Glasgow Subway: New fleet take to the tracks

New trains are taking to the tracks on Glasgow’s subway as part of £288m revamp.

A fleet of 17 new subway trains are being deployed in the coming weeks, eventually replacing the 12 existing ones which have been in operation for more than 40 years.

The first two modernised trains introduced by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) have been on the circular route that connects 15 stations around Glasgow, since December 2023, providing passengers with a more “quiet and comfortable” commute.

Speaking to STV, Richard Robinson, SPT’s director of transport operations, said that these new upgrades were “a critical way” for the SPT to keep the system going, improving reliability of services and increasing the number of people using the subway.

The new vehicles are wheelchair-accessible, air conditioned and have a “walk-through” design, allowing passengers to move between carriages without dividing doors.

As well as the new trains, the £288m modernisation programme is also upgrading the subway’s signalling equipment, control systems and control centre – this is the biggest revamp the underground railway has had in over 30 years.

As part of the programme, the SPT are looking to extend service operating hours on Sunday’s and to introduce driverless trains.

Speaking on the introduction of driverless trains, Mr Robinson said: “We go through extensive testing and rally comprehensive processes to ensure everything is in place to keep that a safe operation. At the moment though, the trains are operating with drivers and those drivers will be running that system for a good while yet.”

First opened in 1896, the Glasgow Subway is the third oldest network in the world after London and Budapest.