed-success-1614073 |title = Satellite loo-blocker leaves ScotRail chiefs flushed with success |publisher = scotsman.com |first = Alastair |last = Dalton |date = 11 August 2012}}</ref>

In September 2008, Transport Scotland announced that all First ScotRail trains, including those previously operated on behalf of the [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport]], would be repainted in a new blue livery with white [[saltire]] markings on the carriage ends.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ScotRail-25th-anniversary |title = ScotRail 25th Anniversary Publicity Materials |publisher = Transport Scotland |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100706013623/http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ScotRail-25th-anniversary |archive-date = 6 July 2010 }}</ref> This rebranding placed less emphasis on the ''First'' and was marketed as ''"ScotRail: Scotland's Railway"''.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotrail-marks-birthday-with-saltire-look-1-1091818 |location = Edinburgh |work = The Scotsman |first = Alastair |last = Dalton |title = ScotRail marks birthday with Saltire look |date = 23 September 2008 |access-date = 19 November 2016 |archive-date = 17 January 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160117022445/http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotrail-marks-birthday-with-saltire-look-1-1091818 |url-status = live }}</ref> The first unit to receive the new livery was 170434, unveiled at Glasgow Queen Street on 22 September 2008.

During December 2008, ScotRail started operated a set of [[DB Cargo UK|DB Schenker]] [[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2 carriages]] on a peak-hour [[Fife Circle Line]] service hauled by a Class 67. A second set was also operated for a while.{{CN|date=December 2023}}

In July 2008, Transport Scotland funded the acquisition of 22 three-carriage and 16 four-carriage [[British Rail Class 380|Class 380 ''Desiros'']] with the first entering service in December 2010. These trains operated Ayrshire and Inverclyde services, adding extra capacity and allowed the cascade of existing stock to the new Glasgow to Edinburgh services via the reopened Airdrie to Bathgate line.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/node/3343 |title = New Electric Trains for Scotland's Growing Railways |publisher = Transport Scotland |date = 11 July 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091217065011/http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/node/3343 |archive-date = 17 December 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//scotland-orders-desiro-fleet.html |title = Scotland orders Desiro fleet |date = 11 July 2008 |publisher = [[Railway Gazette International]] |access-date = 10 December 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120610004909/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/scotland-orders-desiro-fleet.html |archive-date = 10 June 2012 |url-status = dead}}</ref>

===Fleet at end of franchise===
{| class="wikitable"
|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9
! rowspan="2" |Class
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Type
! colspan="2" |Top speed
! rowspan="2" |Number
! rowspan="2" |Routes operated
! rowspan="2" |Built
|----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9
!mph
!km/h
|-
|[[British Rail Class 67|Class 67]]
|[[File:67003 at Kings Cross.jpg|150px]]
|[[Diesel locomotive]]
|125
|200
|Hired from [[DB Cargo UK|DB Schenker]]
|[[Fife Circle Line]]<br>[[Caledonian Sleeper]]
|1999–2000
|-
|[[British Rail Class 90|Class 90]]
|[[File:Hugh llewelyn 90 019 (5569027064).jpg|150px]]
|[[Electric locomotive]]
|110
|177
|Hired from [[DB Cargo UK|DB Schenker]]<br>(4 required per service night)
|[[Caledonian Sleeper]]
|1987–1990
|-
|[[British Rail Class 156|Class 156 ''Super Sprinter'']]
|[[File:Class 156.jpg|150px]]
|rowspan="3" |[[Diesel multiple unit|DMU]]
|75
|120
|48
|[[West Highland Line]]<br>[[Glasgow South Western Line]]<br>[[Shotts Line]]<br>[[Croy Line]]<br>[[Edinburgh Crossrail]]<br>[[Maryhill Line]]<br>[[Cumbernauld Line]]
|1987–1989
|-
|[[British Rail Class 158|Class 158 ''Express Sprinter'']]
|[[File:Linlithgow 158871.jpg|150px]]
|90
|145
|48
|[[Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line]]<br>[[Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line]]<br>[[Highland Main Line]]<br>[[Croy Line]]<br>[[Aberdeen to Inverness Line]]<br>[[Kyle of Lochalsh Line]]<br>[[Far North Line]]<br>[[Edinburgh Crossrail]]<br>[[Edinburgh to Dunblane Line]]<br>[[Fife Circle Line]]<br>[[Shotts Line]]<br>[[Maryhill Line]]<br>[[Cumbernauld Line]]
|1989–1992
|-
|[[British Rail Class 170|Class 170 ''Turbostar'']]
|[[File:Class 170 in Waverley Station 2014 02.JPG|150px]]
|100
|161
|59
|[[Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line]]<br>[[Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line]]<br>[[Highland Main Line]]<br>[[Fife Circle Line]]<br>[[Edinburgh Crossrail]]<br>[[Edinburgh to Dunblane Line]]<br>[[Croy Line]]<br>[[Maryhill Line]]<br>[[Cumbernauld Line]]<br>[[Tay Coast Line]]
|1998–2005
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[British Rail Class 314|Class 314]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:314212 at Patterton.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|75
|121
|16
|[[Cathcart Circle Lines]]<br>[[Inverclyde Line]]<br>[[Paisley Canal Line]]
| rowspan="2" |1979
|-
| colspan="4" |[[File:314SR.png|alt=|687x687px]]
[[File:314SRUnified.png|alt=|687x687px]]
|-
|[[British Rail Class 318|Class 318]]
|[[File:Partick - Abellio 318265+320308 Balloch service.JPG|150px]]
| rowspan="3" |90
| rowspan="3" |145
|21
| rowspan="2" |[[Argyle Line]]<br>[[North Clyde Line]]<br>[[Whifflet Line]]
|1986–1987
|-
|[[British Rail Class 320|Class 320]]
|[[File:Hyndland 320314.jpg|150px]]
|22
|1990
|-
|[[British Rail Class 334|Class 334 ''Coradia Juniper'']]
|[[File:Helensburgh Central 334020 334030.jpg|150px]]
|40
|[[North Clyde Line]]<br>[[Argyle Line]]<br>
|1999–2002
|-
|[[British Rail Class 380|Class 380 ''Desiro'']]
|[[File:380101 at Glasgow Central.jpg|150px]]
| rowspan="2" |100
| rowspan="2" |160
|22 (3 carriage)<br>16 (4 carriage)
|[[Ayrshire Coast Line]]<br>[[Inverclyde Line]]<br>[[Glasgow to Edinburgh via Carstairs Line]]<br>[[North Berwick Line]]<br>[[Paisley Canal Line]]
|2009–2011
|-
|[[British Rail Mark 2|Mark 2 carriage]]
|[[File:Euston station MMB 99 90019.jpg|150px]]
|[[British Rail Mark 2|Sleeper Seated]]
|22
| rowspan="2" |[[Caledonian Sleeper]]
|1969–1974
|-
|[[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3 carriage]]
|[[File:Caledonian Sleeper at Euston.jpg|150px]]
|[[Sleeper Either Class|Sleeper Berth]]
|125
|200
|53
|1975–1988
|}

===Past fleet===
Former train types operated by First ScotRail include:
{| class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"|Class
!rowspan="2"|Image
!rowspan="2"|Type
!colspan="2"|Top speed
!rowspan="2"|Number
!rowspan="2"|Carriages
!rowspan="2"|Built
!rowspan="2"|Left fleet
|-
!mph
!km/h
|-
|[[British Rail Class 150|Class 150 ''Sprinter'']]
|[[File:19960606 02 Edinburgh (5533575632).jpg|150px]]
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Diesel multiple unit|DMU]]
|style="text-align:center;"|75
|style="text-align:center;"|121
|style="text-align:center;"|18
|style="text-align:center;"|2
|style="text-align:center;"|1986–1987
|style="text-align:center;"|2005
|-
|[[British Rail Class 322|Class 322]]
|[[File:Hugh llewelyn 322 485 (6301694343).jpg|150px]]
|style="text-align:center;"|[[Electric multiple unit|EMU]]
|style="text-align:center;"|100
|style="text-align:center;"|161
|style="text-align:center;"|5
|style="text-align:center;"|4
|style="text-align:center;"|1990
|style="text-align:center;"|2011
|}

==Stations==
The majority of Scotland's 340 passenger stations were operated by First ScotRail under [[Network Rail]] ownership. Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central stations were operated by Network Rail itself; [[Prestwick International Airport railway station|Glasgow Prestwick Airport station]] was owned and operated by the airport; and {{Stnlnk|Dunbar}} was operated by the [[InterCity East Coast]] franchise holder (originally [[Great North Eastern Railway|GNER]], then [[National Express East Coast]], then [[East Coast (train operating company)|East Coast]], and finally [[Virgin Trains East Coast]]). ScotRail operated [[Lockerbie railway station|Lockerbie station]] although none of its services called there.

==Depots==
First ScotRail's fleet was maintained at [[Haymarket TMD|Edinburgh Haymarket]], [[Glasgow Shields Road TMD|Glasgow Shields Road]], [[Corkerhill Carriage Servicing Maintenance Depot|Corkerhill]] and [[Inverness TMD|Inverness]] depots. During early 2005, the rebuilt [[Eastfield TMD|Glasgow Eastfield]] was reopened.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.kirwindesign.co.uk/Eastfield_real.htm |title = Eastfield Depot 1904 -1992 |access-date = 30 September 2012 |archive-date = 26 March 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140326072959/http://www.kirwindesign.co.uk/Eastfield_real.htm |url-status = live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[ScotRail]], the train operating company operating the ScotRail franchise since 1 April 2022
* [[ScotRail (brand)]]
* [[Transport in Scotland]]
* [[Transport in Edinburgh]]
* [[Transport in Glasgow]]
* [[:Category:Transport in Scotland by council area]]
* [[Caledonian Sleeper]]
* [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport]]
* [[Transport Initiatives Edinburgh]]
* [[Glasgow Subway]]
* [[Transport Scotland]] (government agency)
* [[List of railway lines in Great Britain]]
* [[Abellio ScotRail]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist|3}}

===Sources===
* [[Scottish Government]]. ''[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/25100154 Scottish Transport Statistics No. 24: 2005 Edition]''. Accessed on 2 October 2005.
* Scottish Parliament Information Centre. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20051030055914/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/briefings-04/sb04-64.pdf Changes to the regulation of Scotland's railways]''. Accessed on 2 October 2005.
* RailBritain.com. ''[http://www.railbritain.com/?option=displaypage&Itemid=131&op=page First ScotRail fleet size as of December 2004]''. Accessed on 2 October 2005.

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|First ScotRail}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150316194950/http://www.scotrail.co.uk/ Company website]
* [http://www.scotrail.co.uk/timetables-routes ScotRail network map]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509122417/http://nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/print_maps/glasgow.pdf Map of Glasgow & Edinburgh rail network] (National Rail)
* [http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=139 ScotRail reports] - the Scotsman

{{s-start}} 
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[ScotRail (National Express)]]}} 
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Operator of [[ScotRail (brand)|ScotRail franchise]]
|years=2004–2015}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Abellio ScotRail]]}} 
|- 
{{s-aft|after=[[Caledonian Sleeper]]<br>Caledonian Sleeper franchise}}
{{s-end}}

{{UK TOCs|defunct|state=collapsed}}
{{FirstGroup}}

[[Category:Companies based in Aberdeen]]
[[Category:Defunct train operating companies in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:FirstGroup railway companies]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 2004]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 2015]]
[[Category:Railway companies of Scotland]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:2015 disestablishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:British companies disestablished in 2015]]
[[Category:British companies established in 2004]]