A number of First ScotRail trains are set to become giant mobile billboards. Each is longer than half the length of a football pitch.

The trains are being made available for “wrapping” in the livery of advertisers’ choice in 2007 under a deal with Viacom Outdoor.

It is the first time that the entire exteriors of First ScotRail trains will have been branded.

The trains – 100mph Class 170s – are 69 metres long, more than half the length of football pitches. They will run on three major routes: Glasgow-Edinburgh, Glasgow-Aberdeen and Glasgow-Inverness. All three carriages, each with seating for up to 190 people - and the driver’s cabs - can be wrapped for 12 months.

Until now, only two carriages have ever received such high impact branding: a Caledonian Sleeper, painted in tartan as VisitScotland and the train operator marketed Scottish tourism in London, the other for a newspaper.

Viacom Outdoor described as “exciting” the new branding opportunities on First ScotRail routes which carry millions of people a year, with the customer base including commuters and affluent business passengers. The number of trains made available for “wrapping” on a commercial basis will be subject to demand. It is likely to attract blue chip interest due to direct access to a broad, captive market at stations - and on the move.

Ross Barrett, Impact Account Manager at Viacom Outdoor, said: “This is a really exciting proposition for advertisers as the wrapped trains represent the largest poster opportunity at any train station in Scotland.” He added: “These wraps will deliver enormous brand exposure and offer advertisers a fantastic creative canvas to reach consumers on the move in key conurbations across Scotland.”

Peter Williams, First ScotRail’s commercial director, predicted the new venture will be a success: “There is a demand for businesses to find new and effective ways to reach their target audiences. “These trains are perfectly suited, providing an ideal opportunity to expose brand advertising messages. “