Editing First ScotRail (section)

==History==
[[File:FirstScotrailClassic.svg|right|thumb|200px|First ScotRail logo (2004–2008)]]
Between March 1997 and October 2004, the public transport conglomerate [[National Express]] operated the ScotRail franchise under the [[ScotRail (National Express)|ScotRail]] brand. During July 2003, the [[Scottish Executive]] and the [[Strategic Rail Authority]] announced [[Arriva]], [[FirstGroup]] and [[National Express]] had been shortlisted to bid for the new franchise.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12526850.Shortlist_of_ScotRail_bidders_puts_three_in_the_ring/ |title = Shortlist of ScotRail bidders puts three in the ring |work = The Herald |date = 18 October 2016 |access-date = 19 November 2016 |archive-date = 19 November 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161119120330/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12526850.Shortlist_of_ScotRail_bidders_puts_three_in_the_ring/ |url-status = live }}</ref> In June 2004, the franchise was awarded to FirstGroup; the services formerly operated by ScotRail were transferred to First ScotRail on 17 October 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2887785/FirstGroup-clinches-Scottish-rail-franchise.html |title = FirstGroup clinches Scottish rail franchise |publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date = 12 June 2004 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160413182610/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2887785/FirstGroup-clinches-Scottish-rail-franchise.html |archive-date = 13 April 2016 }}</ref>

On 1 January 2006, [[Transport Scotland]] was established to carry out the Scottish Executive's transport responsibilities including its then newly devolved powers over rail franchising.<ref>{{citation |url = http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/47121/0020855.pdf |title = Transport Scotland Framework Document |date = December 2005 |publisher = Scottish Executive |access-date = 19 November 2016 |archive-date = 12 April 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160412232524/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/47121/0020855.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref> During April 2008, Transport Scotland granted a three-year franchise extension to First ScotRail, postponing its end-date to November 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/Scot-Rail-franchise-extension |title = Scot Rail franchise extension agreed |publisher = Transport Scotland News |date = 3 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160104192514/http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/Scot-Rail-franchise-extension |archive-date = 4 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.scotrail.co.uk/content/firstgroup-plc-statement-extension-first-scotrail-franchise |title = FirstGroup Plc statement: Extension of First ScotRail Franchise |publisher = First ScotRail |date = 3 April 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006105100/http://www.scotrail.co.uk/content/firstgroup-plc-statement-extension-first-scotrail-franchise |archive-date = 6 October 2014 }}</ref>

In May 2009, First ScotRail announced a crackdown on fare-dodging shortly after discovering that one of its most popular saver tickets could be subject to widespread abuse; 150 travellers were caught misusing Flexipass tickets within a single week alone.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/12796231.scotrail-crackdown-on-ticket-abuse/ |title = ScotRail crackdown on ticket abuse |publisher = glasgowtimes.co.uk |date = 26 May 2009 }}</ref> First ScotRail's approach to dealing with fare-dodgers remained a point of controversy at times.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/8956985/Rail-inspectors-dont-know-how-to-handle-fare-dodgers.html |title = Rail inspectors don't know how to handle fare-dodgers |publisher = The Telegraph |first = Bryony |last = Gordon |date = 14 December 2011 }}</ref>

During June 2009, a report by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport alleged that passenger figures generated by ScotRail had contained 7.2 million more passenger journeys than had been actually made; in response, [[Scottish Parliament|Holyrood]]'s audit committee called in Auditor General [[Robert Black (auditor)|Robert Black]] to review the extent of the miscalculation.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8117328.stm |work = BBC News |title = Probe call over passenger figures |date = 24 June 2009 |access-date = 2 April 2010 |archive-date = 29 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201129020731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8117328.stm |url-status = live }}</ref> First ScotRail stated that the "long-standing" error was being corrected, while Transport Scotland contended that the overestimate did not impact its decision to extend the ScotRail franchise.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7829240.stm |work = BBC News |title = Rail contract handling defended |date = 14 January 2009 |access-date = 2 April 2010 |archive-date = 29 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201129020731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7829240.stm |url-status = live }}</ref>

During October 2011, First ScotRail and the British railway infrastructure operator [[Network Rail]] announced the enactment of a series of new measures to handle service disruption in the event of severe winter conditions. In addition to improved access to travel information at stations and aboard trains, a new design of warmed plastic tunnels along with the first "power shower" system in the UK were rolled out to help de-ice trains, while it was stated that priority would be given to keeping the most highly-trafficked routes operational.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-15521669 |title = Trains to be prioritised in severe winter weather |publisher = BBC News |date = 31 October 2011}}</ref> At times of severe weather, ScotRail services had been temporarily suspended on grounds of safety; in such situations, wherever possible, active trains were directed to stop in the nearest convenient station and alternative transportation was provided until services could be resumed.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/05/scotland-clear-up-damage-winds-weather |title = Scotland starts to clear up damage left by 100mph winds |work = The Guardian |first = Owen |last = Duffy |date = 5 December 2013}}</ref>

In June 2012, the Scottish Government announced that when the ScotRail franchise would be re-tendered in 2014, the [[Caledonian Sleeper]] services would be split off and transferred to a standalone franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2012/jun/%C2%A35-billion-investment-rail-improvement-plan |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130328152400/http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2012/jun/%C2%A35-billion-investment-rail-improvement-plan |title = £5 billion investment in rail improvement plan |publisher = Scottish National Party Media Centre |date = 21 June 2012|archive-date = 28 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/scottish-government-sets-out-rail-strategy.html |title = Scottish government sets out rail strategy |first = Keith |last = Barrow |work = International Railway Journal |date = 22 June 2012 |access-date = 15 November 2015 |archive-date = 17 November 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151117210231/http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/scottish-government-sets-out-rail-strategy.html |url-status = live }}</ref> In May 2014, it was announced that the new Caledonian Sleeper franchise had been awarded to [[Serco]].<ref>{{cite news |title = Serco wins franchise for Caledonian sleeper train service |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-27599963 |publisher = BBC News |date = 28 May 2014 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140529084953/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-27599963 |archive-date = 29 May 2014 |access-date = 21 June 2018}}</ref>

In addition to FirstGroup, multiple other transport companies entered bids to operate the ScotRail franchise, including [[Abellio]], [[Arriva]], [[MTR]], and National Express.<ref>{{cite news |title = Dutch firm Abellio wins ScotRail franchise from FirstGroup |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29531099 |publisher = BBC News |date = 8 October 2014 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160421080619/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29531099 |archive-date = 21 April 2016 |access-date = 21 June 2018}}</ref> During early October 2014, it was announced that Abellio's bid had been selected and thus First ScotRail would be discontinued from April 2015.<ref name=RailwayGazette8Oct14>{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/abellio-awarded-scotrail-franchise.html |title = Abellio awarded ScotRail franchise |publisher = Railway Gazette International |date = 8 October 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160405230829/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/abellio-awarded-scotrail-franchise.html |archive-date = 5 April 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.abellio.com/news/abellio-awarded-contract-operate-scotlands-national-railway-scotrail |title = Abellio awarded contract to operate Scotland's National Railway, ScotRail |publisher = Abellio |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160415221031/http://www.abellio.com/news/abellio-awarded-contract-operate-scotlands-national-railway-scotrail |archive-date = 15 April 2016 }}</ref>

Accordingly, the franchise was transferred to [[Abellio ScotRail]] at midnight on 1 April 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.firstgroupplc.com/news-and-media/latest-news/2015/27-03-15.aspx |title = FirstGroup plc thanks First ScotRail passengers and employees |publisher = FirstGroup |date = 27 March 2015}}</ref> Several hours beforehand, the Caledonian Sleeper services had been separately transferred to Serco.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/serco-awarded-contract-to-run-the-famous-caledonian-sleeper-railway-line-9447845.html |title = Serco awarded contract to run the famous Caledonian Sleeper railway line |date = 28 May 2014 |work = The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/22/strike-halts-caledonian-sleeper-train |title = Strike halts Caledonian Sleeper train |date = 22 December 2015 |work = The Guardian}}</ref>