ScotRail has secured an extra ten electric trains to boost the number of seats available for customers on the Edinburgh-Glasgow via Falkirk High route.

The modern class 365 electric trains will provide an additional 17,200 seats a day for customers travelling between Scotland’s two largest cities.

The leasing deal for the electric class 365 trains has been agreed between ScotRail and Eversholt Rail, one of the UK’s leading rolling stock owners.

The first of the class 365 electric trains will enter passenger service in the coming weeks. The trains are a temporary hire as ScotRail prepares for the delivery of brand new electric class 385 trains from Hitachi, which are expected to enter service in the coming months.

Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance Managing Director, said:

 “I am delighted that we have secured an extra ten electric trains to boost the number of seats available to our customers by 17,200 a day. This is great news for our customers travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“Securing these extra trains has been made possible thanks to a lot of our people across the ScotRail Alliance working flat out in recent weeks.

“The coming months will see a transformation in Scotland’s railway, and we can’t wait for customers to feel the benefits. It’s all part of our plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had.”

Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands, said:

“This is the fruition of ScotRail working together with Eversholt Rail to finalise this lease for a number of class 365s. The 17,200 extra seats each day, that’s around 800 an hour, ensures a capacity boost between Edinburgh-Glasgow to support our major events in Scotland this summer.

“The recent arrival of the first four class 365 trains in Scotland is welcome news, enabling staff training to progress more quickly as well as providing more work at Springburn to prepare the fleet.

“We thank passengers for their patience on those routes particularly impacted by capacity issues and assure them these class 365 trains will help alleviate this issue.”

Mary Kenny, Eversholt Rail CEO, said:

“The swift cross-team collaboration is testament to the trusted relationships Eversholt Rail holds with its partners.

“With all parties working firmly towards a common goal, we are proud to be playing a part in boosting the number of trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow for the benefit of ScotRail’s passengers.”