With restrictions on the amount of December changes at many operators, ScotRail is leading the way, as PHILIP SHERRATT reports
Timetabling is in something of a state of flux following the tribulations of the alterations on 20 May. More significant changes planned by eight operators have been postponed, although some of those operators are still making changes of a more minor nature where operational necessity dictates. However, for a large part the December timetable change will be one of consolidation for operators up and down the country.
The most obvious exception to this is in Scotland, where ScotRail is pressing ahead with a raft of improvements. These take advantage of the introduction of HSTs on its inter-city routes (p56) and the ongoing rollout of Hitachi’s Class 385 EMUs across the central belt, plus the completion of the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa electrification (p58).
Starting in the central belt, by December the aim is for all services on the key Edinburgh to Glasgow route via Falkirk High to be operated with Class 385s under the ‘Express’ banner, and for a cut in the average journey time from 51 to 47 minutes. ScotRail is also introducing a new half-hourly local service between the two cit…
