Descripción All aboard First ScotRail if you are taking a trip through Scotland. Operated as a franchise by FirstGroup, following the deregulation of the UK rail industry, First ScotRail operates 95% of the passenger trains in Scotland. It links towns in Scotland and offers services to London from major cities by way of more than 300 stations. FirstGroup received the seven year contract for the ScotRail franchise in 2004. In addition FirstGroup operates the First Great Western and First Transpenne rail franchises in the UK, as well as bus lines in the UK and US.