ScotRail is celebrating its 40th birthday today (Friday, September 22), marking four decades of progress and transformation since the brand’s inception in 1983. 

During the past 40 years, Scotland’s Railway and rail in Ayrshire have undergone remarkable transformations, ushering in a new era of rail travel in Scotland. 

The creation of the ScotRail name in 1983 was part of a rebranding to make rail more competitive with car and bus.

The iconic Saltire logo was added to the branding in 2008, on the train operator’s 25th anniversary. 

The years following its creation saw a number of significant milestones, marking the evolution of Scotland's Railway following the challenging Beeching era. 

Ayrshire stations in Auchinleck and Kilmaurs were opened in 1984, leading the way for 79 more stations that have been opened since.

The most recent station, Inverness Airport, was completed in February this year bringing the total number of stations in Scotland to 359.  

With no Sunday service on many routes in 1983, and the only electric services operating in parts of Strathclyde, the timetable looked very different.

However, the railway's electrification and modernisation efforts reached Ayrshire in 1986, alongside newer trains.

Over the years, customers have witnessed a modernisation of ScotRail’s services, including the introduction of self-service ticket vending machines, online ticket retailing, and the convenience of mTickets.

As part of the Scottish Government’s Decarbonisation Action Plan, ScotRail is working on plans which will see diesel trains removed from the network in the long-term.  

Several Ayrshire routes are still operated by diesel services, including the major Glasgow to Kilmarnock line and beyond.

Joanne Maguire, ScotRail chief operating officer, said:  “We're delighted to celebrate ScotRail’s 40th birthday, recognising our role in connecting the people of Scotland. 

“If you arrive at any station in Scotland, you’ll be greeted by the iconic ScotRail brand, and the world-famous Saltire on our trains. 

“The past 40 years have been remarkable, with the introduction of new stations, new trains, reopening of disused railway lines, and the modernisation of the services available to customers.  

“Of course, there have been challenges on a network that runs from Thurso to Carlisle, but the future holds even greater promise with further growth as we continue to innovate and improve our services.  

“As we celebrate this milestone, we renew our commitment to delivering a safe, reliable, and green railway for our customers. 

“We thank our loyal customers for their support and look forward to serving the people of Scotland, and beyond, for many more years to come.”