The trains operate ScotRail services in the Ayrshire and Inverclyde regions of Scotland and had originally been intended for the cancelled Glasgow Airport Rail Link.
The contract was awarded to Siemens and announced by Transport Scotland on 11 July 2008.[5] A total of 38 units were ordered, comprising 22 three-car and 16 four-car units. All 38 units are owned by Eversholt Rail, a rolling stock company (ROSCO) that leases them to ScotRail.[6]
Stations along the Ayrshire Coast Line and Inverclyde Line underwent platform extension works to allow the use of the longer trains.[7] The trains were specified to have full access for disabled people and to have streamlined end corridor connections. On the unveiling of the first completed vehicle, it was announced that the fleet would be divided into two sub-groups, with the three-car units Class 380/0 and the four-car as Class 380/1.[8] The first unit to be delivered arrived in the UK in August 2010.[2]
In September 2010, commissioning of the fleet was suspended by ScotRail due to technical issues with the trains.[9] The reliability issues and extended commissioning period resulted in an initially reduced service on parts of the ScotRail network, including the newly re-opened Airdrie-Bathgate line.[10]
As of 2025[update], the Class 380 operates trains between Glasgow Central and Ayr, Largs, Ardrossan, Gourock, Wemyss Bay, Neilston, Newton, Barrhead and Cathcart Circle. In addition, they also operated trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk Grahamston, North Berwick and Dunbar for a time whilst awaiting the Class 385 introduction to service.
The fleet was introduced into public service in December 2010.
In November 2012, the Class 380 started operating services on the Paisley Canal Line following the line's electrification.[12]
Following the December 2014 timetable change, with the electrification of the Whifflet Line, services to Lanark were re-routed into Glasgow Central High Level.[citation needed] Alongside the usual Class 318 and Class 320 units, the Class 380 has been used on the route.[citation needed]
The Class 380 operated some services on the recently electrified line between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley via Falkirk from December 2017, due to the late arrival of the Class 385 units.[13]
From December 2023, Class 380 trains began operating on the Glasgow South Western Line from Glasgow Central to Barrhead following electrification of the route.[14]
^ abcdefghHall, Peter (February 2012). British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2012. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. p. 294. ISBN978-1-902336-92-3.
^ abRussell, David (October 2010). "First Class 380 for ScotRail arrives in the UK". Rail Express. No. 173. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. p. 48. ISSN1362-234X.
^ abFirst Class Bogies(PDF) (08/08 ed.). Graz: Siemens Transportation Systems. pp. 60–61, 67. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
^"Class 380". Eversholt Rail. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.