ScotRail is celebrating its fortieth birthday today (Friday 22 September), and is highlighting what it calls the “remarkable transformations” on Scotland’s Railway during that time.

The name ‘ScotRail’ was introduced in 1983, and twenty-five years later in 2008, the Saltire logo was added to the branding.

To mark the anniversary, ScotRail has unveiled footage of some of Scotland’s most iconic rail bridges, the Forth Bridge, New Clyde Bridge, Tay Bridge, and Aberdeen’s River Dee Bridge.

In the video, the bridges are illuminated with passengers’ and workers’ stories. It also includes clips from the past forty years showing changes that have taken place.

ScotRail staff handed out branded birthday cakes to passengers at city centre stations across Scotland’s eight cities this morning.

ScotRail is reflecting on its notable achievements and changes.

Stations

ScotRail has built or reopened eighty-one stations, fifty of them within the first decade, the first being Auchinleck and Kilmaurs in 1984. The most recent additions were Reston station in 2022 and Inverness Airport station in February 2023. There are now 359 stations in Scotland.

Many stations have been improved, with some undergoing dramatic renovations, including Edinburgh‘s Haymarket and Glasgow Queen Street.

Lines

Four disused or abandoned railway lines have been restored to service, significantly expanding the rail network:

• 2005: the Larkhall-Hamilton and Anniesland-Maryhill scheme (2005)
• 2008: Stirling-Alloa (with a continuation for freight to Kincardine)
• 2010: Airdrie-Bathgate
• 2015: Borders Railway.

The Levenmouth Rail Link will become the fifth reopened line when it opens in 2024.

Electrification

Efforts to modernise and electrify Scotland’s Railway have progressed steadily since 1983, when there was no Sunday service on many routes, and electric services only operating in parts of Strathclyde. Improvements reached Ayrshire in 1986 and North Berwick in 1991. Since 2010, this has extended to include all routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Electrification brought new trains into service, including new Class 380s in 2010 and Class 385s in 2018, alongside diesel Class 156s, 158s and 170s.

The Scottish Government’s Decarbonisation Action Plan includes ScotRail working on plans to remove diesel trains from the network in the long term.

Modernisation

ScotRail has introduced self-service ticket vending machines, online ticket retailing, and mTickets.

Its trains now carry bicycles without charge, and its stations and trains offer more cycle spaces. The operator has improved the assistance it gives to mobility-impaired passengers.

On-train and at-station information screens and social media updates have improved information to passengers. ScotRail also boasts better security measures, 24-hour CCTV and Help Points.

ScotRail has been trying to recruit from more diverse backgrounds to reflect the diversity of the population it serves.

Next steps

On Monday 2 October, ScotRail will launch a six-month trial of cheaper and simpler fares on its services, with passengers able to travel all day on off-peak fares until the end of March 2024.

Joanne Maguire, ScotRail Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’re delighted to celebrate ScotRail’s 40th birthday, recognising our role in connecting the people of Scotland.

“If you arrive at any station in Scotland, you’ll be greeted by the iconic ScotRail brand, and the world-famous Saltire on our trains.

“The past 40 years have been remarkable, with the introduction of new stations, new trains, reopening of disused railway lines, and the modernisation of the services available to customers.

“Of course, there have been challenges on a network that runs from Thurso to Carlisle, but the future holds even greater promise with further growth as we continue to innovate and improve our services.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we renew our commitment to delivering a safe, reliable, and green railway for our customers.

“We thank our loyal customers for their support and look forward to serving the people of Scotland, and beyond, for many more years to come.”

Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Transport, said: “ScotRail is part of the fabric of Scotland and this anniversary is testimony to the dedication of its staff. So much has changed and been achieved since ScotRail came into being, with many of the staff today having been there since the beginning. I’d like to thank them all, particularly given the challenges they faced in recent years.

“We are committed to making ScotRail flourish for the next 40 years and beyond to ensure we can make public transport an attractive alternative to the private vehicle. This is evident with the new stations we are building, the new lines we are opening, the electrification we are completing, and our forthcoming peak fares removal pilot.

“As we mark World Car Free Day today and look to our own Big Car Cool Off, there has been no better time to take the train.”