‘385s’ START ON SHOTTS LINE
SCOTRAIL HAS continued the rollout of its Hitachi-built Class 385 EMUs across the central belt, with the first of the class carrying passengers on the newly-electrified Shotts line on 23 April 2019.
The £160 million wiring project has covered the stretch between Holytown and Midcalder Junctions, and also a range of station enhancements including platform extensions and the redevelopment of Breich and Livingston South stations. The first electric train had run on the route on 24 February, with the first ‘385’ traversing the line under test on 4 April.
As of late April, ScotRail reported that more than 50 of the 70-strong fleet was in service on seven different routes. The operator has ordered 46x3-car and 24x4-car ‘385s’ from Hitachi, and in addition to the Shotts line these are also working routes between Glasgow and Edinburgh; to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa; south of Glasgow to Newton and via the Cathcart Circle; and from Edinburgh to North Berwick and Dunbar.
SIEMENS SUBMITS GOOLE APPLICATION
SIEMENS HAS submitted an outline planning application to East Riding of Yorkshire Council to develop a rail manufacturing site in Goole.
The £200 million project is planned for a 104-a…
