First ScotRail: Data & Information
17th October 2004 – 31st March 2015
Owned by First Group, First ScotRail operated the ScotRail franchise from October 2004 until March 2015. Prior to October 2004, trains hjad been run since March 1997 by ScotRail (National Express). First ScotRail was succeeded by Abellio ScotRail on 1st April 2015.
First ScotRail operated most commuter and long-distance services within Scotland, and some services to northern England, as well as the Caledonian Sleeper to London.
In July 2003, the Scottish Executive and the Strategic Rail Authority announced Arriva, First Group and National Express had been shortlisted to bid for the new franchise. In June 2004, the franchise was awarded to First Group, with the services operated by ScotRail (National Express) transferring to First ScotRail on 17th October 2004.
On 1st January 2006, Transport Scotland was created to carry out the Scottish Executive's transport responsibilities including its then newly devolved powers over rail franchising
In April 2008, Transport Scotland granted First ScotRail a three-year franchise extension until November 2014.
In September 2008, Transport Scotland announced that all First ScotRail trains, including those previously operated on behalf of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, would be repainted in a new blue livery with white saltire markings on the carriage ends.
The rebranding put less emphasis on the ‘First’ and is marketed as ‘ScotRail: Scotland's Railway’. The first unit to receive the new livery was 170434, unveiled at Glasgow Queen Street on 22nd September 2008.
In June 2012, the Scottish Government announced that when the ScotRail franchise was re-tendered in 2014, the Caledonian Sleeper services would be transferred to a standalone franchise. In May 2014, it was announced that this new franchise had been awarded to Serco.
On 8th October 2014, First ScotRail confirmed its bid to retain the franchise had been unsuccessful and that the franchise transferred to Abellio ScotRail on 1st April 2015.
The franchise duly passed to Abellio ScotRail at midnight on 1st April 2015. The Caledonian Sleeper services transferred to Serco several hours beforehand, during the evening of 31st March 2015.
Read MoreOwned by First Group, First ScotRail operated the ScotRail franchise from October 2004 until March 2015. Prior to October 2004, trains hjad been run since March 1997 by ScotRail (National Express). First ScotRail was succeeded by Abellio ScotRail on 1st April 2015.
First ScotRail operated most commuter and long-distance services within Scotland, and some services to northern England, as well as the Caledonian Sleeper to London.
In July 2003, the Scottish Executive and the Strategic Rail Authority announced Arriva, First Group and National Express had been shortlisted to bid for the new franchise. In June 2004, the franchise was awarded to First Group, with the services operated by ScotRail (National Express) transferring to First ScotRail on 17th October 2004.
On 1st January 2006, Transport Scotland was created to carry out the Scottish Executive's transport responsibilities including its then newly devolved powers over rail franchising
In April 2008, Transport Scotland granted First ScotRail a three-year franchise extension until November 2014.
In September 2008, Transport Scotland announced that all First ScotRail trains, including those previously operated on behalf of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, would be repainted in a new blue livery with white saltire markings on the carriage ends.
The rebranding put less emphasis on the ‘First’ and is marketed as ‘ScotRail: Scotland's Railway’. The first unit to receive the new livery was 170434, unveiled at Glasgow Queen Street on 22nd September 2008.
In June 2012, the Scottish Government announced that when the ScotRail franchise was re-tendered in 2014, the Caledonian Sleeper services would be transferred to a standalone franchise. In May 2014, it was announced that this new franchise had been awarded to Serco.
On 8th October 2014, First ScotRail confirmed its bid to retain the franchise had been unsuccessful and that the franchise transferred to Abellio ScotRail on 1st April 2015.
The franchise duly passed to Abellio ScotRail at midnight on 1st April 2015. The Caledonian Sleeper services transferred to Serco several hours beforehand, during the evening of 31st March 2015.
