Scotland’s NEW Electric Trains! ScotRail Class 385, The “eXpress” Route Between Edinburgh & Glasgow!

In this video, I will be taking a look at ScotRail's newest electric train, the Class 385, part of Hitachi's AT200 family and the new workhorse of the flagship Edinburgh to Glasgow "eXpress" service. These trains were introduced primarily to replace ScotRail's diesel stock on newly electrified routes as well as some of their elderly electric trains, so they were definitely worth a look during a trip North of the border a while back... so join me as we check out just what these new trains have to offer on Scotland's principle link between its two largest cities!
Journey Details
Date of Travel - July 2022
Operator - ScotRail
Train Type - Class 385 "AT200"
Origin - Edinburgh Waverley
Destination - Glasgow Queen Street
Price - £9.10 (incs. 16-25 Railcard discount of 1/3)
Thanks for watching and hope you enjoyed the video!
Music from EpidemicSound and is used under license.
A massive thanks to @DispatcherStour for the use of the Class 314 photo - do check out his channel for great content!
Follow me on social media: / midland__london
#Class385 #Scotrail #Edinburgh #Glasgow #Trains #tripreport #vlog

[@alastairhamilton6572]

Nice video! But did you say that Glasgow is Scotland’s second largest city? It’s the largest (600K). Edinburgh is around 500K.

[@OMtheRails]

Many thanks! Yes it was worded wrong - was meant to say the second principal city as Edinburgh’s the capital! 😅

[@alastairhamilton6572]

@@OMtheRails It happens to us all!

[@ds1868]

Well Glasgow might be a bit bigger by population but Edinburgh is by far the most attractive city not only in Scotland but also the UK.

[@ehg319]

I did Waverley - Glasgow central in July last year, and it was really nice. comfy seats, decent space, and an enjoyable scenic ride

[@___-000]

I'm sorry but what do you mean comfy seats? They are literal iron boards

[@JeSuisRene]

The 385 seats were fine, though I returned via Bathgate on the 334 and the comfort on those trains was unbelievable!

[@ScottishTransportLad]

If yous find 385 seats comfortable then you should see a doctor

[@tonywilkins6090]

@@ScottishTransportLad I have ridden the 385s between GLC and EDB, the seats are alright for a hour journey but the worse "iron board" seats are the 387s on the GWR network, ending up standing up as you could feel the backof the seats due to lack of padding.

[@RogEdwardsTV]

Although the standard class seats look like ironing board seats - I think they are more comfortable than the “real” ironing boards on Thameslink, say. Okay for the 45 minute journey to Glasgow. 😀

[@andyjames682]

Shame you didn't go to the waiting room at Waverly, you missed a great area

[@mdakhtaruzzaman630]

Nicely enjoyed this video.

[@cjhornby1]

hello! i only started watching you a few weeks ago and i love your videos very much, thank you! 😎

[@ThomasWhiteford]

They also currently operates both Glasgow services with the other being the Long Edinburgh to Glasgow Central Via Shotts service Calling at Haymarket Slateford Kingsknowe Westerhails Curriehill Kirknewton Livingston South West Calder Addiewell Breich Fauldhouse Shotts Hartwood Clelland Carfin Holytown Bellshill Uddingston and Glasgow Central

[@s125ish]

Sorry but it’s wester hailes

[@dvidclapperton]

Longer in terms of journey time vía Shotts, but not longer in terms of distance travelled.

[@MJtrewDK]

Great video, i subbed! Have you ever thought about making a video about the Mersey rail network? Would love to see one! Not many good vids out there about it.

[@scottishtrainspotter7209]

Do love the class 385s always have an interest in them.

[@jacobporrett]

Great video mate. Never been on the Scottish railways before.

[@arnoldspottingvideos5269]

Great video mate. I kinda like the 385s actually

[@ReubenAshwell]

Very nice video, I'd love to try out the Class 385's when I next visit Scotland. :)

[@wilsonator2008]

I’d love to go north of the border to see a few of the train stations and trains they run up there compared to what we get in and around Leeds.

[@ds1868]

The Scots have much better trains than the rest of the UK. And then there's the revamped HST trains now working north of the Border and are proving popular.

[@ES_Spotter]

@@ds1868 nah southern England probably has the best

[@craighobbs3708]

The service is much better now than it was 5 years ago

[@ghighlandchieftain4462]

Brilliant video .it one my fav routes

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

nice and enjoyable. thank you

[@Thatspuremental]

I’d just like to through in that 153s and 156s can be seen running the Glasgow to Oban route and 158s on the queen street to Annie’s land with 170s running weekend you can also see 158s and 170s running back up train and a few services to Aloa in the afternoon

[@EpicThe112]

In some cases your Class 385 will then run a Cathcart Circle 2xxx Trips with Class 380s 318s 334s if your service ends at Glasgow Central. Regarding Shields road it is actually the main Scotrail electric TMD which has Class 385s. This is in addition to Another depot in Edinburgh to maintain class 385s. Class 170 can form a longer trains with Class 158 156 forth bridge Fife circle trips. Looks like the Scotrail Train are common on Glasgow Edinburgh via Falkirk railway so is the Cathcart Circle line if your train ends at Glasgow central. I have been talking to the Scotrail Train Simulator community

[@s125ish]

385s no longer do Cathcart circle . 156s no longer go to fife

[@Thatspuremental]

The 358s 3 and 4 car units ran as 7 car before the queen street upgrade between 2017-21 And I think the standard class steats are quite nice compared to the old 170s or 158s

[@miahaskurti4539]

I Imagined Of The Class 385s Being On Services With GWR And SWR

[@Thatspuremental]

Also you can get the super fast service calling at Haymarket only taking around 40 odd minutes

[@craighobbs3708]

Do you mean the Cross Country train via Carstairs? That’s a completely different route. It takes roughly an hour

[@Thatspuremental]

@@craighobbs3708 no it was a scotrail train I don’t know maybe my memory’s fogged over but I’m sure there was a scotrail service only calling at haymarket

[@Thatspuremental]

I believe it was like 170s used to run it then 380s and old ricketies as I called them I don’t know the class then 385s and 380 and finally dropping 380s from the Glasgow to Edinburgh mail line

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

"Old ricketies" 314?

[@damianc.0.681]

Have you ever been to Gatwick? That’s the worst for confusion

[@ChrisPipinghot]

Would much rather have the Scotrail Push-Pull class47 Mk3 coaches and DBSO on the flagship route. Much better, classy and comfortable.

[@georgedowns4034]

Erm Glasgow IS the largest city in Scotland...

[@OMtheRails]

See other replies - was worded incorrectly when I did the voiceover.

[@georgedowns4034]

@@OMtheRails aaah fair enough.

[@nx181cc2]

You should check out the 900 bus witch does the same route

[@manomaylr]

It’s actually the same broad family (the Hitachi A-train) as the Class 800 series of InterCity trains, and you can see some similarities. The toilets, dot-matrix indicator font and the sliding doors seem similar, but the door open chimes seem faster on this train than the 800 series.

[@liamphilbin7256]

ppppppp🪆

[@liamphilbin7256]

iiiiiiii✴

[@liamphilbin7256]

iiiiiiii🍯

[@christopherhood9241]

come 47/7, DBSO & mk3, all is forgiven !

[@Nathanstrains]

Can you please do a video on ScotRails Class 320

[@OMtheRails]

Will be on the cards next time I visit Scotland 😁

[@Nathanstrains]

@@OMtheRails what do you mean by Cards

[@OMtheRails]

@@Nathanstrains as in I will do a recording next time I’m up 👍

[@ambell]

Surely "Net zero" is only achieved when the overhead line equipment is energised by power stations using "green" energy. Also when the factories and supply chains are completely "green" when it comes to procuring the EMUs / rolling stock in the first place. I'm always a fan of modernisation and engineering / science and technology BUT cannot stand marketeers going on about saving the planet as a promotion behind investment projects. I do applaud Scotrail for their investment all the same.

[@MrDavil43]

You're right to be cynical. Many claims about CO2 reduction by, e.g. electric vehicle makers, don't stand scrutiny. There's a lot of BS about these days!

[@OMtheRails]

I have to agree here - I just wish England was as committed to rail electrification as Scotland was though. Whilst we may not end up at completely net zero, it will still be better than the 40% of lines we have now which are electrified.

[@alantsneddon]

Last year, Scotland’s electricity was generated by 98% renewables and low carbon. Therefore one can easily deduce that the trains run on “green” energy. Scottish Power only supply electricity to households (in Scotland) from zero carbon electric generation.

[@ambell]

@@alantsneddon I take that point entirely since there probably is an abundance of hydroelectric power, for instance, "on tap", However nobody discusses how the supply chain that creates the new trains etc, and their associated manufacturing plants, is "powered" shall we say. My gripe is the way the PAs and marketing promote the new technology sometimes. We'll get there one day but on the way let's keep innovating and improving our technology all the same.

[@ambell]

@@OMtheRails I don't think electrification is the be all and end all since there is the development of bi-mode trains nowadays. Some areas of our country have difficulties in placing overhead line equipment over existing routes due to ground conditions. Also the predominant locomotive fleet (currently the humble class 66) for freight handling is powered by diesel. A practical balance between overhead line equipment and bi-mode is a more practical investment. Biofuels are being researched extensively. Interesting times.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

As I live near Lenzie station I have been using these trains for several years and was surprised to hear them described as "new"! I like them, as there are plenty of seats with tables. The downside is ScotRail's obsession with endlessly repetitive announcements which tell me that ScotRail management beleive us all to be completely stupid. On such a short journey as going to Edinburgh I seldom use the toilets, but train reviewers seem to think this important. The seats are fine for a short journey. There were a few geographical errors in the narrative.

[@TPerry2828]

Couldn't agree more about the incessant, pointless announcements on this service. And also there's the really harsh lighting, a hallmark of Hitachi's trains. That aside it is a fast, very regular service and these trains are in almost every way better than the slow, noisy diesels they replaced.

[@s125ish]

They are still new , 2018.

[@gftyhify]

I’m not a fan of the seating arrangements on these trains. There aren’t enough airline style seats and the ones they do have are poorly aligned with the windows. I also find the lighting to be too bright. This wasn’t the case with the class 170s

[@ChrisPipinghot]

The REAL comfortable fast travel on this route sadly missed was the Scotrail Push-pull service with a class 47/7 and proper Mk3 coaches and DBSO. Now it's probably nicer and more comfortable to travel on a bus/coach by road from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Best thing Scotrail ever done was Get HSTs to Aberdeen and Inverness.

[@scotiajinker8392]

I used the train for the first in 8yrs on Saturday, Hamilton to Glasgow central low level. It wasn’t a new train & Glasgow central is a shit hole , it’s a total embarrassment, what must tourist think of it.

[@alantsneddon]

Glasgow Central is a magnificent Railway Station.

[@scotiajinker8392]

@@alantsneddon it was when it was cleaned up , money hasn’t been spent on it for years. Btw I was manly talking about low level, that is a shit hole , plastic walls with years of dirt.

[@supertram1032]

The 385s have been nothing but trouble with severe brakedown issues and overheating problems and they hate the cold weather to and compere to the 380s they are the worst trains we have ever had

[@wharris302]

314s, 320s, basically anything built before the 385s are garbage

[@larry8650]

@@wharris302 the 380s and even 334s just aren't that bad tho?

[@Nathanstrains]

318s, 320s, 334s and 380s are 1000 times better then crappy ironing bored seats on 385s

[@Scottish_Transport_Explorer]

@@wharris302 Class 334s and 380s are decent too