Hitachi Rail Gains Contract Extension to Maintain Class 385 Fleet in Scotland

Hitachi Rail has secured a seven-year extension to its maintenance contract for ScotRail’s Class 385 electric train fleet.

The agreement covers both heavy and light maintenance of the 70-strong commuter fleet, as well as a strengthened service quality regime aimed at sustaining reliability and availability.

The Class 385 fleet operates primarily between Edinburgh and Glasgow as part of a wider modernisation and decarbonisation programme supported by the Scottish Government. Introduced in 2018, the electric trains were deployed following the electrification of the Edinburgh-Glasgow mainline.

Since entering service, the Class 385s have contributed to a notable reduction in carbon emissions. ScotRail estimates an annual 82% decrease in emissions—equivalent to approximately 25,200 tonnes of CO₂—compared to the diesel units they replaced.

Under the extended contract, Hitachi Rail will continue to support the fleet’s performance through investment in infrastructure, workforce development, and digital solutions. This includes the potential rollout of HMAX, Hitachi’s digital asset monitoring platform, designed to enhance predictive maintenance and operational planning.

Magnus Conn, Engineering Director at ScotRail, said:

We are delighted to strengthen our successful partnership with Hitachi through this extended maintenance contract for our Class 385 fleet.

It builds on the solid foundations of collaboration between ScotRail and Hitachi, ensuring our fleet remains safe, efficient, and ready to meet the future needs of Scotland’s Railway.

Hitachi has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of our operational needs and a strong commitment to innovation and reliability. Their advanced technology and expertise will be instrumental in ensuring our trains remain reliable and efficient, allowing us to provide the high standard of service our customers expect and deserve.

ScotRail has attributed a steady rise in customer demand to the reliability and performance of the Class 385s. More than 7.5 million passenger journeys were made on the route between Edinburgh and Glasgow during 2024/25—an increase of five percent on the previous year. Since the trains’ introduction, passenger journeys on the route have risen by two percent.

The Class 385 fleet is maintained at several locations, including Craigentinny Depot in Edinburgh, where Hitachi recently completed a 30 million GBP upgrade. The facility, originally constructed in the early 20th century, was modernised to accommodate new fleets and support the upskilling of local teams.

Angus Thom, Senior Director of Operations, Service & Maintenance, UK & Ireland at Hitachi Rail said:

This new contract strongly endorses Hitachi Rail’s maintenance capabilities. Our fleet is among the UK's most reliable, thanks to our close and positive collaboration with ScotRail as part of ‘Team Scotland’. Together, we have delivered one of the best fleets in Britain.

Everyone at Hitachi Rail looks forward to continuing this relationship into the next decade. We are committed to continuous improvement and excited by the potential to digitally future-proofing this fleet.