SCOTRAIL is to invest hundreds of millions of pounds to transform its trains into a green zero-emission fleet.

The operator is planning to buy 150 new electric, battery or hydrogen-powered trains to replace two-thirds of its fleet over the next 13 years, The Scotsman is reporting. 

Th company is currently reviewing the short-term future of ScotRail’s 40-year-old Inter7City fleet, involved in the fatal Carmont crash in 2020.

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As announced by Transport Scotland in 2020, the new trains are part of the plan to phase out all of ScotRail’s diesel trains by 2035. 

They will count a total of 675 carriages, and will be introduced in three phases, to cover suburban and rural areas, as well as intercity routes, with the first due to be operative in 2027.

The new trains will replace nine out of ScotRail's 11 fleets and older electric trains will be retired, withhold the newer ones will be retained.

Trains for the Glasgow-East Kilbride route are due to be ordered in the next year. 

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A second phase will involve trains being ordered in 2024/25 for rural lines such as Glasgow to Oban, Mallaig and Stranraer.

A new generation of intercity trains would be ordered in 2025/26 for Edinburgh to Glasgow and are due to be operating by 2030.

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ScotRail service delivery director David Simpson said: “We are aware of our responsibility to help Scotland meet its ambition to be a world leader on tackling climate change.

“That’s why all diesel trains will be taken out of service by 2035 through the decarbonisation of the rail infrastructure.

"Our fleet of Inter7City trains, which operate on routes connecting Scotland’s seven cities, are expected to be replaced by a non-diesel powered train by 2030.”

David Clarke, director for Scotland of the Railway Industry Association, which represents suppliers, said: “This is important for Scotland in improving the quality and reliability of services and in facilitating the decarbonisation programme.

"It will be particularly welcomed by suppliers in providing a rare example of a long-term pipeline and breaking the drought of train orders currently being experienced by UK-based train builders and their suppliers.”