JANUARY 21 saw ScotRail HST set HA02 put back into traffic after more than four years out of use, meaning that, for the first time, all of the operator’s HST sets are now available for service.
Even discounting set HA22, which was written off in the Carmont derailment in August 2020, there has never been a period when the entire fleet has been available for use; when set HA02 was stopped in November 2020, three other sets (HA06, HA19 and HA20) had yet to emerge from Wabtec, Doncaster following refurbishment and sliding door conversion.
Set HA02 was the last of three sets which had been out of action for several years, to return to service, having been released from Wabtec, Doncaster on October 23 last year after a lengthy visit.…