More carriages on Aberdeen-Inverness trains

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ScotRail’s longest-ever daytime diesel train will be launched next month on the Aberdeen-Inverness line.

The seven-carriage train will run during the evening peak-hour as the 17.18 Aberdeen-Inverness service – providing 124 more seats.

And almost 400 more seats will be added in total to three other trains on the route.

The increases in capacity are a result of ScotRail’s ongoing review of deploying rolling stock in the most effective way possible.

From Monday, 12 December the 17.18 Aberdeen-Inverness service will have seven carriages – an increase of two.

Until now, the maximum number of carriages on ScotRail’s passenger diesel trains (excluding the Caledonian Sleepers) has been six, all serving the

Edinburgh-Glasgow and Edinburgh-Aberdeen routes, plus Fife to Edinburgh.

The 17.18 service will run with seven carriages until Inverurie, where it will revert to five carriages for the rest of the journey.

In addition, the carriage numbers will double from two to four on the following services:

  • The 09.03 Inverness-Aberdeen
  • The 11.59 Aberdeen-Inverness, and:
  • The 14.27 Inverness-Aberdeen

Steve Montgomery, ScotRail’s managing director, said:

“These extra carriages – adding nearly 500 seats to Aberdeen-Inverness services – follow customer feedback and underpin our commitment to continually review the deployment of rolling stock.

“We are aware that growing demand for rail travel can lead to capacity issues, and regular passenger counts are taken.

“This monitoring of demand will continue when the ‘new’ trains have been introduced to ensure that services are being provided efficiently.”

Richard Lochhead, MSP for Moray, said:

“I welcome this much needed additional capacity that will help address regular capacity issues on this key route.

“I am pleased that ScotRail has listened and acted on the concerns expressed by my constituents.

“Too many passengers have often found themselves having to stand for part of their journey.

“The quality of the journey experienced by passengers should now be a lot more comfortable.”

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