With a busy weekend of sport ahead, the ScotRail Alliance has announced it is adding extra carriages to as many trains as possible to services to keep customers moving.
Scotland play their final Autumn Test against Australia on Saturday, 25 November (KO 2.30pm) at the BT Murrayfield Stadium, while Motherwell take on Celtic in the Betfred
Cup final at Hampden Park (KO 3pm) on Sunday, 26 November.
On Saturday, trains to and from Edinburgh will be extremely busy with customers enjoying the Christmas markets and fans watching the rugby. The ScotRail Alliance has
added extra carriages to trains between Edinburgh and the Borders, Fife, Glasgow, Perth, Stirling and Dunblane. Supporters heading to the match are advised to allow
additional time for travel, as queuing systems will be in place after the final whistle.
Customers travelling to Hampden Park for the League Cup final on Sunday will benefit from extra carriages on services to Mount Florida and Kings Park – the closest
stations to the ground. Motherwell fans should travel to Mount Florida, while Celtic supporters will be directed to Kings Park. The most regular trains to Mount Florida
depart from Glasgow Central station.
Extra staff will be on hand to assist customers and, as with most large events, alcohol bans will be in force on both days.
ScotRail Alliance Head of Customer Experience, Graham Heald said: “We’ve got a massive weekend of sport coming up. Scotland will be looking to sign off the Autumn Tests
on Saturday with a win, while the first silverware of the football season is decided at Hampden on Sunday.
“While trains will be extremely busy on both days, we’ve done everything we can to boost the number of available seats for travelling fans and regular customers. We’re
adding as many trains as possible to services this weekend to keep people moving.
“From next year, fans travelling to the games will benefit from more seats and faster journeys on our brand new electric Class 385 and high-speed trains.
“I encourage anyone travelling this weekend to allow extra time for travel, and to minimise the need to queue, buy tickets in advance via our app or website.”
New campaign encourages public to intervene to help prevent railway suicides.
• Fewer than one fifth of the public realise that suicidal thoughts are temporary (17%)
• Vast majority would help someone in distress on the railway if they knew they couldn’t make things worse (84.7%)
• Over half of Scots (52.5%) say they’re good at small talk
The ScotRail Alliance is encouraging customers to take part in a new suicide prevention campaign on the railways which could save many lives a year.
The campaign, entitled Small Talk Saves Lives, launches today with the release of a short film encouraging members of the public to trust their instincts and look out for fellow passengers who might need help. It is being launched jointly by the Samaritans, the British Transport Police, and train companies all across Britain.
The video is based on the true story of Sarah Wilson (name changed), who felt suicidal and planned to take her life on the railway, but didn’t as somebody reached out to her.[i] In the clip, unsuspecting customers on a station platform initially think a station announcer is warning them of delays due to a suicide on the line, only to find out that they are listening to a story of hope and recovery, told by Sarah herself.
Small Talk Saves Lives aims to give travellers the confidence to act if they notice someone who may be at risk of suicide on or around the rail network. It draws on insights from successful interventions made by some of the 16,000 rail staff and British Transport Police officers who’ve been trained by the Samaritans in suicide prevention. For each life lost on the railway, six are saved.[ii]
Susan Temple, who works at Johnstone ticket office, is one of the 1,500 ScotRail Alliance staff who have been trained by Samaritans. When she found a man in distress on a station platform, she was able to start a conversation with him that ultimately saved his life.
Susan said: “When I first approached him, he was quiet and wouldn’t speak. I told him my name, but didn’t tell him I was a member of staff to make sure I didn’t worry him.
“He was very distressed and once he started talking, he spoke really quickly. He told me that the only way out for him was to take his life.
“I was able to signal to an oncoming train to slow down and walked to the driver and told him about the situation. I went back to the young man and continued to talk to him. He felt so down that he believed that everyone would be better off if he wasn’t here.”
Susan was able to contact the police, who took the young man into their care.
The campaign has the backing of the leading suicide prevention expert Professor Rory O’Connor from the University of Glasgow.
Professor O’Connor said:
“I am pleased to support Samaritans’ new campaign, Small Talk Saves Lives. It aims to tackle one of the myths around suicide and its prevention: namely, that there is nothing we can do to prevent suicide. There is, and we all have a role to play. It is great to see this campaign encouraging people to reach out if they think someone may be suicidal. It could save lives.”
Sarah Wilson said:
“Someone showing that they cared about me helped to interrupt my suicidal thoughts and that gave them time to subside.
“The more that people understand that suicide is preventable, the better. I hope people will share the video and that the campaign will encourage people to trust their gut instincts and start a conversation if they think someone could need help. You won’t make things worse, and you could save a life.’
Samaritans CEO Ruth Sutherland said:
“Suicide is everybody’s business and any one of us could have an opportunity to save a life.
“Research for this campaign showed 73 per cent of the public would expect somebody to approach their loved one if they were upset in a public place.
“We have worked carefully with the public, rail travellers and those bereaved by suicide to ensure that this campaign is delivered sensitively but with real impact. The knowledge and skills to save lives in the rail environment can be applied to many other situations.
“We hope that Small Talk Saves Lives is the start of a much wider conversation about how suicide is preventable.”
David Lister, ScotRail Alliance sustainability & safety assurance director, said:
“Every suicide on the railway is a preventable tragedy, and everyone who travels by train can help – simply by looking out for each other. If someone seems distressed, why not go over and strike up conversation with them?
“It might seem daunting, but that one simple question can be all it takes to interrupt their suicidal thoughts. You don’t need training to be able to make a difference, just imagine it was one of your loved ones.”
British Transport Police Chief Constable, Paul Crowther, national strategic policing lead for suicide prevention, said:
“Our officers make lifesaving interventions on the railway every day, together with rail staff and members of the public.
“We know from experience that when someone is in distress, simply engaging them in conversation can make all the difference and help set them on the road to recovery. It makes sense to let the public know that this simple act can help.
“We’re not suggesting people intervene if they don’t feel comfortable or safe to do so. They can tell a member of rail staff or a police officer – many of whom have been trained by Samaritans – or call 999.”
Abellio ScotRail has invested £375million in living wage suppliers since taking over the franchise to run Scotland’s railway, it was announced today.
To mark Living Wage Week, which saw the announcement of the a new level of £8.75 per hour, Abellio ScotRail released the figures to highlight its strong commitment to the living wage and to supporting businesses that pay a fair wage.
Abellio ScotRail became one of the largest living wage accredited employers in March 2016, and has fitted out every train with a living wage logo.
Abellio took over the ScotRail franchise in April 2015.
James Ledgerwood, head of economic and community development at the ScotRail Alliance, said:
“We are building the best railway Scotland has ever had – and a key part of that is investing in our own people and helping other businesses to thrive.
“The £375million we have invested in living wage suppliers since April 2015 has made an important contribution to our economy. We have a long-term commitment to supporting businesses that pay a fair wage.
“We are very proud to be an accredited living wage employer. It’s an important recognition of the valuable work our people do every single day to deliver for our customers.”
Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands said:
“The Scottish Government has long championed the Living Wage, recognising the real difference it can make to the lives of workers. Businesses can benefit too through better staff morale and increased productivity, that is why the ScotRail franchise includes a commitment to paying the Living Wage.
“Scotland has well over a quarter of the UK total of Living Wage accredited employers, putting us way ahead of other UK nations. We welcome Abellio ScotRail’s efforts to spread the benefits of the Living Wage even further by investing in living wage suppliers. They are setting a great example that encouraging the Living Wage is not just the right thing to do it makes good business sense.”
New trains for Scotland are another step closer as the ScotRail Alliance revealed the interiors of its new fleet.
The new Class 385 electric trains – which are being built by Hitachi Rail Europe – will deliver faster journeys, more seats and better services for Scotland when they are rolled out next year.
One of the first fully fitted trains was recently completed at Hitachi Rail Europe’s Newton Aycliffe plant. Offering bright, modern, contemporary finishes, once in service, customers across the central belt will benefit from:
• Power sockets at each pair of seats
• Free WiFi throughout the train
• More luggage storage
• Cycle spaces in a clearly marked area
• Flexible storage area (prams, golf clubs etc)
• Two wheelchair spaces
• Accessible toilet in every train, including a new ‘assist’ facility to allow companion access to the cubicle while maintaining privacy
• Windows closely aligned with seats
Dedicated first class carriages boast plug sockets at every seat, premium leather seats, LED lighting and more luggage storage.
Class 385s can operate in three, four, six, seven and eight car formations, providing much more flexibility to match demand with capacity. Unlike the existing Class 170 trains, the Class 385 have ‘through’ gangways between all coaches so that every part of the train can be accessed from the inside.
Electric trains mean no diesel engines, resulting in quieter journeys for customers and reduced noise pollution for those living and working near the railway.
When eight-car trains are introduced on the Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High route, this will improve capacity by up to 44% at peak times.
There will also be more seats during peak periods on the Glasgow / Edinburgh – Stirling / Dunblane / Alloa lines, Edinburgh – North Berwick, and Glasgow Central – Edinburgh via Shotts.
ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes said:
“It’s great to finally see the interiors of our new trains. They look great, and I know customers will agree.
“The finish of these trains will significantly improve the experience of customers travelling with us. Their design has resulted in bright, spacious and accessible carriages – perfect for commuters, business customers and leisure travellers alike.
“We’re building the best railway Scotland has ever had – and providing our customers with modern trains plays a big part in that.”
Mitsuo Iwasaki, Head of Technical at Hitachi Rail Europe, said:
“We expect customers to be really pleased with the interiors of our new trains. We’ve worked closely with ScotRail and various passenger groups to include their ideas into the design and the result is a visible improvement for people travelling.
“In addition to full size tables and more seats, customers will also now be able to stay better connected on their journey with fast WiFi and plug sockets.”
The ScotRail Alliance has unveiled one of five specially-branded trains as part of its support for this year’s poppy appeal.
The trains were unveiled by soldiers from the 2nd and 4th Battalions, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, alongside ScotRail Alliance staff. The carriages have had their ScotRail logos replaced with a poppy-inspired design, and will be seen on routes linking Scotland’s ‘seven cities’ – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Stirling, and Inverness.
The trains are the latest demonstration of the ScotRail Alliance’s support for Poppyscotland, for which it raised over £57,000 last year.
This year, collection tins have been placed at all staffed stations, with poppies for sale at every ticket office. There are also collections every day until 11 November at four of Scotland’s busiest stations: Glasgow Central, Queen Street, Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket.
Syeda Ghufran, head of engineering projects at the ScotRail Alliance, said:
“At this time of year, it’s important that we remember those who gave their lives for our country. However, it’s just as important to remember those who did come back, and the support that they require.
“These poppy trains will encourage people across the country, not just to remember, but also to show their support in practical ways.”
Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising at Poppyscotland, said:
“The poppy trains looks absolutely fantastic. Not only will they remind the public of the importance of the poppy during the remembrance period, but given they will be proudly on display beyond this year’s Scottish Poppy Appeal it will highlight the need to support our Armed Forces community all year round.
“These trains demonstrate once again that the ScotRail Alliance is going the extra mile in its support of Poppyscotland and those who need our life-changing services.”
The ScotRail Alliance today announced that customers in the south of Scotland are set to reap the benefits of major new investment – with more services and more seats.
From 10 December, commuters, business travellers and leisure customers will benefit from an additional 1,500 seats per day on an extra five services, in each direction, between Dumfries and Carlisle. This will benefit customers travelling from those two stations, as well as those travelling from Annan and Gretna Green.
The improvements mean customers in the south west of Scotland will see close to an hourly service throughout the day, with better connections for trains to and from London at Carlisle.
In addition, the ScotRail Alliance is introducing a new early morning train from Dumfries to Glasgow, and a late evening service from Glasgow to Dumfries – providing 300 more seats between the stations.
ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes, said:
“We are building the best railway this country has ever had – and that applies to all of Scotland.
“The major investment we are making will mean more services and more seats in the south of Scotland. It will also help to grow the economy in this part of the country, which makes it an exciting time for everybody in the area.
“We’ve listened to feedback and made positive changes for commuters, business travellers and tourists looking to get out and about across this great country. More regular trains mean more seats and more choice, providing greater flexibility for trips to Glasgow and better connection with trains to London.”
Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf, said:
“These additional services being introduced will be welcomed by passengers in the South West of the country. By providing more services, seats, and improving connectivity, we can encourage more people onto trains.
“The near hourly service between Dumfries and Carlisle is designed to meet the demands of current and future growth, and comes following feedback from local user groups and transport partners.
“It is also pleasing to note the earlier morning service between Dumfries and Glasgow, providing enhanced commuter options to Kilmarnock and Glasgow for the Cumnock Valley, and the additional evening train between Glasgow and Dumfries opening up more opportunities for commuters and leisure users alike.”
Andrew Wood, chairman of SWestrans, the regional transport partnership for the south west of Scotland, said:
“I welcome this increase in service and the added connectivity it will bring to many residents of the region.
“I look forward to continuing the good working partnership we have developed between the ScotRail Alliance and SWestrans and the delivery of future rail timetable and infrastructure enhancements across Dumfries and Galloway.”
Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce President Tom Armstrong, said:
“It’s great to see the ScotRail Alliance deliver over a thousand extra seats per day. This shows its commitment to building a railway for the 21st century and shows that Dumfries is part of it. I am confident that these timetable changes will be a major draw for the region.
“It will allow easier access to Dumfries’ diverse and growing business base, its academic institutions and its impressive cultural attractions and events. As well as allowing easier access for the regional residents to get away for the day, get to work in the central belt or Cumbria.”
• Autumn conditions mean heavier leaf fall by mid-October
• Annual performance at 91.1 per cent
• Daily rail clearing teams keep network open as part of £2.6m investment
New figures published today show that leaf fall so far this autumn is more than double what it was at the same point last year.
The figures show that 52 per cent of leaves have fallen already – compared to 24 per cent by this week in 2016.
The information was published as the latest ScotRail Alliance performance figures were released.
The ScotRail Alliance’s moving annual average – the rolling performance for the previous 12 months – now stands at 91.1 per cent. This means 91.1 per cent of trains arrived within five minutes of their scheduled time.
This remains above the UK-wide performance for the previous 12 months, which stands at 88.4 per cent.
The ScotRail Alliance’s performance for the four weeks to 14 October 2017 was 88.3 per cent.
Leaves on the line mean drivers must brake and accelerate more slowly than normal, which causes delays and disruption. Other factors impacting performance in recent weeks include four incidents of cable theft or vandalism, a fault with overhead wires, and an empty third party locomotive mistakenly passing a red signal, resulting in all signals on that line turning red. This meant all trains on that line were stopped until Integrated Control could establish why this happened and resume safe operations.
The ScotRail Alliance is investing £2.6million to keep the trains moving during the autumn – including 11 leaf fall teams and a fleet of seven specialist leaf-busting trains.
ScotRail Alliance Infrastructure Director David Dickson said:
“Our investment and efforts to keep our network open in autumn are paying off. We understand just how important it is to run a punctual, reliable service for our customers. That’s why we are investing £2.6million to keep people moving during the autumn.
“While often scoffed at as an ‘excuse’ for delays, leaves on the line are a big problem for the railway as they make rails dangerously slippy. We’re tackling the difficult conditions created by leaf fall every day just now.
“This has been a challenging few weeks, but we are doing everything we can to address any problems that arise quickly, to take preventative action wherever possible and make sure that our customers are given good quality information. It’s all part of our plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had.”
Picture caption – One of seven Railhead Treatment Trains in action at Stirling.
With the dark nights upon us and the days growing ever colder, Hallowe’en is just around the corner – and the ScotRail Alliance is marking this today with the launch of specially-branded trains.
The carriages have had their distinctive ScotRail logos altered to feature ghouls, pumpkins, bats and witches. The trains will be in service on the Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk route, and other routes across the country until the start of November.
This follows the success Pride logos on a number of ScotRail trains earlier this year to mark Pride Glasgow.
Syeda Ghufran, head of engineering projects at the ScotRail Alliance, said:
“If you’re dressing up this Hallowe’en, have a scream but stay safe.
“Please remember to store your broomsticks in the luggage racks provided, and customers are reminded to speak to a member of staff if they see any unaccompanied ghouls, ghosts or zombies.”
The electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow mainline took positive steps forward on Wednesday, as the ScotRail Alliance prepares for full testing of its new trains on the electrified route.
One of the new Class 385 electric trains – which has still to be fitted with interiors – successfully travelled between Edinburgh and Linlithgow at 02:00 hours on Wednesday 18 October.
This marks clear progress for the infrastructure as this is the first time that an electric train has travelled on any section of the route.
When the final safety checks on the infrastructure along the remainder of the route are complete, full testing of the new trains will begin.
The new fleet will enter passenger service over the next few months, offering faster journeys, more seats and better services for customers travelling between Scotland’s two biggest cities.
ScotRail Alliance Programmes and Transformation Director Ian McConnell, said:
“Yesterday’s trial was a hugely important step towards completing the electrification of the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Having a train run on the route is one of the final phases of the electrification process. That it has gone so well tells us that we are almost ready to begin the next stage – which is to start fully testing the new trains themselves.
“We are building the best railway that Scotland has ever had. When we replace the diesel trains with the brand new, state of the art, electric fleet we will deliver enormous benefits to our customers. Cleaner, greener travel – with more seats and faster journeys will completely transform travel between our two biggest cities.”
Hitachi Rail Europe Programme Manager Andy Radford, said:
“It’s positive so see that progress is being made on Edinburgh to Glasgow electrification.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll be given permission to start full testing soon so we can guarantee the trains can run for passengers safely. We’ve now got trains at our factory in Newton Aycliffe ready to travel to Scotland as soon as they can run on new electric power line.”
Commuters at three Scottish stations are set to get their morning on track with free treats from the ScotRail Alliance and its retail partner Selecta.
New Lavazza coffee machines has been installed by Selecta on the platform at Stirling, Rutherglen and Linlithgow, meaning customers can now get their caffeine fix as they wait for their train. Prices for hot drinks start at £1 for an espresso, increasing to £1.40 for a cappuccino and £1.50 for a Mocha.
To mark the launch, the ScotRail Alliance and their retail partner Selecta, will be handing out free coffees and light treats to customers during the morning rush on:
• Tuesday 24 October at Stirling
• Wednesday 25 October at Rutherglen
• Thursday 26 October at Linlithgow
The new coffee machines, which are a common sight on the Italian rail network, work in the same way as many home coffee makers. Capsules are used to keep the coffee fresh until it is brewed.
The three have been installed as part of a pilot scheme, and there are plans for more across the country if they prove a success.
Colin Whyte, the ScotRail Alliance’s commercial property manager, said: “We’re building the best railway Scotland’s ever had, and giving our stations the best facilities is a key part of this.
“This new ‘grab and go’ machine will help our customers to start their day on the right track.”
Richard Mattis, national account manager for Selecta, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Italy’s favourite coffee to Scottish stations. This new Lavazza coffee offer brings customers coffee shop quality at affordable prices.
“If you are passing through the station and see us, let us treat you to a coffee. We’re sure you’ll taste the difference.”
Image: The new Lavazza machine at Linlithgow station
