The trains operate Abellio ScotRail services in the Ayrshire and Inverclyde region of Scotland and had originally been intended for the cancelled Glasgow Airport Rail Link. The construction was awarded to Siemens and announced by Transport Scotland on 11 July 2008. A total of 38 sets were ordered, comprising 22 three-car and 16 four-car units. Stations along the Ayrshire Coast Line and Inverclyde Line underwent platform extension works to allow the use of the longer trains. 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. In September 2010, commissioning of the fleet was suspended by ScotRail due to technical issues with the trains. 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. The fleet is based at Glasgow Shields Road TMD. Introduction of the fleet resulted in the cascading of the Class 334 "Juniper" and fleet which previously operated the Ayrshire Coast Line and Inverclyde Line. The fleet also allowed the fleet which operated on the North Berwick Line to be withdrawn and transferred to Northern Rail. The Class 334 "Juniper" stock were cascaded onto the North Clyde Line to, the Class 318s were cascaded onto the Argyle Line.
Operations
As of 2019, the Class 380 operates trains between Glasgow Central and Ayr, Largs, Ardrossan, Gourock, Wemyss Bay, Neilston, Newton 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. They can also operate to, and if required. The fleet was introduced into public service on 8 December 2010 with 380111 operating the 16:26 from to, followed on 9 December 2010 by 380102 and 380001 which worked the 15:30 to Ayr service. From 21 November 2012, the Class 380 has operated the Paisley Canal Line. Electrification of the section of line from Corkerhill to Paisley Canal, to a plan devised by a ScotRail and Network Rail alliance, began in July 2012 and was completed in November 2012. The electrification works were undertaken during night time and weekend possessions, resulting in the route closing after 8pm Monday to Thursday, all day on Saturdays, and for an eight-day period in October, with work starting on 29 September 2012 and intending to be completed by 8 November 2012. Class 314 and Class 380 "Desiro" electric multiple units supplemented the existing Class 156 "Super Sprinter"diesel multiple units from energisation of the wires in November 2012. From the timetable change in December 2012, the Class 156 "Super Sprinter" were moved to other routes. Following the December 2014 timetable change, with the electrification of the Whifflet Line, services to Lanark were re-routed into Glasgow Central High Level. Alongside the usual Class 318 and Class 320 units, the Class 380 has often been used on the route. 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 units.
