Embarrassment for ScotRail after train mock-up sparks fascist logo claims

ScotRail has come under criticism after an image used to promote its forthcoming fleet of new trains was accused of featuring a symbol resembling a “fascist” logo.

The controversy centres on a mock-up of a battery-electric train displayed by rail bosses during an industry conference in Edinburgh last week. The image, intended to showcase future rolling stock plans, quickly attracted attention for the lightning bolt graphic shown on the side of one of the carriages.

Observers pointed out that the symbol bore similarities to the emblem used by the British Union of Fascists, a far-right organisation founded by Oswald Mosley and later banned during the Second World War under the leadership of Winston Churchill. Following the comparison, ScotRail issued a correction, acknowledging the issue and distancing itself from the imagery.

Within the rail industry, the mistake has been attributed to the use of an AI-generated image. Some insiders have criticised the decision, suggesting a professional designer should have been commissioned to produce a more accurate and carefully vetted artist’s impression, particularly given that the new trains are intended to replace ageing diesel units in the future.

ScotRail has played down the significance of the image, stressing that it was never meant to be a definitive representation of the trains’ final appearance. The operator said the mock-up was used purely as a visual aid to support information shared with conference attendees, and does not reflect the design that will ultimately enter service.

Image: ScotRail