Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has announced a £342 million investment from the Scottish Government to electrify sections of the Fife and Borders railways.

The funding will support the use of new battery-electric trains on these routes and the procurement of 69 new trains to modernise Scotland's rail network.

The investment is part of the Scottish Government's ongoing commitment to a greener, more reliable, and higher-capacity railway. Electrification work is already underway on the Lothian side of the Forth Bridge and the recently reopened £116m Leven route.

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The new battery-electric trains will also replace some of the existing electric fleets in Glasgow. ScotRail is expected to issue a contract notice for the new trains in Autumn 2025.

Katie Vollbracht, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said the electrification is a "significant step forward" in creating a decarbonised railway, with around 140km of lines being electrified in Fife and the Borders. David Ross, ScotRail's Chief Operating Officer, stated that the investment will lead to more reliable, greener trains with more seats, making rail travel a more attractive option.