Bad Brakes Scuttle Scot Trains

Update 10-15: ScotRail has announced that one of its new Hitachi trains is back in service. Two are still being repaired. According to The Scotsman,

Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance managing director, said: “I am pleased that Hitachi has resolved the issue with the class 385 train, and that we can get it back into service for our customers.“

There can sometimes be difficulties when introducing a brand-new fleet, but it’s great that customers will once again be able to benefit from these modern electric trains.”

Andy Radford, programme manager for Hitachi Rail, added: “We know that passengers really enjoy the space, comfort and the extra seats that the new trains offer.

Original post, 10-5:

ScotRail has today taken its brand new fleet of electric trains out of service as a “precaution” over defective brakes, The Scotsman can reveal. The move caused a shortage of carriages for commuters on the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line today. It was triggered by one of the class 385 trains suffering a brake fault on the line at Winchburgh yesterday, which blocked the line and caused significant disruption.