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ScotRail are about to introduce trains that are so old, the engine has been on display in a museum.

A fleet of 40-year-old diesel high-speed engines are due to start operating in 2018 in a bid to increase passenger capacity. They will be the oldest trains in ScotRail’s stock .

The InterCity 125 is used by Great Western Railway in England but is being replaced with electric stock.

One of the first made went on display at the National Railway Museum in York in October to mark its 40th anniversary.

Scottish ministers promised a “rail revolution” when they awarded Dutch operators Abellio the contract to run Scotland’s trains.

But Abellio now risk being stripped of their £7billion, 10-year contract if delays and cancellations get worse .

The firm have vowed to improve the capacity and frequency of services by introducing 70 electric trains on the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line and other key routes by next autumn.

(Image: PA/Jane Barlow)

A fleet of 26 InterCity 125 trains will come into service in 2018 on routes from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness and Aberdeen. The trains were first introduced in 1976.

Before going into service in Scotland under a 12-year lease, they will get new seats, tables, carpets, better lighting and wifi and power sockets.

Gordon Martin, Scottish organiser of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, said: “Bringing in 40-year-old rolling stock may be a short-term solution.

“But at a time when maintenance fitter jobs are being cut, it’s a potential recipe for disaster if they’re not maintained to the proper standard.”

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Neil Bibby said services on the routes had been in desperate need of an upgrade for years.

He said: “I hope these refurbished trains provide that necessary improvement. But many passengers are demanding improvements within weeks, not months.”

The Sunday Mail is demanding a fairer deal for rail passengers and last week ScotRail published a 249-point plan for improving performance.

It followed the Sunday Mail quizzing Transport Minister Humza Yousaf over Abellio’s dismal service which has angered commuters.

More than 20,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Abellio contract to be binned unless train services improve.

A ScotRail Alliance spokeswoman said refurbishing the high-speed train fleet will cost £54million.

She added: “It will transform long-distance rail travel in Scotland by providing more seats and a much improved on-board environment.”

Transport Scotland said: “Re-engineering rolling stock of the quality of high speed trains is a proven means of delivering top-class trains in a sustainable and efficient manner.

“We are confident passengers will enjoy travelling on these extensively renewed trains.”