Safety checks on new trains

The Juniper trains have been taken out of service

Scotland's train operator ScotRail has been forced to withdraw nine of its new Juniper class electric trains for safety checks.

The train manufacturers Alstom advised the rail company that some of the trains' electronics could fail, threatening passenger safety.

The company said commuters on nine different routes in Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Strathclyde were experiencing "minimal" delays and there would be reduced carriage capacity, especially during peak times.

ScotRail said it hoped all trains would be back in service early next week.

The news came just days after seven passengers and a driver were injured when a ScotRail train hit buffers at Edinburgh's Waverley Station.

We regret any inconvenience to our passengers but I am sure they will understand why we are taking this precautionary action

ScotRail's Alastair McPherson

ScotRail's spokesman Eddie Toal said train services were likely to be "short-formed", meaning there would be three cars instead of six.

"We will try and minimise any cancellations. We are now nine trains shorter than we were and it will be difficult. But we will be running a service."

The company said commuters on nine different routes were having to travel on trains half their normal size.

The move was affecting passengers in Ayrshire and Inverclyde, on routes between Glasgow Central and Ayr, Largs, Gourock and Wemyss Bay, ScotRail said.

Passengers between Helensburgh and Airdrie were slightly delayed as a result of the temporary measure by the rail operator.

Electronic components

ScotRail said fleet of the trains, which were the first of 40 ordered by the company, were being taken out of service until further notice for "modifications".

Birmingham train builder Alstom advised ScotRail engineers that the existing design of an electric circuit breaker could theoretically fail in "certain circumstances".

The breaker automatically cuts the flow of electric current from the overhead power cables to the train's electronic systems in the event of a serious fault occurring.

The spokesman said: "Last week, two of the suitcase-sized electrical components were sent back to the manufacturers for examination after packing up in service.

A Turbostar train hit the buffers on Tuesday

"In a telephone call to ScotRail HQ on Thursday evening, Alstom investigators revealed the highly unlikely - but theoretically possible - scenario that given a serious fault on the train combined with a failure within the VCB itself, there might be a risk to passenger safety."

Engineers will carry out modifications to the fleet over the next few days.

However, the company has decided to withdraw the Junipers from passenger service as a precautionary measure until the modifications are completed.

ScotRail managing director Alastair McPherson said: "We regret any inconvenience to our passengers but I am sure they will understand why we are taking this precautionary action."

The fleet of electric trains has been dogged by technical hitches.

Crash inquiry

They should have gone into service in January 2000, but the first trains were not running until April this year.

The company has also had problems with the reliability of its fleet of Turbostar trains - one of which was involved in Tuesday's incident.

An inquiry has been launched into why the crowded service from Glasgow collided with the buffers in Waverley at about 0950 BST.

The company said in December that the reliability of its £72m fleet of Turbostars had contributed to the increased delays and overcrowding on the Scottish network.