Edinburgh-Glasgow ‘fast’ trains to get slower

Most so-called fast journeys on the line will be up to three minutes slower. Picture: John Devlin

Trains on ScotRail’s flagship line are unexpectedly getting slower again – only a year after an £858 million upgrade that sped them up.

The number of weekday services running on the main Edinburgh-Glasgow route in the new fastest time of 42 minutes is to be cut from ten to four from 16 December. They will be between one and three minutes slower, Scotland on Sunday has learned.

The setback comes despite ScotRail stating that 42-minute journeys would become the norm for most off-peak trains.

However, the train operator has now said the “sheer volume” of trains on the line – including from other routes – has made it impossible. The route via Falkirk High – known as the “E&G” – has been electrified to speed up journeys with faster-accelerating class 385 trains. Platform lengthening has enabled longer trains to run, with peak-hour services increased to eight carriages.