Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has announced a £342 million rail electrification and train upgrade in Fife and the Borders.
The announcement will see 69 new trains procured while further electrification work will affect 86 miles of track.
Ms Hyslop says electrification work should be completed by 2029 with the new trains to arrive by 2031.
The trains which currently serve the route are almost 40 years old and are the oldest of their type still in regular use.
Ms Hyslop said the battery-electric trains will help decarbonise the railway network. ScotRail has been authorised to initiate a procurement exercise for the new trains and for the replacement of some electric fleets currently operating in Glasgow.
“We are rightly proud of this Scottish Government’s ongoing commitment to Scotland’s railway and the opportunities it can bring to communities and businesses across the nation as we continue to deliver for rail passengers,” said Ms Hyslop.
Katie Vollbracht, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail, added: “Electrifying the Fife and Borders lines is a significant step forward in our plans for a better and decarbonised railway for Scotland.
“We are delivering around 140km of electrification in Fife and the Borders, paving the way for the introduction of battery-electric trains on these routes which will provide more capacity and reliability and cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable journeys.”
ScotRail’s chief operating officer David Ross said: “This is fantastic news for our customers. Electrifying more of Scotland’s railway is a vital step towards delivering a more modern, sustainable network upon which people and communities can rely.”
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