Glasgow Subway Rolling Stock

The Glasgow Subway rolling stock serves the Glasgow Subway, the third-oldest underground metro system in the world. The Subway is currently on the third generation of rolling stock, which entered service on 11 December 2023. Unlike other Metro systems in the United Kingdom, the Subway has a running gauge of 1,220 mm (approximately 4 ft).

First generation (1896–1977)

The first rolling stock was largely built in 1896, with additional trailer carriages added over the following 17 years. This rolling stock was converted from cable to electric traction in 1935 and finally withdrawn from service in 1977 upon the closure of the railway for modernisation.

Second generation (1980–2024)

The first 33 cars of the next generation of rolling stock were built by Metro-Cammell, Washwood Heath between 1977 and 1979. Eight additional trailer cars were built in 1992. The rolling stock entered service when the subway re-opened after modernisation work on 16 April 1980. The original 33 were refurbished by ABB at Derby Litchurch Lane Works between 1993 and 1995.

Livery

Originally after the 1977–1980 modernisation the trains carried a light orange livery with a white stripe and stylised 'Trans-Clyde' branding. However, all the rolling stock were soon painted in a darker orange or 'Strathclyde red'., with a black window surround. This livery was also used on SPTE buses and on suburban and commuter trains operated by ScotRail within the Strathclyde region. Various minor adjustments to the livery were made, including new SPT branding. The trains were given a totally new livery in 2006 when they were painted 'Cream & Carmine'. However, in 2011, it was decided to return to an orange livery for the foreseeable future; this new orange design incorporates patches of white and grey to give the rolling stock a more modern look.

Some trains carried special liveries for advertising. These were normally found on the middle carriage of a train. These carriages were normally vinyl-wrapped in the design for the advert intended and were then temporarily used for the period of sponsorship, then these wraps could be easily removed and the subway carriage could return to its orange livery.

Withdrawal

Video: Cars 106, 207 and 120 depart Govan after the final passenger service of second-generation stock in June 2024
Car 122 was withdrawn in October 2015 and stripped of usable equipment in order to provide spare parts for the remaining fleet, being scrapped soon after.

Following the introduction of the Third Generation rolling stock in December 2023 full withdrawal of the fleet commenced with cars 115, 127 and 131. All three cars had been out of service awaiting repairs for some time before being officially withdrawn.
As withdrawal continued, scrapping of the cars commenced in April 2024.

Upon withdrawal car 128 was preserved by Glasgow's Riverside Museum, owners of three First Generation subway cars. 128 was moved on display during June 2024.

The final day of operation for the second generation stock was June 28 2024 with cars 106, 207 and 120 performing the final service for inner, and 119, 203 and 103 performing the last for outer operated by the type. In July 2024, SPT announced that old Subway carriages would be given away to charities or sold off for £5,000, potentially to be re-used as glamping pods or other buildings. Any remaining units after August 2024 would then be scrapped. In November 2024, it was announced that a substantial number of second generation cars have been salvaged although some cars were already scrapped.

Fleet List

Third generation (2023–)

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) unveiled a £280million contract with Stadler and Ansaldo STS in 2016 for modernisation of the Subway, including new rolling stock and signalling. Trains were initially expected to enter service in 2020.

Seventeen units were built by Stadler Rail at their factory in Altenrhein in eastern Switzerland. Trains feature the potential for driverless operation, an open-gangway design, space for wheelchairs, and compatibility with platform screen doors. The new trains are the same length and size as the current trains, but are made up of four carriages rather than the previous three.

The new trains were first shown to the public at InnoTrans in Berlin in September 2018. The first was delivered in May 2019. First testing on the subway took place on 5 December 2021, which involved a test run to Govan Station and recovery by a depot locomotive due to struggles to fit the rolling stock in the existing infrastructure. The trains entered service on 11 December 2023, initially running on weekday afternoons only. The trains entered full service in June 2024 previously running alongside the prior generation. The third generation are now the only rolling stock on the network since the withdrawal of the second generation on 28 June 2024.

References

External links

{{UK light rail vehicles

Glasgow Subway
Electric multiple units of Great Britain
Lists of rolling stock
600 V DC multiple units
Metropolitan Cammell multiple units